Write the Frist Draft of a Picture Book

Write a Story

For several years, this series on writing a picture book has been available free on this site. It’s now available altogether as a 110 page pdf file, How to Write a Children’s Picture Book.

To write the first draft of a picture book text, just write a story. That’s is. Just like you would normally write any story. Keep in mind that you want it to be short and you’ll leae visual details to the illustrator, but, otherwise, write the story.

Don’t Worry About

• Vocabulary. Picture book vocabulary doesn’t have to be limited, because usually an adult is reading the story to a child. Don’t limit yourself on this first draft.
• Style. Likewise, style isn’t limited to short, choppy sentences. In fact, the voice of the story is just as important as in any other writing and playing with language is welcomed.
• Length. As long as you stay fairly short, don’t worry about length. Under 5 pages is best, but if you go longer, you can fix that when you revise. Over 10 pages? You may be a novelist, not a picture book writer! Or this story may be too complicated for a picture book. But 5-10 pages, you’re OK. For now.

Make Sure It’s a Story

Just like a short story, you must introduce a character and his/her problem and provide complications before solving the problem in a satisfying manner that leaves a memorable feeling or thought in the reader’s mind. Think about the narrative arc of your story.

Deborah Halverson, former editor for Harcourt. points to the narrative arc of Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman, written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by David Diaz.

Halverson says, “We see Wilma progress from a small girl crippled by polio (she wore a leg brace and was told she’d never walk again!) to a record-setting Olympic runner. This is a wonderful example of how picture book biographies can be riveting stories for kids rather than dry recountings of chronological facts. I think the key to the power of this book lies in Krull’s decision to let Wilma’s growing sense of determination steer the story through the key events on her road to Olympic glory. This is a story about inner strength as much as physical accomplishment.”

In other words, the “growing sense of determination” creates the narrative arc that builds suspense and interest from the first conflict through the climax.

Start by Writing Your Story!

See Also: 30 Days to a Stronger Novel

Related posts:

1. How to Write a Picture Book Biography
2. Did you Write a Picture Book or Something Else?
3. How to Write a Children’s Picture Book
4. How to Write a Rhyming Picture Book
5. How to Write a Poetry Collection Picture Book

Revise with confidence.