How to Write a Picture Book

When you set out to write a picture book for young children, don't go into it with the illusion that it's easy. The words in a picture book may be simple, but the very simplicity of the text is what makes it difficult. If you do manage to write a picture book, you will probably want to write more. Picture-book writing is rewarding because you learn a lot in writing them as well as having finished the manuscript.

Instructions

1. Decide what age you are marketing for and study your market. Read picture books--a lot of picture books. Read publishers' guidelines. Study children of that age, or recall your own children when they were that age, and think about what vocabulary they use. Write using a vocabulary that is not too simple and not too complex for your target market.

2. Think of an idea for the book. An idea for a fiction picture book will usually include a conflict that the child who is your main character can go through and resolve on her own--no letting adults solve the conflict. Brainstorm ideas by thinking about your own childhood. What were your problems, your wishes, your frustrations? What obstacles did you encounter? What interesting people did you have conflicts with? For a non-fiction picture book, you can read newspapers and even school websites to find out what topics are hot and interesting to your potential readers.

3. Decide who your main character will be. You can have other characters, but the main character will have to be well defined. Your character might be a child or an animal child, even a fantasy creature.

4. Decide how you will begin the story. Your first page, and ideally your first sentence, should illustrate the conflict.

5. Write the picture book using age-appropriate vocabulary and keeping your word count as low as possible. Be as concise as you can. Many picture books are just a few hundred words. If this is a book you expect adults to read to children, keep the adults in mind, too, and try to write for them as well as the children. This can be hard to do, but it will make a better sale.

6. Read the picture book aloud when it is finished. If you stumble at all, revise. Read the book to someone else. Have someone else read it aloud to you. If possible, read it to as many children as you can. Keep revising. The revision part is often the hardest part of writing a picture book. But when you have revised it based on the advice and feedback you receive, you'll be rewarded with a manuscript that is your very best effort--and much more competitive in the publishing market.

Tips & Warnings

• You do not need to illustrate your picture book yourself to submit it to publishers. In fact, most prefer that you don't.