| Many beginners believe writing picture
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| | needs to inspire a different
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| books are a breeze, but it requires a lot
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| | illustration. So count out 36 words from
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| of skill to pack a story into a few
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| | your manuscript and note how big a block
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| words. If writing a picture book is your
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| | of text that is on the page. That's about
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| dream, here are some tips to consider
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| | how many words you can devote to each
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| before you begin:
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| | illustration. After that, your characters
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| 1. Keep it simple. You should be able to
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| | have to do something move around, change
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| sum up the plot of your picture book in
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| | locations so the illustrator will have a
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| three sentences. Not every detail, of
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| | new picture to draw.
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| course, but the broad strokes. Use one
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| | One way to think in pictures is to convey
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| sentence for the beginning (naming your
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| | the character's problem, and her efforts
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| main character and the problem or
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| | to solve that problem, in concrete,
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| conflict he'll face in the story), one
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| | visual terms. If your character is having
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| for the middle (describing the gist of
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| | trouble memorizing facts for school, that
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| the efforts your character makes to solve
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| | all takes place inside her head. But if
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| his problem), and one for the end (how he
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| | she's embarrassed because she can't swim,
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| finally resolves the conflict and reaches
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| | then her attempts to learn are easily
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| his goal). If three sentences doesn't
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| | illustrated. Note: Some illustrations
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| capture the essence of your plot, then
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| | will span two facing pages, called a
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| it's probably too complex for a picture
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| | two-page spread. In this case, you'll
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| book.
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| | have about 70 words for that one
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| Note: You're concentrating here on plot
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| | illustration. But picture books are a mix
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| (the action of the story), rather than
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| | of single page illustrations and two-page
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| theme (the underlying message). Don't get
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| | spreads, so keep the action moving at a
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| into describing theme when you're
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| | good pace.
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| summarizing your plot. The theme
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| | 3. Keep a childlike outlook. Picture book
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| shouldn't even be an issue at this point.
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| | characters can be children, adults,
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| You want to construct the story so the
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| | animals or fantasy characters. But all
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| character's actions, and how he changes
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| | main characters must embody the
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| because of those actions, implies a
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| | sensibilities of a child between the ages
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| lesson to your readers.
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| | of 4-8. This mean the problem your
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| 2. Think in pictures. The term "picture
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| | characters faces needs to be relevant and
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| books" says it all: the illustrations are
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| | important to your target audience. The
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| just as important as the words. The
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| | way your character tackles that problem
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| average picture book is 32 pages long,
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| | must fit with the way a child would
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| with about four pages of front matter
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| | tackle it. Don't create an adult main
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| (title page, copyright page, etc.) So you
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| | character just so you can impose some
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| have 28 pages of text and illustration.
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| | adult wisdom on your readers. Grown-up
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| If you aim for 1000 words to tell your
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| | characters using the emotional, illogical
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| story (the average length of picture book
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| | and sometimes messy coping strategies of
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| text), that gives you about 36 words per
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| | children can be a very effective, and
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| page (some pages will have more words,
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| | funny, storytelling technique. Above all,
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| some less, depending on the pacing of
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| | the character must be the one to solve
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| your story).
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| | the problem, using methods that are
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| While you don't want to obsess over
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| | accessible to children. If readers see
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| precise word counts when you're writing
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| | themselves in your main character, then
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| early drafts of your manuscript, do keep
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| | they'll understand the underlying message
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| in mind that every page of your book
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| | of your story.
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