Simple Narrative Arcs, 2

Narrative Arc in Less Than 100 Words: Example 2
Very simple picture books still have a narrative arc, even though the word count is extremely small. Yesterday, we looked at an example of a great simple narrative in My Friend, Rabbit. Today, here’s a look at a narrative arc in 80 words (with the help of [...]

Simple Narrative Arcs, 1

Narrative Arc in Less Than 100 Words: Example 1
Very simple picture books still have a narrative arc, even though the word count is extremely small. Here’s a look at a narrative arc in 80 words (with the help of some illustrations), as it appears in My Friend, Rabbit, by Eric Rohmann, winner of the 2003 [...]

How to Write a Children’s Picture Book

Ebook: How to Write a Children’s Picture Book
It started out as 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book. But now, (drum roll, please), it’s an Ebook. Expanded from it’s original format, it now includes new sections on

O Happy Day

Today, I get to revise.
I will . . .

. . . rewrite the opening of a picture book ten different

Invite Darcy to Speak

Darcy speaks at retreats, conferences, schools, special events and more. Watch this video about her Novel Revision Retreat, then read more about how to invite her to speak.

Revising for Audience

I’m writing a picture book that I know should work. But it’s not.
Consider the Picture Book Audience

Part of the problem with this story is that it’s set in a commercial kitchen and I have a kid who wants to cook. Critiquers tell me that the writing is great, the kid is great, but they [...]

Shrunken Picture Book

How I Shrunk my Picture Book Manuscript – and Why I’ll Do It Again!
by Lee Wind
At a schmooze of the SCBWI Tri-Regions of Southern California, discussion ranged far and wide, pulling info and tips from many sources. Lee Wind showed a shrunken manuscript of a picture book, complete with glitter, colors and stickers. The report [...]

muttering

Re-Reading: The Basic Revision Strategy
I’m always amazed at how much the revision process depends on re-reading what you wrote.
It’s an obvious statement, of course. Yet, when I ask people about their revision process, re-reading is seldom mentioned. It’s one of those assumed things.
Suggestions for Re-reading to Re-envision

Re-read an entire section, not just half a page. [...]

editing

Simplify Your Picture Book Story
I’m currently revising a picture book and my major goal is to simplify the story.

Why simplify the story? At 1200 words, the picture book text is way too long. I needed to cut it about in half. Why? Sue Edwards has just been reading 50 picture books in a short amount [...]

Picture Book 4

7 Children’s Picture Book Manuscripts in 7 Days

I’m taking the 7 in 7 picture book challenge.

Report on 7 in 7 for the first week of May, 2009

May 7
May 6. Historical Fiction. OK, here comes the rationalization for why I don’t have a good draft done. A couple years ago, a friend told me [...]