How to write your own picturebook
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This document provides advice for writing picture books, including choosing an appropriate age level, developing an original idea, crafting memorable characters, using effective words and text layout, illustrating or finding an illustrator, getting feedback, and publishing options. The key steps are to identify the target age group, develop an engaging story idea with buildup and resolution, write in a way that sounds enjoyable for children, and refine the text through feedback and multiple drafts before submitting to publishers. Picture books should have 16-32 pages that balance text and images to tell an entertaining visual story for young readers.
How to write your own picturebook
- 1. How to write your own picturebookAdvice for writers of all ages from a Children’s Librarian
- 2. Identify the age level of your readerPicturebooks are read mostly to preschoolers and early primary school childrenSome are more serious themes for all ages - like war or immigration, eg. Sadako by Eleanor Coerr or Shaun Tan’s “The arrival” Remember back to your childhood, and imagine telling your story to a child.Look at picturebooks and see what age they suit
- 3. IdeasKeep in mind your idea has to be original to get published – ask yourself, have you heard another story like yours ?If so, how can you make it more interesting? Otherwise your book may go straight into the publisher’s reject pile.Pick some strong memory, such as a childhood outing, a strong emotion, a problem or a funny thing that makes an entertaining taleWhat about hobbies like camping, fishing, dirt bike riding, football or dancing?Imagine the sounds, tastes, smells, sights and emotions and make them real with your wordsWrite it down as if speaking to a child -You have to enjoy the tale to tell it wellA problem, trick or adventure excites the child’s imagination -Make sure your idea includes a buildup and a satisfying ending maybe with a twist or joke to it.
- 4. CharactersCan be people or animals, even animals, trucks or trains etc. acting like people Think what was good about memorable characters such as Three little pigs, Thomas the Tank engine, Peter Rabbit, Blinky Bill, Harry the dirty dog, or Hairy McClaryThe character has a personality, emotions and reactions to the adventure they are inSee the characters from a child’s perspective – what makes them interesting?
- 5. WordsHow many words? 0 – 300 maxDo not use baby language unless you are writing for babiesInteresting words build a child’s vocabulary and are explained by image and contextSound words eg. “Boom bang bong”, rhymes and repetition help the child to remember the story, join in, and learn to readCheck your spelling and grammar
- 6. PagesMost picturebooks are 16 or 32 pages longThis includes the front and back inside cover and title pagesSome pages may have only a few or even no words on themThe pictures may be on one side of the page or interspersed with the wordsThe middle page is the only page on one continuous sheet of paperFold an A4 sheet in half and an A3 sheet in half to get an idea of page shape – to see what shape suits your pictures best
- 7. Text LayoutBecause of the layout of the book, the story progresses from left to rightThis makes a lot of sense with journeys and plots where action follows actionEach page presents an ideaSpace your words so the reader will feel curious to turn the page and find out more Pace the words – some pages will have more text than othersText can weave in and around the pictures, which can be more exciting than having pictures separated from the text
- 8. Polish your ideaOnce you have a text, read it aloud, see how it sounds – does it flow off your tongue?Test it on a small child – see which bits interest or bore them and work on theseIs it entertaining? How could you add more drama, humour or excitement?Are there worries or conflicts to add interest?Are the characters interesting enough?Can you add local flavoureg. Australian or is it meant to be set anywhere at all?
- 9. Most publishers are only interested in the text, and pick someone else to do the pictures. If you want to illustrate your own book, especially to self-publish, these tips are useful:PicturesImagine the story is a film of slides, some closeups, some far distant views, and some from different anglesDo the illustrations need to be gentle, cute, edgy or cartoony to aid the story? Simple or detailed?Do they add extra detail to the characters and setting? Do the illustrations tell you something the words omit to mention? Eg. Humour or insights about a character? eg. “Freddy was a fireman” (image shows that Freddy is a frog) Can you leave out some words because the pictures tell that part of the story?
- 10. Design and layoutGet some ideas from looking at picturebooksMake a mini book from loose paper, pin it together and number the pagesUse it to plan how to space the text and scribble in pencil the layout of your text and picturesRemember the middle spread allows for a pause, climax, or a large full width illustrationTake the book apart to see how the double sided page actually prints sheet by sheet
- 11. Printing optionsPictures can be scanned to a computer file and tidied up or even drawn in Photoshop using a drawing tabletText and images can be put together in Word, Publisher, In Design and other programsThese days there are online photo book printing business options and local printing businesses that may be able to help you eg. Lulu.Ask the printer what format they need the file presented to them in eg, pdf and what order they want the pages., what size and image quality they need eg. dpi
- 12. PublishersIf sending your text to a publisher, find publisher lists at your local library and find out how they want the manuscript presented. Don’t bother sending to non-picturebook publishers.Publishers reject most manuscripts they read – make sure yours is the most polished effort you can produce before mailing it Be prepared to wait 8 weeks for a response
- 13. PerserveranceAbove all, do not lose your sense of fun – enjoy the writing process so that your tale will be entertaining and readableTry, try, and try againPractice makes a better writerIf you do not sell all your self-published books, at least they make good presents with a personal touch