FeedBlog Tour With Author Ann Whitford Paul
June 28, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Cyrus, Kurt, Elementary Educators, Paul, Ann Whitford, Picture Book, six traits of writing Tags: Ann Whitford Paul, blog tours, Kurt Cyrus, Word Builder, WOW! Women On Writing, Writing Picture Books
Thank you for stopping by “Read These Books and Use Them” today. Author Ann Whitford Paul is with us today on her blog tour, and we have a real treat for you!
**LEAVE A COMMENT below by Tuesday, June 30, 8:00 p.m. CST, for a chance to win either Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication or Word Builder, a picture book about words. Two winners will be drawn randomly. Winner number one will get the first pick of the book he or she wants.
An interview with Ann Whitford Paul, author of Writing Picture Books and Word Builder:
Margo: Hi Ann, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my blog today and share your knowledge with us. What made you want to write Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication?
Ann: I was fortunate enough to be advised, tutored, and taught by two fantastic teachers who encouraged and prodded me to keep working. Without Myra Cohn Livingston and Sue Alexander, I might still be unpublished. When I finally had a few books published, I knew I wanted to pay back those talented and giving women by doing what they did–mentoring and teaching others. So I started teaching at UCLA Extension. One of my students, Molli Nickell, first brought up the idea of writing a book [about writing picture books], but I was terrified. My manuscripts were only 350 words long. Could I really write a book for adults that in the end turned out to be 350 manuscript pages? I put it off and put it off for several years until finally I willed myself to begin. Breaking the project into chapters made it much easier. I thought of each chapter as a picture book, and then I was able to proceed. Also I discovered that much of the material for my book already lived in my computer. Handouts and class lectures were adapted and revised to fit into the book. Isn’t it amazing how a project that seems so overwhelming can turn out not to be so once we begin?
Margo: That is so true; and we all know it when we are busy procrastinating instead of writing, but we do it anyway. (laughs) Your book offers chapters on all sorts of topics for picture book writers from early story decisions to the structure of your story to what to do when your story is finally done! Out of all of the advice and tips in the book, what are the two things writers can start doing today to improve their picture book manuscripts?
Ann: Yipes! Just two? I think my first suggestion would be to pay close attention to the language of your story. Picture books are meant to be read out loud. Therefore the words have to be able to flow off the tongue of the adult reader. They have to be written in such a manner that even an untrained actor can read them with expression. In addition, they must echo the action in the story. In my book, I spend several chapters talking about the sounds and rhythms of words and sentences. Quiet scenes need quieter words and leisurely sentences. High action scenes need hard words and short tight sentences. Work hard on the language of your story, and you’ll be one step ahead of most picture book writers.
The second suggestion would be to fill your story with action. Action can be illustrated. Think of your picture book as a slide show with each page or spread giving the illustrator an opportunity for a new picture. Following up on this, I encourage every picture book writer to make a dummy of her book . . . a dummy is 32 pages (the usual length of a picture book) with your words pasted on each page where you think they would fall. This dummy is not to send to the publisher, but [it] is yours to make sure that you have good picture variety, strong page turns, and both tight openings and endings. I wouldn’t submit a manuscript without making a dummy.
But my most important advice (I guess this is cheating because it’s number three) to any writer, whether picture books or adult novels, is not to try to imitate other writers. Dr. Seuss and J. K. Rowling are unique. Their books succeed because they were the first. Follow the stories that grab you, and have faith that your experiences and outlook will make your books unique and therefore maybe even best sellers.
Margo: I’m glad you cheated and included three tips because all three are equally important. Let’s switch now and talk about your picture book that you have out called Word Builder. How can teachers use Word Builder in their classrooms? Would it be appropriate for all elementary grades?
Ann: My friend Sandy Sandy Schuckett, a retired librarian, made up a worksheet for teachers to use in the classroom. I’m attaching it here [see the file link below for the worksheet], and it will be available when I update my website, www.annwhitfordpaul.com, soon.
Many schools have units where students write books, and I would imagine that WORD BUILDER might take some of the fear of writing away from girls and boys. After all, writing is simply building words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs. It’s as natural as piling blocks into a tower or walking forward along a line. One block and one step at a time. That’s how you get a story down. And once the story is down, then comes my favorite part—revision. I agree with Katherine Patterson when she said, “I love revisions. Where else in life can spilled milk be transformed into ice cream?” The hardest part of writing is the first draft, then comes the fun part—making a story the best it can be.
Margo: Ann, such words of wisdom from you and Katherine Patterson. Teachers, make sure you download this two page resource for use with the book, Word Builder. It is excellent! worksheetwordbuilder.doc
**Don’t forget to leave a comment or question for Ann for a chance to win one of her fantastic books!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Hi Margo and Ann- thank you for the pearls of wisdom! I’ve got lots of ideas for picture books but just can’t seem to write the words. How do you get the story from your head to paper? It seems so easy, but when I sit down to write I feel overwhelmed.
