Misconceptions about writing picture books: why short does NOT mean easy

NOTE: This is an updated version of a post I made a while back. For those illustrate as well as write, feel free to use my free picture book thumbnail templates.

So many people think that short = easy, especially when it comes to picture books.

And while yes, it's easy to crank out a picture book manuscript in terms of wordcount, writing a picture book story that a publisher will want to acquire is an entirely different animal.

At this point, I can imagine a number of you leaping up and saying, "You shouldn't worry about the market! Just write the story that you were meant to write!"  I partly agree.

However, if your goal is to be PUBLISHED, then I strongly advise you to go to local children's bookstore and  library; I guarantee you will save yourself much heartache and wasted effort. Familiarise yourself with what's being published. Let yourself fall in love with some of these picture books and then ask yourself why you enjoy them so much.

A few common mistakes that new picture book writers make:

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Happy Thanksgiving to you Americans out there!

A #NaNoWriMo Thanksgiving

Don't let fear of writing poorly stop you from writing. That's why we revise. - Cindy Pon

Don't let fear of writing poorly stop you from writing. That's why we revise. - Cindy Pon

Imagination can be dangerous. It can change the world & that's why we write. - Meg Rosoff

"Imagination can be dangerous. It can change the world & that's why we write."

- Meg Rosoff

Hopeful messages for young people from the kidlit community

EDITED: Please note that Jarrett has asked the kidlit community use #hugsfromkidlit instead of the safety pin hashtag.

Let's stay organized w/ #kidlitsafetypins hashtag. https://t.co/xPB9lYScJx

— Jarrett J. Krosoczka (@StudioJJK) November 11, 2016

I am so moved, browsing through all the #kidlitsafetypins posts on Twitter. I've created some as well; click on any image below for a printable version. To teachers and librarians: as Kate Messner said, if this is something you plan to share with students, please do also take the time to talk about what it means to have someone's back when it comes to fighting bullying and bigotry. See Kate's post here.

Click on any of the images below (I'll be adding more over the weekend) for a print-ready version.

Poster with characters from I'M BORED:

Poster with characters from the upcoming MITZI TULANE book:

Forget about the flowers & candlelight. This is what would sweep ME off my feet...

Late Bloomer Profile: Andrea Zuill and her debut picture book, WOLF CAMP (Schwartz & Wade)

I met Andrea Zuill through the SCBWI Mentorship Program. Andrea was chosen for the program in 2011. She is SO much fun, with a wonderfully quirky sense of humor. I was VERY excited for Andrea when she got her first book contract! And with a prestigious publishing imprint like Schwartz & Wade!

Andrea was 53 when her first picture book WOLF CAMP debuted earlier this year.

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Quarks, Aerospace Engineering & Advice For Young Writers: Three Questions with children's book author Ruth Spiro

Ruth Spiro is the author of the Baby Loves Science series, published by Charlesbridge. Her debut picture book, Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist won awards from Writer’s Digest and Willamette Writers, and was a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year. Thanks to Ruth for answering Three Questions for me on Inkygirl.com today!

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