I got this comment and thought it needed to be a separate post:
Tamar Asks: 32 pages? Not clear
Hi,
Thank you for your posts. They have been very helpful.
It isn’t clear to me from your posting of a 32 page book being standard, how many pages of text that translates into for the author.
Or does it just mean that an author should aim for a book that she tells the publisher is going to be 32 pages, and they break it up. Or does she break it up herself.
Thank you and looking forward to your response.
Tamar
Darcy Answers: 32 pages of finished book, 5 (or less) pages of manuscript text
Thanks for the question!
The picture book has 32 pages.
For the author, though, that means . . .
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Hello,
I found your website to be very helpful. However, I haven’t been able to find the answer to a question I have: exactly how does one format the manuscript for a RHYMING picture book – that is, one with stanzas. Do I format it like a poem (single spaced within a stanza, and double spaced between stanzas), or double spaced with 4 spaces between stanzas. Your answer would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you, Maria Norris
So what you mean to say is that the end book will have 14-28 pages with text from the author and the other four pages are filler from the publisher? I still have trouble with your statement. My manuscripts are around three hundred words but they are poems written to be one or two lines a page.
Yes, you’re right. In a 32 page book, there are about 3-4 pages of material required, such as a title page and copyright page. That leaves about 28 pages for text. If you want a double-page spread (illustration covers both pages of a book when opened flat), then you may have text on only one side of that spread. However, sometimes, there is text on both sides.
I don’t think I would call a title page and copyright page as just “filler from the publisher.” i can’t imagine a book without a title page; and you certainly want the copyright notice there to protect your work.
A 32- page layout is just standard in the industry.
Darcy