,,,, Every Kid Can (Write a Picture Book!) by Nancy Stewart

Genres Types of Books Once Upon A Time… MYSTERyMYSTERy Fiction Fantasy Science Fiction

I Need an Idea! Where do I get it?  Read  Listen to People  Watch the World Around You  Journal  Brainstorm

Brainstorm? Why? Ask Thomas Edison! He said: “To have a great idea, have a lot of them.” Only my mind limits me…

What Do I Really Like to Read?  Pirates, Monsters, Action?  An Imaginary World?  Kids Saving Animals?  Kids Saving Environment?  Best Friends?  Historical Characters?  Archaeology?

Who’s in my Book? Characters, that’s who! People Or even Animals IMAGINARYIMAGINARY ONESONES

WHEREISYOURS?WHEREISYOURS? The Setting is the place of your story. Mine is in Africa. Island Castle Gold Mine Outer Space At Home

The Setting is also the time of your story. Mine is the present day. WHENISYOURS?WHENISYOURS? The Old West The Future Age of Dinosaurs Age of Knights Today

Research Wait! It can be fun! My book takes place in Africa. I need to learn more about it. We are doing group research. It’s fun and we learn, too!

When I researched about Africa, I found out cool stuff. Namibia is a country in Africa. It has a huge desert called the Namib. Lots of diamond mines are in Namibia. My book will be a mystery about kids getting lost in the desert!

What is your story about? You need a PLOT. Your plot has: A Beginning A Middle An End W H A T I S Y O U R S ? It’s up to you to find a problem and solve it!

Write Your Rough Draft. (This is your first try at writing your story!) Some Tips for getting started Use your research notes. Write quickly. Get down what you want to say. Leave lots of room between lines so you can scribble and cross out! Have fun!

Your Title It needs to catch your It needs to let your reader know what’s it about. It needs to be Interesting.

My Book Title is: Lost on the Skeleton Coast Does it catch your? Does it tell your reader about the book? Is it interesting?

Rough Sketches (Pictures!) Look at a picture as a guide Or Sketch something from your mind. Make light strokes. Don’t press down hard while drawing.

Time to be in an Author’s Group! Share your story. How can I make my book more exciting? Do you like my main character? I think your story needs to move faster. Why don’t you include a dog?

Revise My Story Lost on the Skeleton Coast by Nancy I would not want to get lost out here. Lions are wouldn’t roam in this dessert! Some rhinos live here, to. desert! too. Since we are being archaeologist’s helpers, we have to be careful. need

What Size Do You Want Your Book to Be? FORMAT! How About Shape?

Layout Where Words and Pictures Go Tips Write the words by hand to check how much space is needed on page. Try curving your words around some of the artwork! One easy way: Put words on one page and pictures on the other.

q1 Art Make it Pretty—or—Scary—or Weird! Use heavier paper for watercolors. Cut paper to the size of your book’s pages. Lightly sketch words and art with a pencil. Color or paint what’s on your page. When finished, erase any lines that show.

LETTERING Shaded Plain or Fancy or Shaded or Bold or Any Way You Want Use fancier letters for the title and plainer ones for the text. Lightly draw letters with a pencil. Go over them with whatever you’re using for the book.

Put Your Book Together With Your Choice of Binding Measure and mark each hole. Each page needs at least two. Tie pages and cover with yarn, ribbon or string. or Punch holes with a 3 hole punch. Put book in folder with built-in paper fasteners. Fasten all together. or Put front and back covers and book together. Staple in straight row on left. Open slowly and carefully!

Look at What You’ve Created! Be Proud! Be Happy! You’re an Author!

Nancy Stewart Author of: The Bella and Britt Series and Katrina and Winter: Partners in Courage Website: Blog: