Picture
Book Writing Tips
Tottie
and Dot
was written for pure entertainment value. The final book ended up containing
some messaging on such topics as the value of friendship and staying true to
ourselves, but it was not intended to be a ‘message-driven’ book. These types of
books are very hard to do well, as are rhyming books and humorous books and,
well … all manner of picture books, really.
To
that end, I present my top tips on writing picture books. I hope they help you
refine your work, no matter your underlying purpose.
1. Don’t
use a lot of text, especially dialogue which is very hard to illustrate. If your
text simply must be over 500 words long, it should be vibrant and intensely
edited.
2. Let
the pictures do the talking––don't say what the pictures can show.
3. Think
carefully about rhythm and flow––read it aloud and listen to the way the words
work together, taking note of the beat as you read.
4. Publishers
generally don’t like rhyme and there’s a reason—it’s very, very hard to get
right. Don’t attempt rhyme unless it’s infallible. Study the use of iambic
pentameter to better understand the concept that two rhyming-end words do not a
good rhyme make.
5. Is
your word usage and sentence structure clear, dynamic and interesting? Or does
the reader stumble or become confused?
6. Never
talk down to the reader.
7. Never
hammer readers with morals. If you simply must use them, make them funny or so
subtle, they can barely be defined. Kids will still pick them
up.
8. A
picture book needs a plot or a story arc of some kind. Things need to HAPPEN.
Showing someone going about their day and going to bed at night is not a story.
It’s an account.
9. Do
different. Avoid overdone topics and try your hand at unusual voice or story
structure.
10.
Have
an ending. Make it shocking, surprising, funny, quirky, or in some way resolving
and/or related to a plot link. Too many picture books fail when it comes to the
ending. Resolve it well and repeat-reads are assured.
11.
Ensure
your main characters are protagonistic. Employ conflict and resolution—something
to overcome.
12.
Most
lines in a picture book text should inspire vibrant illustration. Do
yours?
13.
Write
books for kids, not adults.
14.
Allow
your manuscripts to ‘marinate’ between drafts. This will allow things to develop
in ways you never dreamed possible.
15.
Write
what YOU love, what interests and inspires you. Don’t try to write something to
fill a market gap—write something from the heart and make sure it’s something
you believe in and enjoy. Both publishers—and kids—will absolutely feel
it.
Tania
McCartney
Author
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Editor
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Illustrator
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