So you’ve written a picture book and it’s got a beginning, middle and an end, but it doesn’t yet zing . . . You’re still left asking, "So what?"
What can you do?
Lately, I’ve been noticing that the picture books that tickle my fancy are those that have something extra – a twist.
Remember I blogged about creating a breakout premise? Well, if you can surprise the reader and add some humour or unpredictability to your premise, you are definitely on your way towards creating a premise that is extraordinary.
Children love extraordinary flights of the imagination. They relish the unpredictable!
Here are some ways to add a twist to your book:
Here are some ways to add a twist to your book:
1. Give your premise a twist:
If you can turn the predictable on its head, you are headed for a premise that equals a distinctive USP (unique selling point). Editors, sales people, booksellers, librarians, children and all kinds of readers just love that!
Aliens that love underpants . . .
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| Aliens Love Underpants by Freedman & Cort |
Pirates that are . . .
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| Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs by Andreae & Ayto |
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| from Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs by Andreae & Ayto |
2. Give your characters a twist:
The Gruffalo really does exist . . .
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| from The Gruffalo by Donaldson & Sheffler |
. . . plus the tiny mouse is cleverer and braver even than this fierce-looking beastie!
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| The Gruffalo by Donaldson & Sheffler |
This is Goldilocks’ story . . .
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| Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems |
. . . but no bears live here!
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| from Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems |
This crocodile . . .
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| I Really Want to Eat a Child by Donnio and De Monfreid |
. . . needs to eat bananas to get big and strong after all – not a child!
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| from I Really Want to Eat a Child by Donnio and De Monfreid |
3. Give your plot a twist:
Two families plan to swap houses for their holiday . . .
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| Pirate House Swap by Longstaff & Chambers |
But one is not quite what they expected . . .
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| Pirate House Swap by Longstaff & Chambers |
Grandma mustn’t find out about the lion . . .
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| How to Hide a Lion from Grandma by Helen Stephens |
. . . but she has a secret too – she's hiding a bear in her bedroom!
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| from How to Hide a Lion from Grandma by Helen Stephens |
4. Give your ending a twist:
Daisy doesn’t like peas!
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| Eat Your Peas by Gray & Sharratt |
But she will only eat her peas if her mum eats her Brussels.
And Mum doesn't like Brussels . . .
And Mum doesn't like Brussels . . .
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| from Eat Your Peas by Gray & Sharratt |
But they both like pudding!
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| from Eat Your Peas by Gray & Sharratt |
The mammoth actually belongs to the boy . . .
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| A Mammoth in the Fridge by Escoffier & Maudet |
. . . and he's not the only animal in the boy's bedroom!
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| from A Mammoth in the Fridge by Escoffier & Maudet |
A gorilla has come to visit . . .
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| Ding Dong Gorilla! by Robinson & Lord |
. . . but not only did he make the mess – he left with the last of the pizza!
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| from Ding Dong Gorilla! by Robinson & Lord |
Billy warned Dad that there were all kinds of sea creatures in his birthday bucket . . .
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| Billy's Bucket by Gray & Parsons |
. . . but Dad borrowed it to clean the car anyway . . .
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| from Billy's Bucket by Gray & Parsons |
What others can you think of?
Give it a twist and it will zing!
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Natascha Biebow
Author, Editor and Mentor
Blue Elephant Storyshaping is an editing, coaching and mentoring service aimed at empowering writers and illustrators to fine-tune their work pre-submission. Check out my NEW small group coaching courses!
Blue Elephant Storyshaping is an editing, coaching and mentoring service aimed at empowering writers and illustrators to fine-tune their work pre-submission. Check out my NEW small group coaching courses!
Natascha is also the author of Elephants Never Forget and Is This My Nose?, editor of numerous award-winning children’s books, and Regional Advisor (Chair) of SCBWI British Isles. www.blueelephantstoryshaping.com
10 comments:
a lot to think about. thanks.
Always fun to have a twist - but it's so hard to get exactly the right one that's a surprise, but feels natural and understandable, and unforced.
Wonderful examples, but, as Jane says, it's so hard to do that sort of clever twist! Hats off to all of those authors.
What a great list of examples. You are quite right - a reader loves a twist. I also notice that I feel great satisfaction with my own writing when I manage to come up with a creative twist. :)
This will definitely inspire me today.
These are awesome examples! Thank you for sharing. :)
Great examples ;-) I agree, a witty and suitably unpredictable twist is the thing that can make a good book idea tip the scales to become a classic, and it's often what makes repeated re-reading a pleasure. I can't think of an example off the top of my head though. . .
Thanks, everyone! Yes, finding that elusive twist, particularly for an ending, can either come in the middle of the night inspiration when you least expect it - or even take years!
Big fan of twists in picture books! In books and movies of any genre :D
Loved your post. You can write a beautifully written manuscript, but it needs something special, a twist maybe, to get the attention of the publishers. You've got the gears in my brain turning.
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