Today I’ve got a guest post from writer Eve Lynch that’s filled to the brim with practical tips for aspiring picture book authors.
I can still remember the book-box in my room and bedtime picture book adventures: flying through the night on a crowded broomstick, sitting to tea with a tiger, having a rumpus in the jungle with Max and the Wild Things. There was a time when I wouldn’t go to sleep before reading Peace at Last! Many children’s authors will tell you that’s why they write picture books: the joy that comes from being part of a child’s beloved collection.
However, tempting as it may be to think so, a picture book’s short length doesn’t automatically make it easier to write than a full length novel. That’s where this post comes in: keep these five tips in mind as you write and publish your picture book, and it’ll soon make its way into the hearts and book-boxes of young readers everywhere.
Tip #1: Begin with a great spin
It may seem like the secret ingredient behind the most successful picture books is a completely original, unexplored idea. But when you pare back even the most outlandish stories, you’ll still find familiar and universal topics at their core. The way to succeed is to find an interesting new angle on such a topic.
For example, Marcus Pfister pretty much wrote the book on sharing — literally. It’s called The Rainbow Fish, and it’s become a children’s classic for its imaginative underwater take on compassion and generosity. Nevertheless, great stories that explore the same, well-trodden subject matter in creative ways still manage to fly off the shelves.
Inspiration can come from just about anywhere, but if you find yourself struggling, remember that children will always want to read about experiences that mirror their own. Spend some time with the children you know (either your own, your best friend’s, or your neighbor’s) and see what they get up to – it seems much more fun than adulting anyway!
On the flip side, it’s less important that your characters mirror your readers. In fact, striving to create broadly relatable characters can result in a cast that is flat and forgettable. Don’t be afraid to make them as wacky and wonderful as you can. While we may see our tiny humans as cute and comical, in their imaginations they want to be brave, funny, clever and bold!
Tip #2: Do your research
Even if you’re set-to-go with a great idea, before you put pen to paper, it’s essential that you know your audience. Sadly, in this case that doesn’t just mean having fun with children, because ultimately it’s their parents who decide whether or not to buy your book.
Lots of parents still prefer to make their way to brick-and-mortar stores when they’re looking for picture books. So put yourself in their shoes and do the same! Once you’ve identified the category to which your book belongs (e.g., board books, early readers), find the relevant shelf and familiarize yourself with popular authors, themes, and writing styles.
Knowing what your audience is reading and understanding their tastes can provide helpful guidelines when you’re writing your book, but it’s even more important when you’re trying to sell it. Whether you’re looking to work with an agent or go directly to publishers, industry professionals will always be impressed if you can demonstrate an understanding of the business.
Tip #3: Fine-tune your manuscript
Editing your manuscript may seem like a job to leave for an actual editor – the clue is in the name, right? Unfortunately, wrong. Most publishers won’t accept a rough-around-the-edges picture book, so it’s up to you to refine it as much as possible before you submit it. Work on your manuscript meticulously, until it’s practically perfect… then work on it some more!
The first step of your editing process should be to make sure you have a manageable word count. If an acquiring editor receives a picture book that’s much too long, they’ll just see a great big workload and send you on your way. Of course, the shorter your story gets, the more true it becomes that every word really counts. Go through it line by line and ask yourself, “Is this essential?” If the answer is no, cut it!
The beauty of a picture book is that you can rely on the illustrations to do half the work, allowing you to keep your words to the bare essentials. This puts you at a real advantage when it comes to the golden rule of writing: “show, don’t tell”. For example, in Lunchtime, the author Rebecca Cobb focuses on the little girl’s actions; it’s the illustrations of her folded arms and pouty lips that show us she is not at all enamoured by the idea of lunch!
Tip #4: Get a child’s approval
Once your manuscript is shiny and polished, ask your friends and family — specifically, them and their kids — if they’ll be your beta readers. Sometimes a child’s brutal honesty can sting, but in this case it’s your most valuable tool!
You’ll want feedback from grown-ups too of course, so a great way to kill two birds with one stone is to have someone read your book to a child. Three birds if you’re able to hear your book read aloud! By watching their reactions carefully, you’ll be able to see the effect of any rhyming or repetition you’ve used, and know if your vocabulary is striking the right note.
If you’re unable to observe them in person (as is sadly often the case these days), consider creating a feedback form with specific questions for them to answer. This may help them articulate their thoughts more effectively than simply asking for general feedback.
After a thorough self-edit and a thumbs-up from your little beta readers, you might consider hiring a professional editor. Their insight and experience will make sure your picture book is ready for the market!
Tip #5: Weigh up your options
The easiest way to get your book published is to go through a literary agent, who will do the legwork required to find a publisher. Make sure you’ve found agents who suit you and your book before you start writing your query letter. If you’ve kept these tips in mind during the writing process, you should be able to write a winning ‘elevator pitch’ that explains precisely what makes your book different and where it stands in the children’s market.
What if you’ve got a great book, a stellar query letter, and you’re still not getting the responses you’d like? You still have plenty of possible paths to take. You can submit your manuscript directly to publishers who accept ‘unagented submissions’ (Picturebook Planet has a great, free list), or consider your self-publishing options. Lots of picture book authors avoid the self-publishing route, because they think they need the marketing powers of a traditional publisher. But in reality, whether you’re self-publishing or not, children’s authors do a significant share of the marketing work.
Marketing, the final and crucial step to publishing your book, really is a whole beast of its own. If I could share one final piece of advice on publishing picture books, it would be that reviews matter! Perhaps more so than for any other genre, since the children’s market is so saturated. So reach out to online communities, become an active member, and share your book with as many relevant people as you can!
Now that you’ve got these five key tips there’s nothing holding you back from writing and publishing a great picture book! So what are you waiting for? Get out there and be the iconic children’s author that your own young readers will always remember.
Eve Lynch is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors with the world’s best publishing resources and professionals. In her spare time, Eve enjoys travelling and reading literary fiction (though she’ll always have a soft spot for childhood classics), and is often on the lookout for scenic new places to sit down with a book – or even do a little writing of her own!