picture books

Top 10 Picture Book Topics to Avoid

Stiff Competition for These Picture Book Topics

Dial editor, Liz Waniewski (ONE–es-key) spoke at the Arkansas SCBWI 2007 conference. For a couple months before the conference, she kept track of her slush pile picture book submissions by category. This resulted in my 2007 posting 12 Picture Book Topics to Avoid, one of the more popular posting in the 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book series.

In December, 2008, I asked Liz if she might want to update the posting. She agreed and kept track of her submissions in January. The topics listed below are those which she sees over and over. She pointed out, “Just because I see these topics many times doesn’t mean you can’t write about it.” However, the competition is very stiff for picture books in these categories and your submission should really “stand out in today’s crowded marketplace.”

In comparing the 2007 and 2009 lists, you’ll see some overlap, such as . . .

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Related posts:

  1. 12 Picture Book Topics to Avoid!
  2. How to Write a Poetry Collection Picture Book
  3. Options for Picture Book Characters
  4. Write the Frist Draft of a Picture Book
  5. Revise the Picture Book Text


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Discussion

3 comments for “Top 10 Picture Book Topics to Avoid”

  1. [...] picture books August 24th, 2008 This entry is part 28 of 32 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK30 Days to a Stronger Picture BookPicture book standards: 32 pagesPutting the Picture in Picture BooksWrite the Frist Draft of a Picture BookThe Dual Audience for Picture BooksDid you Write a Picture Book or Something Else?Picture Books: Those Confusing 32 PagesCheck Your Picture Book’s Story ArcShakespeare Helps You Write a Better Picture BookOptions for Picture Book CharactersPlaying with Words for Picture BooksPicture Book SettingsHow to Mock-up a Picture Book5 Ways to Make The Reader Turn the PageRevise the Picture Book TextThe Biggest Mistake in Submitting a Picture BookVoice for Picture BooksHow to Create a Read Aloud Friendly Picture BookPicture Books: Folk Tale or Modern Story?How to Write a Rhyming Picture BookHow to Write a Creative Non-Fiction Picture BookHow to Write a Picture Book BiographyHow to Write an ABC BookHow to Write a Poetry Collection Picture BookHow to Write a Picture Book MysteryThe Illustrator Doesn’t Tell YOU What to Do10 Suggestions for Picture Book Titles12 Picture Book Topics to Avoid!What Kids Think is FunnyPage 32Messages, Morals and Lessons in Picture BooksEffective Picture Book SubtitlesUPDATE: See the 2009 List of Picture Book Topics to Avoid [...]

    Posted by Editor Gives 12 Picture Book Topics to Avoid! | February 16, 2009, 5:30 pm
  2. Great info – thanks! Posting your link on my blog. Seems I have a habit of writing what is popular! My published PB is a Christmas book and currently under consideration is a barnyard book…

    Posted by Jeanine Norris | July 24, 2009, 8:45 am
  3. [...] am researching competition for a picture book idea. I know there are topics with very stiff competition and I want to avoid anything similar to what has already been [...]

    Posted by Research Competition Before You Write | August 5, 2009, 11:36 am

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