WRITING FOR CHILDREN
TONE IT UP
Get your picture books in tip-top shape for the Picture Book category of WM’s Children’s Book Prize, with advice from Amy Sparkes
Every autumn we run the Writing Magazine Children’s Book Prize, with both picture book and chapter book categories. And the submission window is coming around again! This autumn we will be looking for brilliant picture books for young readers which entertain, inspire or move us – or perhaps all three! Previous winners have gone on to sign with agents or seen their winning entry become a published book (you can find out more here: www.storygodmother.co.uk/index.php/author-spotlight).
Often, writers will consider the character, plot and theme of their picture book, but sometimes the tone and genre can be a little less clear. But having a solid understanding of genre and tone can enhance the reader’s experiences and make the story feel less generic and middle-of-the-road. Here are some tips about how to explore them to strengthen your picture book writing.
GENRE
Genre usually refers to a style or category and helps us make sense of where a picture book fits. It can be a mixture of genres, for example a ‘space adventure’ (combining science fiction and adventure genres). Understanding your genre is important for pitching, as it helps inform the reader what to expect. Where do you think it would sit on the shelf? Which other titles do you think it might compare to? When you understand exactly what your story is, commit to it 100%. Think about what your reader’s expectations are for certain genres. Brainstorm around the genre of your story – what do you think a reader will be expecting and how can you include these expectations in your picture book text? Have you got something on every spread, either included in the text or the illustrations?