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During the first week of May, writers will create one picture book per day for seven days. This event is meant to spur those reluctant writers who've always wanted to write for children but have never taken the plunge.
Paula Yoo (author of Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story, Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
, and the YA novel Good Enough
) warns prospective writers:This is NOT to say writing a picture book is easy. On the contrary, it's EXTREMELY difficult and challenging to write a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end, an original plotline, and a unique character with a compelling voice for the picture book genre. Every word has to count. Every image and every action has to speak volumes in terms of theme and deeper meaning... while still being kid friendly, fun, and appropriate for the tone of the book (be it a quiet literary picture book or a hilarious, laugh out of loud funny picture book).
When I first heard about this project a year ago, I had strong reservations. But author Daniel Kirk (Library Mouse
, Dogs Rule
, and Elf Realm: The Low Road
) argued convincingly for its merit, and I've since come to realize the value behind NaPiBoWriWe.So swing over to Paula Yoo's site and see if you're up for the challenge. (She's written posts providing tips for writers all through the month of April).
Who knows? Perhaps in a year I'll be discussing a picture book that you created on this very week!
