The Montana SCBWI chapter is hosting a webinar for illustrators with agent, Christy T. Ewers, owner of The CAT Agency.
Christy represents illustrators and author/illustrators in the children’s market, along with her mother and partner, Chris Tugeau, who founded the agency in 1994. The CAT Agency is a boutique agency that believes in the hands-on approach in representing a diverse group of talent from all over the world. Christy works closely with the entire “family” of artists, spearheading promotion and deals for CAT Agency illustrators, as well as working closely with the authors in the group to help craft their stories and hone their writing for young readers. For more information, visit www.catagencyinc.com.

Webinar Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020
Time: 3pm MST, 5pm EST

Registration Cost: $15 for SCBWI members/ $30 for non-SCBWI members

Attendees will be able to submit materials to Christy for six months after the webinar.

To register, visit https://montana.scbwi.org/events/portfolios-promotion-with-tips-on-finding-an-agent-a-webinar-for-illustrators/

Actually we use beta readers for full manuscripts, especially novels, and critique partners for sections of the work. Beta readers are the step before submission. Critters are when you still really need work. But you've got it.

I use a Pages on my Mac Book to write my PBs. You do need to export to a .doc before you submit them if they are asking for attachments.

And yes, go to The Book for guidelines on margins, etc.

Good luck!

Paying for an editor is the last step before sending a book out. Before that, you need critique partners, as said above.  A good editor is expensive. You don't want to have to pay for one twice.

Thank you for your reply Vijaya. My manuscript is for a picture book that is only 340 words. I was wondering if I would just do a margin of 1 inch around and double space. I am not including any pictures. There are two characters talking at times. Do I put the name of each character then a colon ( before typing what they are saying? Also, is it necessary to use quotes (")? I did visit the link you sent. It was helpful.
Thanks again,
Marlena