create
Manuscript Length
How Firm are Book Publisher’s Guidelines on Book Length?
I had a question come up last week: how hard and fast are the rules about the length of a picture book manuscript? Can you get by with 1900 words? 2000 words? 2500 words?
The length requirements for every genre, from picture books to easy [...]
4 Files to Prevent Mistakes
Use the power of your word processor to help you keep track of details while writing a novel. You’ll have fewer mistakes
Have you ever forgetten the color of a character’s eyes?
Keep a Character Bible: create a file in which you keep descriptions of each character. This is much easier than hunting through a mss in [...]
5 Writing Tasks for Off Days
Ever have one of those off days? You don’t sleep and wake up grouchy. You’re half sick but not really sick enough to call it a sick day. You are just disgruntled and don’t know why.
5 Things to do on Off-Days
On those awful days, there are still tasks you can do to be a productive [...]
Voice for Picture Books
Voice is important, whether you’re writing a novel or a picture book.
One question that often arises is, “Can you revise for voice?” Yes. Here’s an example of how it worked for me.
How to Create a Read Aloud Friendly Picture Book
One of the most important things to keep in mind when revising a picture book is that it needs to be easy to read aloud. Usually picture books are read to kids by adults. If you have to read the same thing over and over and over — and over again, then you learn to appreciate a smoothly written and fun text.
How to Write a Poetry Collection Picture Book
This entry is part 24 of 32 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK 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. The ebook has an [...]
How to Write a Picture Book Mystery
This entry is part 25 of 32 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK 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. The ebook has an [...]
How to Write a Picture Book Biography
This entry is part 22 of 32 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK 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. The ebook has an [...]
How to Write an ABC Book
This entry is part 23 of 32 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK 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. The ebook has an [...]
The Illustrator Doesn’t Tell YOU What to Do
This entry is part 26 of 32 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK 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. The ebook has an [...]
Buy Macmillan Books at Chinaberry, B&N, or Indie Bound
BUY Macmillan Books at INDIE BOUND
Popular Series of Posts
- 30 Days to Stronger Characters
- 43 Book Trailer Sites
- 30 Days to a Stronger Novel
- Novel Diagnosis Series
- 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book
- Psychology of Revision
Must Reads for Novelists
Must Reads for Picture Book Writers
The Writing Life
All Categories
- 30 Days to Stronger Characters
- 43 Book Trailer Sites
- 30 Days to a Stronger Novel
- Novel Diagnosis Series
- 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book
- Psychology of Revision