WRITING FOR CHILDREN
ALL THE FEELS
You can make your picture book memorable by concentrating on emotional connection, advises Amy Sparkes
Amy Sparkes
One of the things I talk about a lot is the power of emotional connection in storytelling. This works across every discipline of writing, regardless of age range or genre, because it is universally recognised. Emotional connection in picture books is also important. Here is why it works and how you can use it in your picture book writing.
Why is it important?
The reason emotional connection works is because emotion is a fundamental human experience. It helps us make sense of the world around us. It guides us. It protects us. It brings us together and reminds us that although we have differences, people are fundamentally the same.
By bringing emotion into your story, you tap into that consciousness. The story feels more real to us. It chimes with us, and as a result, we have a richer reading experience.
Emotion across genre
There are many different genres of picture book, and your job is to know which genre (or mixture of genres) your story sits in. This is useful for all kinds of reasons, such as choosing vocabulary to use, adopting a suitable linguistic style or pitching to agents. Another reason it is important is for emotional connection. Once you know the genre of a book, you can think about the kind of emotional storytelling a reader would expect from this genre.