Illustration Notes-Yes or No?

An often-debated question among authors, is whether to put illustration notes in a manuscript or not. The most common advice is to use them sparingly and only when they are necessary for the editor/agent to understand the story.

You would not specify the color of a character’s clothing unless it matter to the story. For example, in a work-in-progress, Chicken Little’s Grade-A Idea, I included two illustration notes. The first (show billboards) indicates what Chicken Little is pointing to as he suggests something they could do to get people to drink more milk. The other was (Cows Lose Their Jobs), referring to what the headline of the newspaper Chicken Little reads should say.

Normally I add very few illustrator notes. First, I hope my words evoke the images and secondly, I trust an illustrator to bring the words to life by adding their vision. But there was one time I should have added a note.

When I submitted No More Noisy Nights to Shari Dash Greenspan at Flashlight Press, her initial decision to reject it was because she was picturing Jackson as an adult. As you see in this email excerpt.

I say I was picturing Jackson as an animal. This is a way children can explore adult behavior by using animals as main characters. But sure, I’ll rewrite.  So, I rewrite it with Jackson helping his grandma move.

But, she doesn’t like it.  And she begins seeing Jackson not as a person, but a mole and a matter of a few minutes the tide turns and Jackson is closer to finding a home at Flashlight Press!

 

 

So, lesson learned. If I’d specified that it was an animal, not a human, maybe a mole we might have saved time. EXCEPT, there was value in my rewrite as each thing we write improves our writing. It also gave Shari a chance to see my ability to take editorial comments and work with them.

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Every Word Counts

In all writing, but especially picture books, each word counts so you try to pick the best. Thanks you Vivian Kirkfield for presenting an opportunity for authors to hone their skills and write a story using 50 words. The #50PRECIOUSWORDS contest. Vivian know that every word counts as you can see if you read the wonderful picture books she’s written. Take a look at them here.

So without further ado, here are my 50 precious words!

The Rules and The What Ifs

Mom says-

No fish in the toilet.

  What if Fish wants to swim?

Make your bed.

What if Kitty is asleep?

Eat your vegetables.

What if Dog is hungry?  

Don’t wake Baby.

What if she wants a story?

Mom?

Don’t interrupt!

What if I want to say I love you?

Thanks for reading!

Happy Thanksgiving

This week will see many of us take to the road so we can spend time with those we love. my husband and I will be traveling to see our children and their spouses and give thanks for them and our first grandchild that is just weeks away from making an appearance.

This time of year I think of all the friends I’ve had in all the places I’ve lived and wish I could gather them in one place to thank them for touching my life in positive ways.

Since this blog is about writing I thought I’d give thanks for some writers I’ve had the good fortune to know.

First, though now disbanded, my critique group.  It was instrumental in helping me become a better writer.  Thank you Kristan Donk, Marcia Gabet, Carol Zook, Tony Stump, Natacha Sanz-Cabllero and Julie Stiegemeyer.

My Flashlight Press Family: Shari Dash Greenspan, Jodi Moore, Jason Lefebvre, Donna Earnardt, Lois Brandt and Richard MacFarland.

Authors I’ve met along the way: Kirby Larson, Cat Jordan, Shelley Kinder, Bryan Ballinger, Robin Newman, Aileen Stewart, Helen Frost, Claire Ewart, Mary Quiqley, Beth Behrendt , Jacob Devline

I’m sure I’m forgetting others-I’ll blame it on old age!

So on your travels bring a good book and give thanks for authors and illustrators and editors and publishers and bookstores and IDEAS because that’s where it all begins!