One of the simplest ways to write a children’s picture book in 14 days or fewer is to decide on what type of book you want to write: a content book or one with a traditional plot structure.
Here’s how you to get started:
First, define your book.
Content Books
While most picture books contain valuable lessons for children, a content book is focused primarily on educational value. For example, content books for children ages 0-4, might focus on basic shapes, colors, letters, and numbers. For slightly older children (5-7), content books shift into early readers that contain simple sentences and controlled language that teach content. For example, they might contain a lesson about historical figures, geography, cultural traditions, or science.
Traditional Plot Structure Books
Depending on the story that you want to write, traditional plot structure books have, well, a traditional plot structure. This means that they typically follow the following formula:
The main character is introduced → The reader is introduced to the problem → The character goes on an adventure to solve the problem three times and fails, each time with the stakes getting higher and higher → On the fourth try, the character successfully solves the problem → The character is transformed
Making this decision is critical to mapping out the rest of your book.
Second, connect the storyline to vivid images.
As you write your story, visualize the images that you want to accompany each scene in vivid detail so that the reader can understand your story’s elements in real and relatable ways. Now, if you’re undecided about the type of book you want to write, remember that content books can be just as vivid and interactive as books with traditional plot structures.
You could, for example, write about La Tomatina in Spain and have exciting images about the characters throwing tomatoes at each other. The story itself along with the illustrations will reinforce the components of the tradition and help the children visualize themselves living the experience. (Side note: content books can also contain dialogue, plot twists, and drama just like books with a traditional plot structures. Again, the focus is just more on the educational value.)
Third, join the 14-Day Children’s Book Writing Challenge.
There’s nothing like having the support of other successful writers and authors to guide you on this journey. In the 14-Day Children’s Book Writing Challenge, you will be fully immersed in the world of children’s books with weekly coaching sessions and advice from successful authors, children’s librarians, and editors.
