Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication

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Description

Create engaging stories for the youngest readers! Writing picture books takes a unique set of skills. After all, you only have thirty-two pages to bring your story to life for readers ages two to eight, and the adults in their lives. Your text must be tightly focused yet leave room for illustrations to tell part of the story. And, of course, picture books should be a joy to read aloud. 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 and make your manuscript sing .Hands-on revision exercises (get out your scissors, tape, and highlighters) to help you identify problems and improve your picture book manuscripts .Tips on researching the picture book market and approaching publishers Whether you're just starting out as a picture book writer or have tried unsuccessfully to get your work published, Writing Picture Books is just what you need to craft picture books that will appeal to young readers and parents, agents, and editors.

Author Bio

Ann Whitford Paul became inspired to write picture books after years of bedtime reading to her four children. She writes picture books, poetry and early readers. Her books have won numerous awards and recognition including a place on The New York Times Notable Books List, Carl Sandburg Award for Children's Literature, Bank Street College Best Books list, Notable Science and Social Studies Books, National Parenting Centers "Seal of Approval," and Recognition of Merit from the George C. Stone Center for Children's Books of the Claremont Graduate University, and they've been nominated for numerous state reading awards. When not busy typing at her computer or teaching picture book writing at UCLA Extension, Ann can most often be found taking a long walk. Her hobbies include cooking, quilting, and knitting. She also loves to watch spiders spin their webs, snails paint their trails, and cats play with yarn. She lives in Los Angeles and hopes you'll check out her Web site at www.annwhitfordpaul.net.