I started writing picture books in 2019. The first one I wrote was 3000!! words. Don't do that.
Since then, I have read a lot about picture books, been to many conferences, paid for webinars, read blogs, interviews, paid for critiques - the works and this is my advice after all of that.
Go to the library and read every picture book published in the last 2 years. Check all of them out. Max out your check outs. Be there so often they know your name and start to offer you snacks. After you found your top 5 go home and type up the words and mark down that page numbers. Why? So you can see the flow, the page turns, the word count, the character arc. etc. You are studying the craft from the people who actually got published!
Understanding what a picture book actually is before you write one is the hardest part. That is why reading so many is so helpful. I will do a post all about what picture books are soon.
2. Find your people. If you are serious about being an author it means you need to invest a bit in it. I will write a post about what I think the best bang for your buck options are, but I can tell you right now the #1 thing you need to do is join SCBWI. This way you can join critique groups.
3. Write. Read. Walk Away. You just wrote a picture book and it is SO GOOD! Record yourself reading it so you can listen to it again a week later. Is it still good? Could it be better?
4. Revise. Word count. Page turns. Character emotional arc or concept, humor, language (fun/lyrical?). How can you revise your work to make it better? Ask your critique partners to read it. Ask someone that hates you to read it, don't ask your mom she will love it! Take their feedback gracefully, but remember who you are and what you want the work to be while you consider incorporating their ideas.
I will write about what to do once you have a perfectly polished picture book soon! But here is a sneak peek - nothing. You don't do anything with it. You write 5 more amazing fresh perfectly polished picture books. THEN you query.
Until next time...
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