SCBWI MD/DE/WV Spring 2014 Conference Summary - Part Two: Picture Book Writing

SCBWI MD/DE/WV Spring Nature’s Revised Draft Conference Summary

March 29^th, 2014

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Since my thoughts on the day quite lengthy, I’m breaking up the day into 3 (ok maybe 4) chunks for easier digesting. 

Tara Lazar

The summary continues with Part Two:

Up next were the longer morning sessions and I was off to From Manuscript to Dummy for Picture Book Writers with Tara Lazar. I tried to soak in EVERYTHING! I have over four and a half pages of notes! And notes on her handout! And note on a current WIP! And I was gone for a bit for my in person critique! (More on that tomorrow.)

Here are my bullet points that I have circled in my notes:

• You have 30 seconds to grab their attention. MAKE IT GOOD!
• “Writing a picture book is 99% staring and 1% writing.”
• Learn who YOU are as a WRITER.
• If it’s not apparent by words you’ve written, add an art note
• Kill Your Darlings
• Don’t let your editor/agent guess

When I came back from my critique, Tara was just about to start in on STORY ARC. Which for a pre-published author is something to be mindful of. “Increase your chances of getting bought,” was something Tara mentioned a few times.

Though I had heard the rule of threes and the 4 Ws before, it suddenly clicked while Tara was explaining it. Maybe it was because I just realized how to fix my WIP. Maybe it was because I was really paying attention. But I think it was Tara’s awesome personality and her great examples.

First the 4 Ws:

On the first page the reader should know: who the story is about, what they are doing, where and when they are doing it. The reader should be left wondering WHY are they doing it. I’m telling you Tara’s WHY?? is one of the best I’ve heard. Am I right attendees?

Example: EXTRA YARN by Mac Barnett opening sentence: 

On a cold afternoon, in a little cold town, where everywhere you looked was either the white of snow or the black of soot from chimneys, Annabelle found a box filled with yarn of every color.

Who: Annabelle

What: found a box of yarn

Where: in a cold town

When: on a cold afternoon

WHY: Why did she find colored yarn in a B&W town???

Are there exceptions to this? Yes, for example I WANT MY HAT BACK by Jon Klassen. But, if you are breaking this rule, it better be AMAZING!

Tara had us rewrite the first sentence of our WIP and I LOVE my new opening. (I volunteered to read mine and got my very own Tara Lazar WHHHYYYY?? Whoot!)

Don't you want an exciting coaster?

Next the Rule of Threes Roller Coaster:

Your MC should have three attempts to solve their problem. Each time failing with stakes rising and then learning something. This not only builds tension, but it builds empathy and the reader wants the MC to succeed. Then when they are at their lowest point, they succeed and solve their problem. BUT WAIT! Every good story has a twist right? What extends your story beyond the story? Are you leaving room for a sequel?

Example: CLICK CLACK MOO COWS THE TYPE by Doreen Cronin ending

            Duck brings a note to Farmer Brown with a note from the cows:

                        Dear Farmer Brown,

We will exchange our typewriter for electric blankets. Leave them outside the barn door and we will send Duck over with the typewriter.

Sincerely,

The Cows

            Farmer Brown send electric blankets and waits for Duck with the typewriter. But instead receives a note from The Ducks.

                        Dear Farmer Brown,

The pond is quite boring. We’d like a diving board.

Sincerely,

The Ducks

Twist: The Cows problem is solved, but Farmer Brown is still with out the typewriter. CLICK CLACK QUACK could be the sequel.

Tara gave so many more wonderful examples and if you ever get the chance to be in a session of hers I definitely recommend it. Definitely a big highlight of the day for me. (Even if we did forget to get a picture for 12X12.)

Phew! That was a long post, thanks for reading the whole thing! 

Ready for more? Check out Tara's Pinterest Board "Mastering the Children's Picture Book" here. Go ahead and follow her boards so you don't miss anything. :)

Tomorrow I’ll share about my first in-person conference critique.