Don’t Look at the Odds

My writing career has never been “normal.” I didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer, I was published within two years of starting to write, and I got a contract for my first picture book within six years of writing (and I didn’t have an agent or belong to SCBWI at the time).

The odds were definitely stacked against me, but thankfully I happened to be a quick learner, I had great mentors who gave me terrific leads, and God placed me in the right places at the right times.

If you’re looking to break into picture books, don’t give up. Work hard at your craft, join critique groups, learn, learn, learn, follow up on leads, target your publisher, and keep trying. The odds may not look great, but you never know when your turn will come up.

Contributed by Catherine L. Osornio

Picture Book Basics

As has already been stated, writing a picture book is not easy. However, it can be such fun! Here is some info about picture books for the beginner.

Most picture books consist of 32 pages. However, only 28 of those will be text. That means you have only 28 pages to tell your story!

Your readers will usually be in the 2-7 year old bracket.

Some picture books are written for the child to read but most picture books are  read to a child by an adult.

Each page will have illustrations. As you write, you must visualize how your words can be illustrated.

Most picture books are 1000 words or less. There are some picture books for older children that may contain more text. 

You are not responsible for illustrations. DO NOT send in illustrations with your manuscript unless you are an exceptional artist. The publishers hire their own illustrators.

Write considering the age of the child. Writing a picture book on thermal dynamics is probably not a good idea, although I’m sure someone could do it!  Best stick to things a child that age has interest in.

Picture books have to tell a story just like longer manuscripts. A beginning, middle and ending are necessary.

It’s hard to write what you don’t know. Go to the library. Get a coffee at Barnes and Nobles and read. Ask, what are the stories about? How do they phrase words? How many words in a sentence? Really dissect the book. After you have done all this work and you still feel this is the type of book you want to write, start writing!

Wishing you great success in writing those picture books, Gloria

Stop!

Do you want to write a picture book for these reasons?
1.They look easy to write.
2.They’re short.
3.You’ve read several that you just know you could do a better job.
4.You figure you can start writing these little books, then go on to some real writing.

If you answered yes to any of these, then please don’t write that book! They are not easy to write, in fact I find them difficult because they are so strictly structured. Yes, they are usually short, but every word is ultra-important, and how it fits with other words in the sentence, and how each sentence fits into the story can’t be overlooked. In addition, so many writers write picture books for those same wrong reasons that the market is flooded with submissions, making it harder to break into print.

However, if you are willing to study some of the fine books that are available on structure of picture books, and work hard at the craft, and you just know you have a story that will delight children, go for it! The world can always use another great picture book.

Shirley Shibley

Structure

This month on our blog, we have an exciting treat in store–we’re going to share tips, marketing strategies, encouraging Scriptures, and humorous insight all about the wonderful world of picture books.

If you’ve been bitten by the bug to write a picture book, I’d like to encourage you to make an investment that will give you all the tools you’ll need to build your manuscript from the ground up. Purchase a copy of How to Write a Children’s Picture Book: Volume I: Structure, by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock.

And while you’re at it, check out her Volumes II and III. Read and reread and reread her books. Plug her suggestions into your own manuscripts. The end result will be picture books that capture the hearts of your readers and catch an editor’s eye.

-Contributed by Nancy I. Sanders