[alejandra-labrado Posts: 3 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hello, This is my first book.  I am submitting for the WIP grants (PB-writer).  On the manuscript, I was wondering do  I include a description of what the characters look like and a description of the setting?   I know these would be notes for the illustrator, but I was wondering if this will help or hurt my submittal?

Thank you for your help!
AL

[dkshumaker Posts: 1,510 Status: Offline WWW]

Unless the descriptions are absolutely crucial to the story, for example, a hat is red and the red color plays an important piece in the ending or something or the story will not make any sense without art notes (such as the words say the characters are sad, but in fact, the characters are happy), do NOT include art notes.

Even for the WIP award, art notes should only be included if absolutely crucial to the story line, not just because you envision the characters or setting look a certain way.

I hope this helps.

[Vijaya Posts: 7,337 Status: Offline Encourage WWW]

Alejandra. Unless your story is specifically about certain people and a place, you can leave it out. For instance, although I wrote a story about using old clothes to make a new item, the illustrator turned the characters into bunnies and it's just darling. Another poem was about matching socks and the illustrator added this wonderful dimension with camels wearing mismatched socks. I would never have imagined it and had I had art notes, it might have restrained the illustrator's imagination. You want to give them complete freedom with your story. However, I have a story that takes place in Kolkata, India (it has to be there) so I've mentioned it both in my query and in my story. Best wishes on your submission. 

[alejandra-labrado Posts: 3 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you for your advice!  So my situation here is that the book I wrote is in memory of a real child.  There are clues in the script about him, but do I need to make a side note “dark- skinned, Down syndrome, etc”.  I want to get the image across of the child and his family but I haven’t seen any samples that give character descriptions to paint the picture.., so I was afraid if this is a no-no. This is my first time I’m replying so I hope I’m doing it right! 

[Vijaya Posts: 7,337 Status: Offline Encourage WWW]

It's fine to have an art note like that if it's important to the story, not necessarily your memory. Does that make sense?
I'd set it off with [ART NOTE: child has Down Syndrome, etc.]

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,878 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

If it matters to the story, include an art note. If it only matters to you and you can' envision the character another way, this is the kind of thing you bring up during the call with an agent or editor. You explain the reason this is important to you. It's really best if it matters to the story also though.

[alejandra-labrado Posts: 3 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you Vijaya and Debbie for the advice.  That really helped because I think I was stuck on how I envisioned the illustration to be and I was worried the reader wouldn't catch that.  I'm glad I reached out... it's all done and submitted now