tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post6905406651038547420..comments2024-03-29T14:16:41.085+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: Competition winner - but is it ready for publication?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-71875849917779014962013-05-08T22:48:35.739+01:002013-05-08T22:48:35.739+01:00Thanks, Jane.Thanks, Jane.Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-79836934784719692932013-05-04T14:28:50.473+01:002013-05-04T14:28:50.473+01:00Just like, Abie, doing well in a competition motiv...Just like, Abie, doing well in a competition motivated me to carry on writing - and that story was never published, either. Very helpful post, Linda.Jane Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361379190770989657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-6248183415057281752013-05-03T12:15:40.956+01:002013-05-03T12:15:40.956+01:00I agree on the competition front. They're grea...I agree on the competition front. They're great for making you get something done to a deadline. But I think people should be wary about making assumptions about what doors it may open if they win (unless it specifically states a contract etc).Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-2746329448111935452013-05-01T00:47:59.634+01:002013-05-01T00:47:59.634+01:00Yes, that is me! I'll pop over and try to pus...Yes, that is me! I'll pop over and try to push the right button! Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-16094496127050541992013-04-30T23:25:28.610+01:002013-04-30T23:25:28.610+01:00I agree that competitions are a good way to motiva...I agree that competitions are a good way to motivate you as long as you understand the limitations and adjust your expectations.<br /><br />I also wanted to mention that the writer, whose story I talked about in this post, responded very positively to my comments and has taken a very professional attitude in that she is prepared to work on the story revising it again and again, until it is right for publication. <br />Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-75156503487046871002013-04-30T23:18:08.540+01:002013-04-30T23:18:08.540+01:00Thank you, Laura.
Talking of competitions, I thi...Thank you, Laura.<br /> <br />Talking of competitions, I think you are the same Laura S. who won a copy of my book What Colour is Love? in Portuguese, in our giveaway in October last year. See the comments below the post <br /><br />http://picturebookden.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/how-do-you-say-it-in-translation-and.html<br /><br />You have not claimed your copy so please get in touch using the contact button on the header, at the top of the page and I can get it organised for you!Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-21586351228956695842013-04-30T23:09:48.035+01:002013-04-30T23:09:48.035+01:00That's right, Penny. Not every story is right ...That's right, Penny. Not every story is right for a picture book, at least not in the original form. I wonder if this is the same as the way that not all books make great films unless changed and viewed differently for that medium.Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-43110731281033043862013-04-30T12:19:43.908+01:002013-04-30T12:19:43.908+01:00Thanks Linda - that's a really useful summary ...Thanks Linda - that's a really useful summary of the necessary elements of picture book texts. There are a lot of competitions around and, as you point out, the winning books aren't necessarily ready for publication. Competitions can be fun to enter, though, and they motivate you to get in the habit of writing and presenting work. Like you I was encouraged to write by doing very well in a competition (it's also how I attracted the attention of an agent). Funnily enough, that story that did well all those years ago has never been published as a picture book! The text read well but didn't work with image - reflecting just what you have been saying.Abie Longstaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682225221860351795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-58425122416856728012013-04-30T11:29:57.777+01:002013-04-30T11:29:57.777+01:00Excellent post! Picture books are one of the harde...Excellent post! Picture books are one of the hardest things to write. The bit about scene variation is a key distinction, I think, between magazine piece and picture book.You must tell a whole story with an economy of words. Every word must count and feel fresh and somehow move the story along. Thanks for expressing the essence of picture book writing so well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-899619628196906172013-04-30T11:05:27.542+01:002013-04-30T11:05:27.542+01:00Wise points about the story needing to be seen. So...Wise points about the story needing to be seen. Some folk tales have a cumulative pattern so don't offer enough variety in the scenes & images, or the restrictions of the book's pages mean that a long cumulative effect(eg Chicken Licken)would be cut and lose impact. <br /><br />However, while The Gruffalo has a sort of cumulative pattern, the mouse is actually on a walk so the scenery itself offers a range of "wood illustration" opportunities.<br /><br />Thanks, Linda.Penny Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-33810911310816964112013-04-30T09:49:52.423+01:002013-04-30T09:49:52.423+01:00Thanks, Nicola!Thanks, Nicola!Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-55651595465062668782013-04-30T09:49:27.682+01:002013-04-30T09:49:27.682+01:00Thanks, Moira.
Seems no matter how often we say i...Thanks, Moira. <br />Seems no matter how often we say it people tend to think that because picture books have a small number of words and are for young children, they imagine that they must be simple to write!Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-83805388782257739772013-04-30T09:46:24.935+01:002013-04-30T09:46:24.935+01:00Thanks, Candy, glad it was useful.Thanks, Candy, glad it was useful.Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-10255603639753736442013-04-30T09:14:52.944+01:002013-04-30T09:14:52.944+01:00Brilliant, Linda! I'm going to recommend that ...Brilliant, Linda! I'm going to recommend that writers who approach my consultancy with picture book texts read this!Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07847390687632715336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-88359757981993522542013-04-30T08:56:13.138+01:002013-04-30T08:56:13.138+01:00An outstandingly good blog, Linda. Such good point...An outstandingly good blog, Linda. Such good points. Picture Books are not easy. Repeat..Picture books are not easy! Moira Butterfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17355420549929911500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-88120129401021656272013-04-30T06:38:34.407+01:002013-04-30T06:38:34.407+01:00Thank you so much. I've been shopping picture ...Thank you so much. I've been shopping picture books recently and needed exactly this advice!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.com