Picture Book Revision Steps

This is a document I put together for a presentation for my Writing Barn Write. Submit. Support. group. For anyone stuck on a revision, or with a giant folder of picture book manuscripts that need polishing, this might help…  

STEPS FOR REVISING A PICTURE BOOK DRAFT 

Step 1: Check your pitch. Does your short pitch succinctly tell what your story is about? Is it unique? Does it hook the reader? Does the story sound kid friendly? 

Ex. Extra Yarn - A monochrome town gets a change of color and attitude with the help of a magical box of yarn and a girl named Annabelle. But what will the greedy, clothes-loving archduke find when he tries to buy--then steal--the box for himself?

Ex. Whobert Whover, Owl Detective – Help Whobert Whover, Owl Detective, keep his woods safe in this hilarious who-who-dun-it. What happened to Perry the Possum? Whobert is on the case!

Ex. Sophie’s Squash - Sophie chooses a squash at the farmer’s market, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere. But what's a girl to do when the squash she loves begins to rot? 

Step 2: Check opening. Do your opening lines grab the reader’s attention? Ideally, they address the Who, What, Where, When and Why all in one power-packed beginning.

Ex. This Moose Belongs to Me – Wilfred owned a moose.

Ex. Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse – Adrian Simcox sits all by himself, probably daydreaming again. And Adrian Simcox tells anyone who will listen that he has a horse.

Ex. Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great – Things are a lot different around here since that Unicorn moved in.

You can email me at me@michellehowellmiller.com for the rest of the steps…