I initially wrote this blog about seven years ago! What?
I'm a big fan of ten step its. I believe everything under the sun can be accomplished in ten steps or less. Everything from baking bread, to planning a funeral, and maybe even plotting a picture book. While attending my residency at Seton Hill University, I thought I would put it to a test. Not on anything I'm aspiring to write. I tested it on Karen L. Williams' picture books, Painted Dreams, Tap-Tap, and Galimoto.
THE TEN STEPS
1. Introduce Character
2. Frame Setting
3. State Problem
4. Tries to solve but fails
5. Tries to solve but fails.
6. Tries to solve but fails.
7. Tries to solve but fails.
8. Tries to solve but fails.
9. Tries to solve but fails.
10. Solve and succeed. Resolve conflict.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Kind of comical to see it written out. Give or take a few of the 'tries to solve but fails' element this is the basic structure for many picture books.
In Galimoto, Kondi is introduced right away. Next some details about his setting are revealed then his problem. He wants to make a galimoto, but he does not have enough wire. He asks his friend Gift to trade wires for a knife. Kondi still needs more. Throughout the rest of this fabulous picture book he tries to solve his wire shortage problem but fails. Finally, he collects enough wire to solve and succeed to create a fine galimoto. You'll have to read the book to find out what a galimoto is, I know!
I've become particularly interested in the first three steps- person, place, and thing or problem. Williams covers these three elements within the first two pages each time. I dream to write this tightly!
Painted Dreams' eight year old Ti Marie dreams to paint but doesn't have the resources in rural Haiti. In Tap-Tap, Sasifi travels to the market and wants to ride the Tap-Tap. All of this information can be found on page one! Amazing!
Since June, I've read SEVERAL picture books (I have a six year old) and each time I'm relieved that the plotting is constructed in ten steps or less!
2. Frame Setting
3. State Problem
4. Tries to solve but fails
5. Tries to solve but fails.
6. Tries to solve but fails.
7. Tries to solve but fails.
8. Tries to solve but fails.
9. Tries to solve but fails.
10. Solve and succeed. Resolve conflict.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Kind of comical to see it written out. Give or take a few of the 'tries to solve but fails' element this is the basic structure for many picture books.
In Galimoto, Kondi is introduced right away. Next some details about his setting are revealed then his problem. He wants to make a galimoto, but he does not have enough wire. He asks his friend Gift to trade wires for a knife. Kondi still needs more. Throughout the rest of this fabulous picture book he tries to solve his wire shortage problem but fails. Finally, he collects enough wire to solve and succeed to create a fine galimoto. You'll have to read the book to find out what a galimoto is, I know!
I've become particularly interested in the first three steps- person, place, and thing or problem. Williams covers these three elements within the first two pages each time. I dream to write this tightly!
Painted Dreams' eight year old Ti Marie dreams to paint but doesn't have the resources in rural Haiti. In Tap-Tap, Sasifi travels to the market and wants to ride the Tap-Tap. All of this information can be found on page one! Amazing!
Since June, I've read SEVERAL picture books (I have a six year old) and each time I'm relieved that the plotting is constructed in ten steps or less!
