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Viewing Post from: Ken Baker: Children's Author
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Random thoughts and insights from Ken Baker - Children's author, freelance writer, husband and father of five. Ken Baker is the author of the picture books BRAVE LITTLE MONSTER (Sept. 2001) and OLD MACDONALD HAD A DRAGON (Coming Fall 2012). He also writes early readers, chapter books, and YA novels.
1. What Makes a Great Picture Book - Tip 1
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By: Ken Baker, on 5/19/2014
Blog: Ken Baker: Children's Author (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  writing tips, picture books, characters, writing conference, author advice, Add a tag

Characters can make or break a picture book. Donald Maass, literary agent and author of WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, talks about the importance for novels to have larger-than-life-characters. These are characters that act in unusual, unexpected, or dramatic ways. These are characters that do or say things that we wish we could do, but don't ever dare  to do or we are not able to do.

Larger-than-life-characters are not only important for novels, but they’re important for picture books too. Think PETE THE CAT, OLIVIA, CURIOUS GEORGE, and NO, DAVID. The characters in these stories are what make children want to read them over and over again. Want to write a great picture book? Start with a larger-than-life-character at its heart. The characteristics of larger-than-life-characters might include wit, spontaneity, compassion, daring, quirkiness, perseverance, cunning, humor, likeability, and so on.

Developing larger-than-life-characters is just one of many things I’ll be discussing from June 16-20 in the Picture Book Writing workshop I’ll be teaching at the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers (WIFYR) conference in Sandy, Utah. There are still a few slots open if you're interested.

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