tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post7135703933806138511..comments2024-03-15T10:48:13.261+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: The Clue is in the Name. Editing your PICTURE book manuscript: making every word count by Juliet Clare BellUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-69241707686796788702021-02-15T16:11:09.852+00:002021-02-15T16:11:09.852+00:00thank you very much DR.Ayo for the wonderful work ...thank you very much DR.Ayo for the wonderful work you have done for me and my children to bring my husband back.I had serious relationship issues with my husband and he was no longer committed to me and our children, when I asked him what the problem was, he told me that he had fallen in love with me and wanted to divorce me and I had such a broken heart that I cried all day and night, this had prompted him to move into his friend's apartment. Everything got worse because he started going to bars and strip clubs frequently with his friend, getting drunk and fainting. He always threatens me on the phone every time I call him because of all the bad advice his friend gave him. I really love him and we had been married for 5 years, which gave us a beautiful daughter and a son. I had also lost a lot of money as therapists until I was introduced to DR Ayo by a friend he helped marry his childhood boyfriend, it gave me total confidence and strength to retrieve it. I did everything DR.Ayo asked me to do and I also followed all the instructions given to me by DR. Ayo to my surprise after 72 hours, my husband called me and rushed home with a new brown car for me and our kids. Things just changed between us emotionally, I was the happiest woman in the world that day. my husband now has a good job and has stopped drinking and he has stopped keeping irrelevant friends. It’s a miracle I would never have thought possible because I had lost all hope before finding DR. Ayo ... contact him today and get your love back I can assure you .... contact him on his WhatsAPP +2347055691377 or EMAIL: drayo47373@gmail.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796744438170692159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-18590870682581667632016-06-13T20:15:39.484+01:002016-06-13T20:15:39.484+01:00Thank you, Linda. I'm glad it was useful.
All ...Thank you, Linda. I'm glad it was useful.<br />All the best, Clare. Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-40662007692423846762016-06-13T19:07:42.052+01:002016-06-13T19:07:42.052+01:00Excellent post and extremely helpful! Many thanks...Excellent post and extremely helpful! Many thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946103298211045881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-81943938727640678392014-09-27T18:06:47.477+01:002014-09-27T18:06:47.477+01:00Bingo. The blog and comments like yours both made ...Bingo. The blog and comments like yours both made my day (actually yesterday night :-D ). My story is almost 80 words short by now and still counting hopefully without losing it's essence. But I still think , to achieve feeling-less word slashing , it has to be someone else.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13761328319153057211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-18469406764526208122012-10-12T14:02:32.414+01:002012-10-12T14:02:32.414+01:00Sorry, Lesley, I missed this. When I first met my ...Sorry, Lesley, I missed this. When I first met my agent, she (and he -they're a double act now) did make some suggestions before it went back out again but she'd already shown it to an editor who was interested. So the revised version was seen by some but not all. Hope that makes sense! Some of my manuscripts go straight out when I send them to my agent; others come back with a few suggestions. Some, they just don't get!Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-54136542919792581902012-07-15T16:35:14.860+01:002012-07-15T16:35:14.860+01:00Thank you, Alan. I hope you enjoy them.
Happy read...Thank you, Alan. I hope you enjoy them.<br />Happy reading.<br />Now if I could just get my 25-word book picked up... maybe I should edit it just a little more...Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-84876044066985167702012-07-15T16:31:25.337+01:002012-07-15T16:31:25.337+01:00It's true. It takes a LOT of patience...
Good ...It's true. It takes a LOT of patience...<br />Good luck.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-61304467137267687612012-07-15T11:06:21.655+01:002012-07-15T11:06:21.655+01:00A very open and honest account of how a book can (...A very open and honest account of how a book can (and should be edited). I chimed with all you said and I do feel the final revised version has a flow and depth and energy that a longer one would lack. Will seek out your books and enjoy the finished products ... cheersAlan Dapréhttp://www.alandapre.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-92220150895742441192012-07-15T04:11:41.287+01:002012-07-15T04:11:41.287+01:00Solid advice, Juliet. I do that already. I like ...Solid advice, Juliet. I do that already. I like to let my ms sit and simmer for a while...this business has taught me to be patient. Take care.Romelle Broashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11860032539164234533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-75560151086882295022012-07-12T22:14:32.697+01:002012-07-12T22:14:32.697+01:00Thanks, Penny. Another book that I think is well w...Thanks, Penny. Another book that I think is well worth typing out is Oliver Jeffers' 'Lost and Found'. Fingers crossed that your latest edits will result in your recent manuscripts being picked up.<br />All the best, Clare.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-15277454246370970592012-07-12T22:01:52.877+01:002012-07-12T22:01:52.877+01:00Clare,
