Dummy Book for Moo-Pig
The Dummy of Moo-Pig is finally ready to send to a potential publisher. There is a fine line when creating a dummy book. Some say not to put too much work in it as you don’t want to give an impression of a final product. However, I’m a perfectionist. I like to produce a model that an editor can hold in their hands and get a good feel for how the final product will look on a shelf. I do all the printing, binding, and cover myself. The result can be seen above. If there is interest, I will do a walkthrough of my whole dummy book process. I have a publisher picked out and will be mailing the dummy book (the one on the left) Monday.
I would love to hear comments on everyone’s experience with Dummy Books. How much is too much and can producing a “final product” hurt your chances with a publisher?
I’d be interested in hearing your process. I did a super-rough one just for my usage, stapling back to back 8 1/2 x 11s, one side is illustration, the other side is text and spot illos…. but i havent done one in quite a while. It’s prob overdue. My layout is mostly done in InDesign, with scans of the unfinished illos placed in the correct places.
I’ve dummied out the dedication/publisher page, the title page, etc. but any tips would be awesome.
Thanks Jeff!
I’m a writer, not a publisher, so I only know what I’ve been told, which is that editors and publishers prefer to work out their own concept for a book.
However, I love the look of Moo Pig. Your illustrations are adorable.
One thing I’ve read recently is there seems to be a trend towards writer/illustrators, so that puts you ahead in the race!
I would love to see a step by step process!!! I’m a perfectionist too, which is a bit of a pain when you never reach the standards you set!!!! But its fun trying!! Could you let me know what you use as materials too? As in the cover etc!!
Hey guys,
Keep an eye to my site. I will be posting step by step instructions in the near future.
Thanks,
Jeff
Hi Jeff
It’s so nice to find exactly what you are looking for…I can get used to that :^) I’ve been working on my dummy book for too long now, I too,want it to appear as close to a published book as i can get, and then send it off to the publishers .
I do want to say that Moo Pig looks great. I can see it on the shelf at a book store. It looked like you did paste up on the cover. Did you do the entire book by hand or did you use photo shop or another program? I’m so conflicted in this area. At first, my plan was to draw all the cartoons of course, print the narative and then paste it up on each page. My other option was to get a photo shop program(or something like it) and do it that way. It all became to intimidating for me, and I stopped working for weeks. By chance I walked into a printing shop down the street from me and asked if he would do photo shop for me. He stated that they do provide that service and would do the entire book, with copies made as well. I think that I’ll be going in that direction with this dummy and then send it off to publishers.
My natative/manuscrpit is now completed… after reworking it to death. I can’t tell you how many times I have read my narative out loud (and sometimes in a whisper so my family wouldn’t hear me) over and over again. I’m sure you know :^)
Jeff I guess I’d like to know what techniques you used to get the dummy book together, if you don’t mind. What ever you did I would love the same outcome for my mine.
I look forward to hearing back from you. I’m hoping to be complete it by the end of the month…it’s been over 9 months of rewritting and doing the cartoons over and over… Yes I hope to give birth to it real soon
take care
ira
WOW! your “Dummy” is Awesome!
I also write children’s book, and I recently took a Class with Diane Adams the Author of(ZOOM!) Anyway, we were told that although it is NOT a good idea to send in your “Dummy” when you submit your Manuscript. (Some like it…some don’t.)
I feel that any Publisher that has a problem with receiving a Dummy as Professionally done as “MOO-PIG” is out of his/her mind.
I too would LOVE to see your step by step instructions. Maybe shop your Dummy to an Agent first…And let him/her walk it into the office of the right Publisher…That way it will NEVER makes it to the dreaded SLUSH PILE! I can see this in Print! Well Done!