Revising Picturebooks

Picturebook texts nowadays need to be short and emotionally resonant to catch an editor’s eye. While there is no sure-fire formula to achieve these goals, there are concrete steps that writers can take to avoid common errors in this genre, as well as techniques and exercises that can improve the pacing and flow of the story. This chapter will provide guidelines and suggestions for revision including emotional connection, pacing, plot arc and language. At the heart of the endeavour are suggestions for the writer to visualize the text through the use of a thumbnail sketch analysis (even if they can’t draw stick figures) and to listen to the language of the text by reading it aloud, recording it and then revising all the passages that were rushed through, skipped over or whose wording changed during the reading. These visual and auditory exercises will help the writer revise to enhance the pacing and plot arc as well as the language in order to create an emotional connection with both children and adults.