Completely awesome and useful post! I reall...Clare,<br />Completely awesome and useful post! I really appreciate you sharing your Annika edits. They really brought clarity and practicality to your suggestions for cutting words.<br />Also, I had no idea that Nosy Crow published books as well as apps. I have a couple of their picture books apps, but hadn't gotten far enough in my research to realize they do books as well. Oh...just Googled them as I was writing this and see that in the US they are under the umbrella of Candlewick. The things I learn from this blog...awesome!<br />Thanks for such a great post!Penny Parker Klostermannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15043861965501388155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-45625174519391500082012-07-11T18:20:20.062+01:002012-07-11T18:20:20.062+01:00I've read this lots of times, Alex, and I thou...I've read this lots of times, Alex, and I thought you were referring to a poor school mark (that you have in Hong Kong but not here)! I was going to say, that I hated hated hated anyone reading my work when I was in my former job but I realised that I could either have other people look over it too or not continue to write as I was never going to get published all on my own. Now I think you mean a grade 1 -as in short hair cut -which fits what you do very well. I've even referred to 'doing an Alex' on my text before when self-editing...Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-74254475640936473842012-07-11T08:42:52.411+01:002012-07-11T08:42:52.411+01:00I can think of many pbs with many more words in th...I can think of many pbs with many more words in than I would normally write for mine but as long as they have the right number for the story, they work!Addy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-68951038668705886182012-07-11T06:32:23.390+01:002012-07-11T06:32:23.390+01:00Thanks, Rik. I'm really pleased. Hope the edit...Thanks, Rik. I'm really pleased. Hope the editing is fun -and tightens up your manuscript brilliantly.<br />Good luck,<br />Clare.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-24772168473715696992012-07-11T06:30:07.020+01:002012-07-11T06:30:07.020+01:00Thanks, Addy. What a lovely way of putting it. And...Thanks, Addy. What a lovely way of putting it. And I love the idea of 'popping the story in'. I agree that less is often (nearly always?) more with picture books,<br />Clare.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-43388933386361626272012-07-11T06:27:43.061+01:002012-07-11T06:27:43.061+01:00Hi Romelle, I wouldn't do ANYTHING with it for...Hi Romelle, I wouldn't do ANYTHING with it for a while -especially not send it out. Maybe leave it for a week -if you can possibly manage to, without even reading it once, and then go back to it. And if there's someone whose opinion you really trust, perhaps you could show it to that one person (but wait a while first). Good luck with typing out a favourite picture book, Clare.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-89639505084969610422012-07-11T05:22:19.799+01:002012-07-11T05:22:19.799+01:00I was so excited that I already did the slashing e...I was so excited that I already did the slashing exercise on my own ms. It is uneasy to see it that way and the thought of sending it off to a publisher or even my critique group in this form makes me nervous. But your idea to type out my favorite PB and sharing with the group is brilliant! And I have to trust that the book editors will know how to imagine it. This does require a different mind-set. Thanks again!Romelle Broashttp://www.romellebroas.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-90342322627252307872012-07-11T02:14:19.970+01:002012-07-11T02:14:19.970+01:00Thanks, have been wanting to show the dummy with t...Thanks, have been wanting to show the dummy with text, just takes that much longer to get it ready for crit purposes. BTW I know you manage your crit-group and wondered if you had set guidelines and if you'd be willing to share them. All newbies in mine and we talk about honing our process every week - would love to hear your thoughts, ahem, read a future post on it!Julie Rowan-Zochhttp://julierowanzoch.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-91710061905266569602012-07-10T16:38:12.007+01:002012-07-10T16:38:12.007+01:00Thank you SO much for this Clare! I'm trying t...Thank you SO much for this Clare! I'm trying to whittle down one of my picture book manuscripts and I know for sure this will help our mountains!rikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02421360618102933718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-73543004718406812952012-07-10T14:47:08.801+01:002012-07-10T14:47:08.801+01:00Thanks Juliet! I like to write stories, where one ...Thanks Juliet! I like to write stories, where one of the layers is being told through pictures.Thanks again for this really useful post.Darshanahttp://www.flowering-minds.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-59817031972209583382012-07-10T14:28:10.708+01:002012-07-10T14:28:10.708+01:00So good to read this, Clare. I sometimes think of ...So good to read this, Clare. I sometimes think of a pb text as I might do poetry, in that less is often more. I also wish that I was an artist cos then I'd draw the whole thing as it appears in my head and then pop the story in. Words can sometimes hedge a story too much or send it off on a straight-line path where pictures burst out at you. No idea if that made sense but your excellent blog did!Addy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-78324734140622449752012-07-10T09:50:59.066+01:002012-07-10T09:50:59.066+01:00Thank you, Romelle.
It can certainly be tricky whe...Thank you, Romelle.<br />It can certainly be tricky when people aren't used to a picture book manuscript. Perhaps you could try typing out a favourite picture book of yours as if it were a manuscript (like Not Now Bernard, where so much of the story is told in the pictures) and sharing that with your group? Fortunately, it is a picture book editor's JOB to imagine a picture book from the picture book text. Good luck, Clare.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-65998181669978625222012-07-10T09:47:50.174+01:002012-07-10T09:47:50.174+01:00Thank you, Stacy,
All the best,
Clare.Thank you, Stacy,<br />All the best,<br />Clare.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-27452457283603237232012-07-10T09:47:22.133+01:002012-07-10T09:47:22.133+01:00Thank you Carrie. I can see there are going to be ...Thank you Carrie. I can see there are going to be lots of videos of embarrassed writers reading onto video as if they had a child with them. Maybe we can make a collection... or maybe NOT. It's well worth it, though. Good luck, <br />Clare.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-26524261276467295682012-07-10T09:45:49.262+01:002012-07-10T09:45:49.262+01:00Thanks, Julie. It might help to do the whole cutti...Thanks, Julie. It might help to do the whole cutting and pasting and blue-tacking your sparse text where you think it would work on a normal sized picture book and record yourself with all the pauses you think you'd need to look at the book with a child (in Rosie's Walk, for example, you don't just read the words, you read the pictures and chat about them). Then watch it back and see if it feels right. My favourite story of mine that I've written (but it's not been picked up by a publisher) is 25 words long. This is the time I wish I could illustrate so I could make it myself! (Incidentally, with the 25 word one, I did make a dummy book -just for myself- so I could make sure it made proper sense. You could make a dummy and show it to your peers if that helps -in addition to showing them the manuscript...) Good luck.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.com