July 10, 2009

There’s magic in a well crafted picture book, magic that lasts from one generation to the next. Maybe that’s why so many writers want to create picture books. Students sometimes ask me for advice on writing picture books, and one how-to book full of great advice was sent to me a few weeks ago.

Because my publishing has been mostly with middle grade novels (and no picture books), I asked a writer friend who’s had picture books published to review this for me and ask if she could recommend it. Her review is below:

Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On-Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul

Review by Lupe Ruiz-Flores

This 2009 248-page Writer’s Digest book, written by the award-winning author and poet, Ann Whitford Paul, goes into depth just like the title implies: from story creation to publication.

Beginning writers and seasoned published writers as well will find this guide an easy-to-follow genuine gem. The playful illustrated cover draws you into the magical world of picture books. The Table of Contents has titles like: Before You Write Your Story, Early Story Decisions, Structure of Your Story, Language of Your Story, Tying Together Loose Story Ends, and concludes with After Your Story is Done. The chapters focus extensively on the craft of writing, including how to make a dummy book.

A unique feature in the book is a blocked message at the end of each chapter called What’s Next?, which lets the reader know what to expect in the upcoming chapter. Then another blocked message, Before You Go On, briefly summarizes the chapter you’ve just read and also recommends writing exercises to practice before continuing. Always at the end of this summary, the reader is encouraged to read a new picture book. The list of recommended picture books is awesome.

Like a Workshop at Home

The author offers a wealth of information and examples for using different techniques in writing a picture book.  She points out what keeps a good story moving.  In each chapter, the author takes you through the writing exercises, step by step, creating a story, exploring different ways to tell your story, coaching you along the way. It’s like being in a writer’s workshop with one of your favorite authors. Experimenting with tenses, using different points of view, changing the story location, changing time periods or human characters into animal characters are just some of the possibilities mentioned in the book to help make your story a great one.

The section on creating memorable main characters was intriguing.  The author stressed the importance of doing an in-depth character study and knowing your character inside out. An outline on how to do this is included in the chapter. I found this especially enlightening because I’ve heard comments that character development in a picture book is not that important. Wrong!

Regardless of which level you’re at as a writer of children’s books, you will pick up something new by reading this book. From story structure and language, to finding the right critique group, to submitting to the right publisher, to finding agents, to coping with rejections, to using writing prompts, this reference book is a tool that every serious children’s picture book writer should not be without.

Lupe Ruiz-Flores is the author of three bilingual picture books. She is currently working on a middle-grade book. Visit her Web site at: www.luperuiz-flores.com and her blog at www.luperuiz-flores.blogspot.com .

8 Comments »

1. 

   This book looks to be a valuable resource for writers.

   Writing fiction for children is much harder than it looks.

   It has also been said that children are the best judges of picture books. I have to agree.

   With my own children, I noticed they had certain stories they requested over and over. these stories fired their imagination and kept them interested–no easy feat for youngsters who are full of energy and have a hard time sitting still!

   Comment by M. Rhodes — July 10, 2009 @ 9:25 am

2. 

   Yes, M., it is harder than it looks–and it’s more rewarding than anyone could imagine too. Yes, kids are the best judges of what works for them for picture books. I liked this how-to book because it so clearly showed the differences between short stories and picture books, what the elements of a picture book are, and how much more THOUGHT and study and revising goes into a successful picture book than you’d ever imagine.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 10, 2009 @ 2:31 pm

3. 

   I think the best picture books have appeal to children and adults because they have layers of story line and humor that allow you to look forward to repeated exposures. Thanks for the tip, Kristi. I was just looking for a good writer book to read for the summer, so this looks like the one!

   Comment by Beth Mac — July 10, 2009 @ 3:23 pm

4. 

   Beth, I totally agree. Those are certainly the things I look for when buying a book that I’ll probably have to read to a child a hundred times!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 10, 2009 @ 4:06 pm

5. 

   If anyone is interested, I’ll be doing a workshop focused on the structure of picture books in Madison Wisconsin on July 23rd. If you’re interested, please
   e-mail me at ann@annwhitfordpaul.net for details.

   Comment by Ann Paul — July 10, 2009 @ 5:25 pm

6. 

   Ann, good luck with your workshop!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 10, 2009 @ 5:45 pm

7. 

   Kristi,

   Thank you so much for this recommendation. I just bought it, and I’ve got the rest of my summer planned, taking Ms. Paul’s “workshop.” It has given me the direction I’ve been looking for! Bless you for always giving me what I need at the time I need it.

   Comment by Anne Bromley — July 10, 2009 @ 6:05 pm

8. 

   Anne, you’re very welcome! It looked like a fantastic book. I’m glad to have something like this to recommend to potential picture book writers. I’m also pleased that it’s giving you some direction for higher learning this summer!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 12, 2009 @ 7:00 am

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