Master the Art of Writing Enthralling Tales for the Youngest pre-and emerging readers! Fully updated and thoroughly revised, Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition is the go-to resource for writers crafting stories for children ages two to eight. You'll learn the unique set of skills it takes to bring your story to life by using tightly focused text and leaving room for the illustrator to be creative. Award-winning author Ann Whitford Paul helps you develop the skills you need by walking you through techniques and exercises specifically for picture book writers. You'll find:    • Instruction on generating ideas, creating characters, point-of-view, beginnings and endings, plotting, word count, rhyme, and more    • Unique methods for using poetic techniques to enrich your writing    • Hands-on revision exercises (get out your scissors, tape, and highlighters) to help identify problems and improve your picture book manuscripts    • Updated tips for researching the changing picture book market, approaching publishers, working with an agent, and developing a platform    • All new quizzes and examples from picture books throughout    • New chapters cover issues such as page turns, agents, and self-publishing Whether you're just starting out as a picture book writer or have tried unsuccessfully to get your work published, Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition is just what you need to craft picture books that will appeal to young children and parents, and agents and editors. "If you want to write picture books, you must have this book." -- San Francisco Book Review , 5 stars Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition A Hands-on Guide from Story Creation to Publication By Ann Whitford Paul, Cris Freese, Amy Jones F+W Media, Inc. Copyright © 2018 Ann Whitford Paul All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4403-5375-8 Contents WELCOME TO THIS REVISED AND EXPANDED BOOK, PROLOGUE, PART ONE Before You Write Your Story, 1. BECOMING A PICTURE-BOOK SCHOLAR, PART TWO Early Story Decisions, 2. BUILDING A FRAME FOR YOUR STORY HOUSE, 3. TELLING YOUR STORY Part One, 4. TELLING YOUR STORY Part Two, 5. TELLING YOUR STORY Part Three, 6. DARLINGS, DEMONS, OR A MIXTURE OF BOTH Creating Compelling Characters, PART THREE The Structure of Your Story, 7. DIVING INTO YOUR STORY, 8. BAITING WITH A SHARP HOOK Creating a Fabulous First Line, 9. BASIC PLOTTING, 10. MORE ON PLOTTING The Three-Act Structure, 11. HOLDING YOUR STORY TOGETHER, 12. DOES YOUR STORY HAVE A SATISFYING ENDING?, PART FOUR The Language of Your Story, 13. THE TWO Ss OF STRONG WRITING, 14. RHYME TIME, 15. MAKING MUSIC WITH YOUR PROSE, 16. THE IMPORTANCE OF WORD COUNT, PART FIVE Tying Together Loose Ends, 17. PAGE TURNS, 18. CUT AND PASTE Making a Mock-up Book, 19. GRABBING THE READER WITH A GREAT TITLE, PART SIX After Your Story Is Done, 20. SHARING YOUR STORY, 21. SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT, 22. THE BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING, 23. SELF-PUBLISHING?, 24. PRIMING YOUR IDEA PUMP, 25. WHEN YOUR DREAMS TURN INTO REALITY A Publisher Makes an Offer, EPILOGUE, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, BIBLIOGRAPHY, CHAPTER 1 Becoming a Picture-Book Scholar "Writing is a craft before it is an art. ..." — DONALD M. MURRAY Having your appendix removed doesn't qualify you to then perform an appendectomy, so why should having heard or read picture books qualify you to write one? You wouldn't start creating a software program without first researching computer theory, but some people think they can write a picture book without ever reading or studying contemporary picture books. Picture books have a unique form and audience. In this chapter, you'll learn what a picture book is and what its audience requires from you the writer. But first I'd like to tell you a true story. Several years ago, my family was enjoying a pleasant summer supper outside and having an animated discussion about the state of education in this country. With five other eager participants, I couldn't get in a word. Frustrated at being ignored, I pounded my fist on the table: "Listen to me! I have something to say!" My sixteen-year-old son Alan looked at me incredulously. "Listen to you? Why should we listen to you? You write books for people who can't even read." We all had a good laugh, and I'm happy to say, they did let me speak my piece. Much later, mulling over his comment, I realized Alan had come up with the perfect way to begin defining a picture book. A BOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T READ Picture books are usually read by an adult reader to a nonreader. To that end, picture books combine words with pictures that entice the nonreader to listen and help her construct meaning from the words. Picture books traditionally find an audience in young children. Today, some picture books and graphic novels are published for fluent readers, even adults, but this book will focus on those aimed at children ages two through eight. Such picture books are