Picture Book: self-editing checklist by Leanne Dyck

(all photos have been taken by Leanne Dyck on Mayne Island--unless otherwise stated)

Like a sponge, I've been soaking up a lot of information about writing picture books. All this learning has not gone to waste. It has helped me develop the following checklist.

-Check spelling, punctuation, and grammar

To help me with this, I have...

The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White

Handbook for Writers by Jane Flick and Celia Millward

-Did you begin by introducing the setting, main character, and story problem?

'Enduring picture books must be about something bigger than a mere incident. The story problem must explore some large theme or issue. It must have a kernel of truth about life and our world.'

(Ann Whitford Paul, Writing Picture Books, p. 23)

-Is the story compelling?

'We want our characters in our picture book stories to be:

1. someone the reader cares about

2. likable

3. a child, or an adult, or animal who is childlike

4. an imperfect character

5. someone who behaves in ways believable to that character

6. active, not passive

7. able to solve their own problems'  

(Ann Whitford Paul, Writing Picture Books, p. 57)


-Are there conflicts that the main character must overcome? How many?

Please click the link to read this helpful article:  How to create tension in a story in 8 ways

-Does the text leave room for the illustrator?

'The illustrator's pictures are the narrative of our words. That's why we don't need to write long descriptions. The picture will show what the character looks like. They will show the setting. Trust the creativity of the artist.'

(Ann Whitford Paul, Writing Picture Books, p. 157-158) 

-Do the characters speak appropriately? 

Hmm, speak appropriately? You might think this is about censorship--but, nope.

Keep in mind that people rarely talk in grammatically correct sentences. 

Remember the age of your protagonist. Ask yourself if someone that age talks the way your character does. If not, is there a reason? If there isn't a reason, re-write the dialogue.

Read your dialogue out loud. Does it flow?

-Does the ending solve the story problem and tie up the loose ends?

'It behooves writers to think of a general question about the underlying issue they are trying to unravel in each new story... The story problem must explore some large theme or issue. It must have a kernel of truth about life and our world.' 

(Ann Whitford Paul, Writing Picture Books, p. 23)

More...

Please click the link to read these helpful articles...

Common Mistakes Made by New Picture Book Writers 

by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Try this Picture Book editing checklist


Top 10 Tips for Picture Book Success

How to Revise a Picture Book 

Next post:  (May 8 approximately 5 pm PST):  Book review of Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
I read a lot of King--I'll explain why

Sharing my Author Journey...
June is usually a very productive month of me. I wondered why and then I figured it out...


 You see, every year I write a list of summer writing projects. There's the key.

Heading that list this summer:  
-finish rewriting my novel (fingers crossed)

I started rewriting my novel last February. I thought, ah this will be easy. It just needs a little tweaking.

Hmm, yeah. 

Did you ever start a project like that?

Maybe you descended the stairs to your basement; looked around and thought, It'll only take an hour. And a day later, you're still at it.

But, on a positive note, I'm thrilled to discover how much my writing has improved.