If you want your picture book to rise to the top of the unsolicited pile you need more than an amazing character (preferably not a talking broomstick) and a great story. So if you promise to not say “So, you write children’s books? That’s really easy, right?” I’ll share 7 of my favorite tips for writing a children’s book manuscript and (hopefully) get it sold:
1. Define a target market. If I hear “This is a story for ALL ages” one more time, I’m going to spontaneously combust. Pick an age group and write a relatable story for them. Is it for young children (target ages 2-6); Middle graders (target ages 8-11); or Young Adult (target 12+)? If you have really written a story for all ages, it will work on this and so many more levels. But if you can’t engage even one of these groups directly, it won’t work for any of them.
2. Choose a relatable theme? Does it have wide appeal? Is it from a child’s point of view – or at least about an issue that’s important to a child’s world? (So you might want to rethink your story about the middle-aged grocer who is sad their lettuce isn’t selling – kid’s don’t understand the 9-5 gig, man!). If a child relates to your story and sees themselves in it, they’ll want to read it over and over.
3. Make a clear beginning, middle, and an end. A story about a little girl who sees a snail, fills a bucket with sand then goes to bed at night is not a story, it’s your child’s day. And while I’m sure she had a lovely day, it just doesn’t make for a compelling story…well, to anyone other than her grandmother. The truth is, ending a story is even harder than starting one.
4. Don’t let your story be preachy. Your story should be subtle enough to convey a message without the moral being “in your face.” Kids can smell morals. And they smell like Brussels sprouts.
5. ‘Show’, don’t ‘tell’. Writing picture books looks deceptively simple—after all, how hard can it be to write a 32-page story of about 700 words? (Most picture books are between 500 and 1000 words). In fact, though, it is this very economy of words that challenges a writer most. The craft of writing picture books involves telling your story in as few — and using the most potent — words possible (don’t get me started on why rhyme makes this even harder!) Keep it short and keep it “to the point.”
