One of the most common issues I see when reviewing picture book manuscripts is this: a story that’s pleasant, charming, or even amusing—but static. Things happen, certainly. Events unfold. Perhaps there’s even a clever ending. But when I reach the final page, I find myself...
Read More
Many writers assume that depth comes from complexity—that richer stories require more plot, more explanation, more moving parts. But picture books teach us...
Read More
Picture books are often thought of as "simple." Short sentences. Only so many pages. A quick read. But anyone who has ever tried...
Read More
Dialogue in picture books does a lot of heavy lifting. Good dialogue: - Reveals character - Builds tension - Moves the plot forward - Delivers conflict -...
Read More
Let’s start with a confession. For years, I used “voice” and “tone” interchangeably. And the truth is, in casual conversation, many writers do....
Read More
There’s a particular magic to picture books that still thrills me—even after years of writing, editing, and teaching them: In roughly 32 pages...
Read More
Finding the right literary agent for your work can feel a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. With so...
Read More
My friend Peter H. Reynolds once gave me a great image for cultivating ideas. He said he had "story radar"...
Read More
Some writers love outlines, others feel boxed in by them. Mind mapping offers a third option—especially useful in the early stages of picture...
Read More
At the heart of nearly every picture book lives a question. Not a moral.Not a lesson.It's...
Read More