Writing a Children's Picture Book

I've said a lot about writing in general, but not much (if anything) about writing a children's picture book.

To start, you need to know that writing a picture book takes on a particular flavor. I'd like to think of it as chocolate.

Photo by: Stu_spivack, courtesy of Flickr

You can write a picture book in strawberry, vanilla or swirl, but it may be more like an adult book with pictures, or even a long, drawn out history lesson that young children could care less about. Your book may be too wordy and the moral may be too obvious and preachy.

Children's picture books are the hardest genre to write. If you've heard otherwise, you're probably not speaking to a children's writer. What should you focus on to tell the best story?

• Less is more. You want to tell the story, balancing the text with the pictures involved. You don't need to say everything, in fact, the illustrator and the writer have a 50/50 partnership, and often the partnership is 60/40, meaning the author writes 40 percent text (or even less), and the illustrator gives up 60 percent to the illustrations. After your first draft, go over your manuscript and see how many words you can cut out because of the illustrations (you've envisioned) that show what's happening and don't need to be written about. You may be surprised.
• You don't need text on every page, either. Also, consider a double-page spread and how the story will look using one or more.



Photo by: cbgrfx123, courtesy of Flickr

• Children like to read about someone a bit older than they are, doing things they might be just learning to do. A 3-year-old may enjoy digging in the sand, but if the story is also about making a fairy-sand castle, you're taking the child a bit further than their current capabilities.
• Children don't like to be talked down to. They want to feel grownup, even if they're only 3.
• Much has been said about talking animals; about not doing it. I'm all in favor of talking animals. If the story is captivating and draws you in, who cares?
• The illustrator you choose for your picture book is paramount, even if you have a terrific story. Most consumers purchase a picture book BECAUSE of the illustrations, not because of the story. If you have terrific illustrations as well as a terrific story, you've probably got a hit.
• Vary your sentence lengths. Think of poetry. Read the story aloud MANY TIMES to get a feel for sound. Cut out anything in the story that is jarring or causes you to stumble. Re-write scenes if necessary so that the words flow. Most picture books will be read out loud so make sure yours takes more than the cake.
• Make up a dummy book. Gather some type paper. Fold a few sections in half and lay them together like a book. Try out your text on the pages. Sketch out the drawings you want on the individual pages. Find out how many pages you're going to need to tell your story and see if your story is interesting enough to carry the reader to the end. 

Getting your reader to the end is key and that makes writing a picture book no easy task, but writing for children can be a lot of fun, especially if your remember the tips above.

Blog Radio Marketing

Today I'd like to talk about blog radio marketing. Yesterday, I spoke of those areas of marketing that cost you little when it comes to sharing your work; i.e, postcards, blogs, online interviews, etc.

Edited Broadcasts

When you're ready for the next step of speaking up about your book in a very real way, I suggest making blog radio marketing a part of your journey. Though some radio sources will charge you for the service of getting yourself online, many more are willing to help you market your new book at no cost.

Get excited about blog radio marketing

Just yesterday I was interviewed by Danielle Hampson of The Christian Authors Show. The Christian Authors Show is a part of TheAuthorsShow.com, which offers authors of various genres including (The Business Authors Show, The Children Authors Show, The Wellness Authors Show and The Authors Show) the opportunity to market their book for FREE through a professionally edited interview. Sure, there are package deals following the interview that allow for additional services provided by TheAuthorsShow, but your interview and posting are free for 24 hours.

Keep in mind that I hadn't been interviewed for radio for about 10 years when my first book, "A River of Stones" came out, but I was quickly assured that all would be well, not to be nervous, and that I was to treat the interview like a nice conversation with a friend.

Wow. It was amazing. You will find my radio interview on June 11, 2012 at http://www.TheChristianAuthorsShow.com. And please let me know what you think!

Live Broadcasts

Live broadcasts are just what they sound like. You are on the radio live. The good news is that you'll receive a list of questions before the interview to prepare yourself. (The same is true for the edited broadcast that I spoke about above).

Although you have a list of questions, it's a good idea to simply review them and not write your answers down verbatim. You can list key words that you don't want to forget, but the interview needs to be natural sounding, not rehearsed. 

Mark Tierno has a radio show called Author Talk, which I will be a part of on June 19, 2012 at 9 a.m. PT. (That means if you're MT like I am, you will be listening in at: 10 a.m.) You can sign up to listen in live at: http://www.maldene.com/author-talk. 

Both of these radio marketing ideas came to me through my own research and there are many other radio opportunities out there to talk about your book--if you're daring enough.

Marketing for the Self-Professed Shy Person

So, you've written a novel, had it published, and now comes the really hard part--talking about it.

When it's hard enough to talk to your family about your book, you may just want to check yourself into the 'shy' category of authorship, though you should never be afraid to move forward anyway.

I find that the best beginning ways to market myself come in the form of props and non-speaking ventures. Instead of getting anxious over a radio or television interview, consider what a book postcard would do for you or an online interview that is typed up and displayed on a reviewer site.

It's already a given that you're great at writing so keep writing! Here are some ideas:

• Begin a new blog on writing. Share you insights about writing, publishing, or marketing with other readers.
• Write what you know and share it with someone else. There are many folks out there that want guest bloggers. They may not pay, but they will share your words with their readers along with your bio and connection to your work.
• Do an online interview. Locate blogs that focus on interviewing authors. When you find interest, fill out the questionnaire. Send it back and wait to see your interview! Most blog owners also ask for your author picture and book cover JPEG.
• Purchase some book postcards. On one side have your book, on the other, a synopsis of your book and contact information. Pass them out whenever someone asks you what you do for a living. Leave them wherever you happen to go, whether it be the doctors or your favorite restaurant. 
• Get connected on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Let your friends and family know that you've just published a book and where they can get it. Whenever you publish a blog or article for another site, let everyone know with a link to the spot.
• The most important thing to remember: As you do these non-speaking things, you will get more daring. That doesn't mean you won't be afraid to have a radio interview or be on television, but you will have prepared yourself by doing these others things first.