Thanks!
Nancy
June 29th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Thanks so much for sharing your ideas. As a literacy teacher and mom of three children, I totally agree with your thoughts on concentrating on the language you use. Using enriching vocabulary helps to paint the mental images in the minds of students, engages their imaginations, and helps to bridge the vocabulary gap that exists between struggling and advanced readers. Often times if struggling readers can’t read it, they won’t hear it and read aloud books are the optimal context for them to receive exposure to enriching language.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Thank you for this interview, Margo and Ann. All very good suggestions, making me want to read more! I’m going to try reading my book dummy out loud right now!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Ann,
I wanted to tell you your book Word Builder inspired me(and hopefully my son). His handwriting is not great and I was determined that he would do some writing over the summer for practice. Well, he hates copying a list of words but after your book I decided to see if he would be anymore agreeable if he was writing a story. He loves it AND his handwriting is improving. His first story was about a dog with super powers.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Margo, thanks for hosting! And Ann, thanks for these tips. All are easy to put to use immediately. I especially love your analogy of writing each chapter as a book on its own. Makes that large task more manageable. And thank you both for posting links to the worksheets! I will use with my writing students : )
June 29th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Hi Ann and Margo,
Great interview! I had the pleasure of hosting Ann on Donna’s Book Pub last week, where she shared her insight. I’ve been reading HOW TO WRITE PICTURE BOOKS, and I highly recommend Ann’s book to children’s writers–and also all other writers because of the wonderful advice and specific examples Ann gives to improve one’s writing. WORD BUILDER sounds like a wonderful book, too.
Thanks to both of you,
Donna
June 29th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Margo and Ann, Thanks for sharing How To Write Picture Books. It’s now on my list to buy!
June 29th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Thank you all for your kind comments about my interview and my book. I loved hearing about your son Jodi who doesn’t mind practicing his handwriting when he’s writing a story. That’s a great idea!
Nancy I especially wanted to let you know that you’re not alone when you have trouble getting a first draft down. I hate that part of writing, because my self-critic is always saying “this stinks!” or “boring” or “why do you think anyone will want to read what you write.” I do anything to avoid finishing because it’s so painful. When you find me checking my e-mail, baking a cake, calling a friend, cleaning out a closet, it’s a good bet that I’m so discouraged by my new story that I have to get away from it.
So how do I finally get a first draft down? I use several different techniques. The first one is a reward. I force myself to at least get part of it down, then I treat myself to a cup of tea. Then I send myself back to the computer with another reward dangling in front of me. Another thing I do when I hate what I’m writing so much, I finish it as fast as I can without thinking about the words I’m using. Pretend it’s a race and the sooner you finish the better. After it’s down, congratulate yourself and then it’s time for the fun part of writing–revision. But you can’t get to that until you have a first draft.
Third tell yourself that you know what you write is going to be terrible . . . give yourself permission to write garbage, then you won’t be so self-critical. Just say, this is trash, but afterwards I’ll make it better. I hope this helps!
June 30th, 2009 at 4:31 am
Thanks for the good advice. I’ve written nonfiction, memoir, poetry, and novels, but never a picture book. Now I feel inspired to try one. My daughter has been trying to put together a picture book of words and pictures about her daughter’s first few days of school. She has dozens of cute photographs, but can’t seem to get the words together. I’ll buy your book and share it with her!
June 30th, 2009 at 5:33 am
After procrastinating all day, I finally sat down at my computer. Fortunately I decided to check out Margo’s website blog first. Ann, I am so glad I did. After reading the entire interview, I know for certain I need to get a copy of your book, Writing Picture Books. I especially liked your final comments where you said to pretend it’s a race. I will definetly try that.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I need your book, Ann. I’ve had picture books published (now out of print), but after concentrating on two historical fiction middle-grade novels, I seem to have lost touch with writing picture books. I like the suggestions you make, and am eager to read more. And revise the p.b. I’m working on.
Thanks for your advice.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Thank you much Margo and Ann for this post. The advice on matching the language to the scene was very interesting to me. I will definitely put “Writing Picture Books” on my to read list.
Thanks,
Anahita
July 1st, 2009 at 1:00 am
Thanks to both of you for this insightful blog post. The importance of role models and mentors sharing their expertise cannot be overstated. I’m sure “Writing Picture Books” will be a great help to me. I am a “writer only” and having NO illustration skills but your suggestion of making a personal dummy to help guide my language choice is a marvelous idea. Thanks again!
Tori