by As an author who’s slowly been transitioning from novels to picture books (my first picture book will be out in March 2015), I’ve realized that picture book techniques have started influencing my novel-writing process. Here are a few examples.
1. Brevity and Word Choice
This is probably the most obvious connection. When you’re used to working with 500 words, you tend to get a little pickier about the words you use in longer projects. Even when I have 50k words to work with, for example, I still find myself making sure to cut out unnecessary phrases (particularly unneeded dialogue tags) and using strong verbs and interesting nouns to make each sentence count.
2. Tying the End to the Beginning
This is my favorite picture book technique. In picture books, the ending almost always echoes the beginning of the tale. I love using this approach in novels, reflecting something from the opening chapter in the closing chapter in a different context. This technique shows us that the character has grown and changed, and it also makes the story feel cohesive and satisfying.
3. Repeating for Emphasis
Repetition can be great in picture books, but in novels it can feel like telegraphing. A strong repeated image, however, especially one whose meaning deepens over the course of the story, can work well if it’s revisited throughout the novel. It can help show how the meaning of that image or experience has changed for the character over time.
4. Using the Senses
In picture books, we have to be mindful of not focusing too much on the visual details so that we don’t step on the illustrator’s toes. That means we have to use other senses to give the story depth. I try to use a similar multi-sensory approach in my novels, so I’m not simply describing how things look to the characters, but I’m also thinking about the smells, sounds, and textures around them. I’ve also found myself using a lot of onomatopoeic words—kapow!
For those of you who write in longer and shorter formats, how do you find the two influencing each other? What’s your favorite picture book technique to use in novel-writing? Please comment below and join the conversation!
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Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. Currently, she lives outside Boston with her husband and their crazy dog. When she’s not writing, Anna spends her time reading, daydreaming, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch. She is the author of the My Very UnFairy Tale Life series and the Dirt Diary series. Her newest novel, The Prank List, released on July 1st from Sourcebooks. You can visit Anna at www.annastan.com.
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Thanks so much for having me, Tara!
What a great post! :D
So TRUE! Thanks, Anna! I am also transitioning from novels to PBs (though I am unpublished in both LOL). Great reminders!
Great post. I’m a picture book author who has been thinking about this lately in the reverse! (And realizing I need to do a little less Every Word obsessing in order to start moving forward at a less than glacial pace at a lengthier piece:) Thanks for uh, turning my procrastination moment into a healthy ponder.
I recently started writing pbs again after working mostly on mg for a few years, and I agree that writing pbs has tightened up my writing. I find it’s really helping focus the plot of my latest mg too. Great discussion topic!
Great advice Anna. While I don’t write both pb and novels, your post reminds me that good writing tips work for all types. Thanks!
Great tips to keep in mind!
This is great advice, thanks. I especially like the idea of #2. I have been transitioning in the opposite direction, and in my opinion, it is MUCH harder to write a PB than a novel! I remember feeling so FREE when I could just type away, as many words as I wanted, and write whole chapters! Having said that, though, I do agree that tight word choices are a good idea no matter what the genre.
Great post. Thanks, Tara and Anna. For me, the magic 3′s works well in PBs and novels. I’d say it transcends all forms of writing.
EXcellent post, Anna and Tara :) Anything to make the overall process easier to digest and tackle is a good thing!
Also, as an aside, I’m trying to make a conscious decision on cutting back for a while on how much time I spend on reading/commenting on blogs I love and follow, ’cause if I don’t, my own blogs will never be launched *sigh* I’m not disappearing…just fading for a bit with occasional apparitional appearances. I figure if I actually TELL everyone I’m doing this (that is, if you notice lol)—I actually WILL!