writing a picture book✍️👻 a cosy vlog & tips on how to write

☕Hello everyone, I'm excited to share I'm writing my picture book again! I had the idea for this picture book Hattie's Haunted Hotel a while ago, so I'm so pleased I'm making time for this project again.

In this vlog I'm focussing on writing (or rewriting) my manuscript. I've been reading a really helpful craft book on Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul which I highly recommend. It has loads of writing tips in it, like show don't tell (something I really need to work on). As well as tips on writing a memorable and likeable main character, and how to write a strong opening to your picture book.

I hope you enjoy this cosy writing vlog. I'm looking forward to working on the book illustrations next!

✨Where to find me ✨ 

🎵 MUSIC

Blooper music ~ Snack Time - YouTube Audio Library

*Some links are affiliated, thanks so much for your support!

[EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

🌷Let’s chat 🌷
✨Are you writing a picture book?
✨What are your biggest struggles with writing? ~ For me it’s show don’t tell & dialogue
✨ What’s your favourite picture book ~ mines Lost & Found by Oliver Jeffers 🐧🥰

[itsnellmarie]

You're is a favorite channel of mine. I'm always happy to see a new video! And this one is SO fun!

[NothingReallyMatters]

My local library's maximum is 50. The amount of inspiration I get from books is never-ending. I love the library; it's so underrated, but I may be biased since I worked at a library for almost 10 years. Give your local library some love!

[mikefreveletti]

Hi Emma! Just found your video after looking around at some videos on the same topic. I’m currently writing a children’s book after writing for adults for quite some time. If I had to pick a favorite picture book it’d probably be either The Amazing Bone by William Steig or The Dot and the Line by Norton Juster. Loved your video! Found a very helpful - picked up that book on craft you discussed and look forward to following your progress!

[sum]

Thanks for a super helpful video. Yes I am trying to write and illustrate a picture book. Too many favourite picture books and many excellent picture books get lost in the crowded market. Librarians are a great source of knowledge on this. Good luck, I think Hattie sounds fun.

[sherryl]

I'm trying to write my very own storybook. I just stumbled on to your channel. You seem lovely! I love that you are sharing your progress and struggles. I was feeling like I was second guessing everything about my little project. Turns out I'm "normal". Thanks so much!

[EllisWoolleyIllustration]

Your channel has become my favourite for so many reasons! Love following your picture book journey especially 🥰💕

[cheeryhuman]

Thank you so much for the book rec and for sharing your process! I've been wanting to write and illustrate a book for so long, but it's the writing part that always keeps me from starting bc I get so overwhelmed 😆 your video definitely encourages me to just go on and do it! Your story about Hattie is so lovely!!

[raquelpazibarria]

This have been very interesting Emma! Thanks for the inspiration. I cannot wait to see the final result of your book. I’m certainly loving the process. I will keep following along.

[emmaneary]

Ooh I like your party solution to the 'pink problem'. I ended up with some pink washing recently - you'd think I'd have learnt not to to do that by now, but nope! 😂. I love the idea of creating a picture book but it's not on my radar at the moment. Not sure what my favourite picture book is but I had lots of Beatrix Potter books when I was little and always loved those.

[everynewdayisablessing]

This book is one of the first things I bought when I decided to learn about picture book writing. It's a great book. Julia Donaldson's BBC course is great too, although doesn't really teach much about writing in rhyme which I was expecting to learn from her.
I love your plant corner and your channel. How on earth have I not found it sooner?

[JennieMaeJune]

Love seeing your process! Harriet’s hootenanny! 🎉

[romicajones]

I liked all the „angles of reading“ 😊 and the tips about the story question and opening line. I mentally went back through one of my books and I think I hit quite a few of the Ws but not sure if that‘s true for the one I‘m planning on working next. It is interesting to come from „writing as a craft“ perspective - all 3 of my manuscripts were written quite intuitively but I did read a lot of books on how to structure and pace picture books before hand (more from a picture perspective - like what is good to happen on double pages so and so, when is the plot twist etc and then I wrote the text after the pictures ^^). I loved „Writing with Pictures“ by Uri Shulevitz which works for my visual brain ^^. Love that they include actual exercises and that you tried some of them. Really lovely to see how you set up your work space. Can hardly believe you only moved a bit ago. Looking forward to the next one

[denisecountessmetlissmetli]

Just found you, joy of joys. My problem is that I and prolific in my stories as I take from observation of my grandchildren however, have I too many words, will there be sufficient room for the pictures without producing a War and Peace size book. 😂

[soulcustodytojesus]

What is the conflict of your story? I love the premise, but it doesn't seem to have a plot at the moment. Does a guest ghost try to leave the hotel without checking out properly? What does Hattie want? Once you answer these, your story structure will shake out alright, I'd imagine. Good luck and thanks for the video!

[lightbulbnirvana]

Hi Emma, Watching your video, it dawned on me that "The most relaxing retreat for ghosts and ghouls!" is the answer to your question, or actually, "Hattie's Hotel is the most relaxing retreat for ghosts and ghouls". It could be the end of your story for the reader to learn this.

What Tom offered was a statement not a question. I think a good question might be is "Will Hattie make her haunted hotel opening (for Halloween?) on time?" Halloween is the time when there is the least distance between the world of living and the world of the dead, such that the living can communicate with the dead. There's potential to weave that Halloween legend into the story. Maybe the ghosts come to see whether their families will come to visit them on Halloween during their vacation stay and Hattie is hosting them in the world of the living at her haunted hotel?

One of my favorite children's book is the Phantom Tollbooth., which isn't a picture book, but there are illustrations that I love. I'm not writing a picture book, but I did write a story in 8th grade called the field mice of May. I think my challenge is editing things down to the point. It's always harder when it's your own story, but it's easier to have objectivity when looking at someone else's story --- which is why it was easy for me to come up with suggestions for yours!!! I hope that's not overbearing of me to do that. It is your story and I do look forward to learning what you will come up with.

Cheers! 💓

[chyldstudios]

I just use ChatGPT to help me write :)