September 2003
What is a CV?
I'm ready to submit a book to an agent. Said agent requires query with outline, proposal and CV. What is a CV? Your help would be greatly appreciated
CV stands for curriculum vitae. The difference between a resume and curriculum vitae is that a resume contains job history and personal information, and in addition curriculum vitae includes a list of publishing credits, including name and date of publication, plus awards and honors. Curriculum vitae is usually reserved for applications for academic positions, however the key here is the inclusion of publishing credits, which is probably what the agent is looking for. This agent wants a detailed account of where and when your work has been published.
For a complete guide to resumes and CVs, including how to write a CV and samples, see Alison Doyle's Job Searching at About.com.
How Do I Submit To Greenwillow?
I write funny poems for children. I have over 100 completed poems and would like to submit them to Greenwillow/Harpercollins. How would I go about submitting my work to them?
According to the Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market, Greenwillow is currently not accepting manuscripts or proposals. They advise that writers call 212-261-6627 for an update on their submissions policy. According the submission guidelines at the Harpercollins web site they are not accepting unsolicited manuscripts or proposals. But it's a good idea to call and ask if you can submit your poems.
It's not a good idea to limit yourself to one market. Go to your local library or bookstore and look for other publishers of children's poetry collections. But don't stop there. Browse the poetry and humor sections and look at publishers of general poetry collections or humorous essays. Jot down the title and the publisher in your notebook, then look up the guidelines in Writer's Market or do a search on the Internet. Some of those publishers might be interested in publishing a children's poetry collection.
Read my article, The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript for more information on how to research the marketplace for publishers.
What Should I Send With My Manuscript Submission?
I'm working on a children's book and I want to know if I can send my completed manuscript to more than one publisher at the same time? Would you recommend that I send only a couple of chapters at a time to a couple of publishers at the same time, or should I send the complete manuscript? Besides the manuscript, do I need to send a query letter and a cover sheet? What all do I need to send in with the manuscript, besides just the manuscript itself? I'm very much confused about this.
For picture books, editors want to see the full manuscript. Send the manuscript and a cover letter that includes a one-sentence description of the story's plot.
For longer fiction and nonfiction, editors prefer a query with sample chapters. Send a cover letter, synopsis and 2 sample chapters. Because of the length of time it takes editors to respond to submissions (up to a year or more) I always recommend that writers submit simultaneously to several publishers.
You can include your writing credits in a paragraph within the cover letter or on a separate sheet. It's up to you. Always remember to include an SASE -- self-addressed stamped envelope. If you want your manuscript returned, send an envelope the same size as the manuscript with adequate postage. If you are requesting a reply only, then send a No.10 business size SASE.
Be sure to read my article, The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript You'll find these and more suggestions for preparing your manuscript for submission.
I also recommend joining The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. They publish an annual market survey available free to members that outlines what each publisher is looking for and what is required in terms of submissions, whether they will look at queries only or full manuscripts. The bi-monthly Bulletin also features The Publisher's Corner, which often contains specific calls for submissions from editors with instructions on what to send.
For more information:
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About.com Guide to CVs - http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/curriculumvitae/
Greenwillow/Harpercollins submission guidelines - http://www.harpercollins.com/hc/aboutus/submittingmanuscripts.asp
SCBWI - http://www.scbwi.org
Peggy Tibbetts has been a professional writer, editor, and full member of the Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators for the past 26 years. She offers courses in children's writing and has edited several successful children's manuscripts. She is the author of the children's novel The Road to Weird, as well as the adult novel Rumors of War. Peggy also moderates the The Write List discussion list at Yahoo.
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