In lieu of 'NaNoWriMo' going on this month, coupled with the fact that I have written several children's books (although they lack illustrations at the present moment), I thought I'd post an article I found on the internet regarding how to write a children's picture book. The article is written by author Jacqui Robbins. Please click on the link titled, How to Write a Children's Picture Book, to be re-directed to the author's blog site to get an in-depth explanation for each point below numbered from one to eleven. I am not certain if my current books follow all the rules the article lays out, but I think they come pretty close! Happy writing! :-)
God Bless!
T Denise Clary
by Jacqui Robbins
(Author of “The New Girl…and Me” & “Two of a Kind”)
(Author of “The New Girl…and Me” & “Two of a Kind”)
1. Read 100 first.
2. Picture books have 500-700 words. Or fewer.
3. Picture books are 32 pages long.
4. Each page much have something newly illustratable.
5. The text of your story must stand alone.
6. Don't talk down to children or moralize to them.
7. Your story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
8. Your story must have a conflict or a problem, and that problem must be solved by the kid.
9. Show, don't tell.
10. If you write in rhyme, your rhyme and meter must be perfect.
11. Forget numbers 2-10 until your story is written. Just start writing. Worry about the rules later.
Just have fun!
2. Picture books have 500-700 words. Or fewer.
3. Picture books are 32 pages long.
4. Each page much have something newly illustratable.
5. The text of your story must stand alone.
6. Don't talk down to children or moralize to them.
7. Your story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
8. Your story must have a conflict or a problem, and that problem must be solved by the kid.
9. Show, don't tell.
10. If you write in rhyme, your rhyme and meter must be perfect.
11. Forget numbers 2-10 until your story is written. Just start writing. Worry about the rules later.
Just have fun!
