Read like a writer!

While in NYC last week for the National Writing Project Annual Meeting, I had the opportunity to meet with one of my old high school students who is now attending NYU Law School and working part time at The Door, whose mission is “to empower young people to reach their potential by providing comprehensive youth development services in a diverse and caring environment.” Sounds cool. I hope to visit next time I’m in NYC.

Well, it turns out my old student has written a picture book. And it’s good–real good. But, it needs some work. So, as I started to craft a response to her writing, I thought I’d share some of it here. Here are some basic ideas I’ve learned through my own writing process (as I work on my own middle grade novel) and from others at writing conferences such as SCBWI and from scouring many blogs and websites of authors, agents and editors (see some of them in my blogroll).

First, read like a writer! Read your favorite books in the genre you’re writing! In this case, picture books. Then, read the books you aren’t reading, but everyone else is. But don’t just read as a reader, read as a writer. Ask yourself, how does this begin? How does it end? How is language used? How does each word count? And how many words and pages is the typical picture book? What sends my hair on end? Whatever you may be having trouble with, ask that question of ten good books!

Second, read your own writing like a reader. Forget that it is your writing. Where do you stumble with your own writing? Where does your mind wander? What are your favorite parts? Does your hair stand on end?

To do these two things best, it’s worth the investment to answer these two questions for yourself if you haven’t already: Who is your audience? And what’s your one purpose? I’m all for finding multiple purposes for everything I do, thus getting a bit more bang for my buck. But with writing–find that one purpose and stick to it. If you’re writing does more than one thing at once–then it’s probably very good! But let it happen; don’t force it.

For specific information on writing picture books, check out this article on the Purple Crayon by Harold Underwood. Or for information on just about every topic when it comes to writing and publishing, check out one of my favorite online resources, Author! Author!

And if you’re interested in some great interviews with picture book authors check ones like this one with Mo Willems at Just One More Book.

Hey, and write a lot, but don’t beat yourself up about those times you don’t get to write–unless, of course, you’re under contract, have a deadline to meet, or feel the need to be published before you’re eighty! Ha!