I'm a bit late joining this thread, but now's the time, as I've just finished my book! I storyboarded it using the wonderful ComicLife application, and I'm very satisfied with my work: Picture books are usually 32 pages, and while they can be more or less, it's usually best for a beginner to start out meeting the standard. This meant a whole lot of planning on my part as writer/illustrator, because page-turns are such an important part in the pacing of a story (at least in my opinion), that the planning was not to be taken lightly. My book is 32 pages, and includes 27 full page full color illustrations and some spot illustrations and a cover illustration. In a manic frenzy spanning the past 4 days (I've slept a grand total of 6 hours over that period), I completed the final 10 pictures. I've realized that the layout is similar to an overgrown graphic novel, which I think has to do with my natural affinity for that style as well as the use of ComicLife as a storyboarding tool.
I need to make some dummies to send out for consideration, and I'm going to work out the logistics of that tonight and hit the copy shop tomorrow -- mostly this includes getting text onto the pages in a removable way so that they don't damage the illustrations, but so that it's also still readable and will make a quality dummy.
I bought the Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market this morning and read it on the train. I have factors working both for and against me. One is the nature of being both writer and illustrator -- it's rare. From what I've read, publishers and agents don't get as many submissions from writer/illustrators as they do from one or the other. Typically when they do one half of the work is not up to par, usually the illustrations. I know my illustrations are good, and I think my story is too. I know my storytelling is good. Still, it's not an easy market to break into. I've also read that a lot of editors are put off by complete illustrations in a dummy, because it suggests that the artist is "done" and will be unwilling to change. I say screw that, I'm putting my best work out there and will just have to note in my cover letter that whilst my illustrations are complete, I am happy and anxious to work with editors, accept criticism, and make changes. I'm new at this and I want to learn!
So I've got to research agents and publishers that made it through my preliminary investigation in the Market, I have to create dummies and submission packages to their guidelines, write cover letters/query letters/and resumes, and make a pile of SASEs. My goal is to have sent out dummies by Friday.
My grammar and spelling used to be considerably better than they are now. After so much time being edited and "edited for clarity" (also known as dumbing down so the yokels can read the paper and not go "uh..what did that there fella say again"), I fell out of the practice.
Do the listings in the Guide indicate what the response time might be?