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!
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[@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 🐧🥰

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

@Hard Coffee yes there’s so many possibilities aren’t there 😁 That’s great that your strength is writing, and awesome that you’re learning more about illustration too ✨ I think with both writing and illustrations you want to make the reader excited and engaged in the story. Also the illustrations should add something to the writing, they don’t need to both same exactly the same thing. Something I like the remind myself is that I can rewrite and redraw. It’s not going to come out perfect first time ☺️ This is something in need to remind myself when I’m struggling 😅

[@nell-marie]

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

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Aww thanks for your continued support Nell! 🥰✨💕

[@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!!

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Thanks Kristina 😊👻 aw I'm so glad you're thinking of writing a book too, that would be so cool!

[@sum8572]

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.

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Thanks for watching Su 😊 yes there's just too many amazing picture books to pick a favourite! 😆 But I love The tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr, Lost & Found by Oliver Jeffers and The Tunnel by Anthony Brown. But I could go on and on 😁 📚

[@mikefreveletti919]

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!

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Hi Mike, glad you enjoyed the video! 😊 That's great that you already have experience writing. I hope your children's book is going well. My progress has been a bit slowly than I would have liked, but hopefully I'll make another update video later this year. Thanks for the book recommendations too!

[@sherryl3770]

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!

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Thanks for watching Sherryl 😊 sorry for my late reply! Glad I could make you feel less alone in your struggles too, I think all creatives go through it!

[@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.

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Thanks Raquel ☺️ glad you enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to sharing more updates. Are you also working on a picture book?

[@raquelpazibarria]

@@EmmaCarpenterIllustration Not really. But I've been trying to make more time for drawing this year and latelly I've been enjoying getting to use my sketchbook more often. You did inspire me thought with your video. The night I watch it I was buying me a few presents for my birthday and I ended buying the book you mentioned ☺Who knows... maybe someday I decide to start a picture book myself! Again, thanks a lot for the inspiration!

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

@@raquelpazibarria I've just realised I mistyped your name 🙈 I'm sorry Raquel. Happy belated birthday!! 🥳 I hope you enjoy the book.

[@raquelpazibarria]

@@EmmaCarpenterIllustration ha, ha, don't worry, it's not a problem 😉Thaks for the birthday wishes!

[@emmaneary6120]

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.

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Hehe you'll have to throw a pink party now. Is it a sign? 😉

[@EllisWoolleyIllustration]

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

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Aww thank you Ellis 🥰 I love watching your videos too! 💕📚 I remember one of your goals was to do picture books too. How’s it going?

[@EllisWoolleyIllustration]

@@EmmaCarpenterIllustration Ahhh thank you too! I'm still working on building my portfolio & trying to develop my style in terms of drawing humans, whole other level of hard when you're used to exclusively drawing animals 😅🙈

[@EllisWoolleyIllustration]

@@EmmaCarpenterIllustration Also going to be grabbing the writing picture books recommendation you shared, thank you for that! ☺

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

@@EllisWoolleyIllustration oh yeah that’s true 😄 I imagined you doing a picture book about animals 🦊 🐻

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

@@EllisWoolleyIllustration hope you enjoy it! ☺️📚

[@JennieMaeJune]

Love seeing your process! Harriet’s hootenanny! 🎉

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

😄 thank you Jennie, hehe I like the alternative name. Maybe for the sequel 👻

[@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

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Thanks Romica 😄 hehe glad you like all the reading angle clips! That’s interesting how you did the pictures first and then went back and did the words. Do you remember how many drafts you did for each of your manuscripts? 📚

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Oh also sometimes I work from the dinning table 😅 like in this video. But I also have my art room with all my Etsy packing stuff upstairs. There’s still lots that we need to sort out in the house though 📦 things that just don’t have a place yet 😆

[@romicajones]

@@EmmaCarpenterIllustration it was a very fluid process so I can’t say how many times I rewrote it but I set myself a deadline to show one manuscript at a local SCBWI critique group and that helped to get it to a certain level and then stop for a while 😅. Another manuscript I wrote all in one sitting (just text) and haven’t looked at since haha

[@everynewdayisablessing8509]

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?

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Welcome 👋😊 glad you enjoyed the Writing Picture Books book and the Julia Donaldson course. I took that one as well. I think writing a good rhyming book is harder than people think. Also the other thing to consider is if you'd ever want it translated into a different language often the direct translation won't rhyme. So either you'd have to get rid of the rhyme or find similar words in the new language that do rhyme.

[@iainwelch]

Super fab!!

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

😁 thanks!

[@denisecountessmetlissmetli1856]

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. 😂

[@soulcustodytojesus9296]

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!

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Thanks so much for your questions! Hattie wants to open her Hotel, and she wants the guests to all have a good time. 👻 The conflict is Hattie worrying that everything will go wrong in the Hotel. So the conflict is internal. I can't remember if I mentioned it in the video, but in the book by Ann Whitford Paul it mentions how there's 4 kinds of conflict you can have in your story. Conflict with yourself, conflict with others, conflict with nature (like trying to swim against a strong tide) or conflict with society. It's been really interesting to learn about. 😊📚

[@soulcustodytojesus9296]

@@EmmaCarpenterIllustration I don't want to be a Debbie downer, but the plot needs an external conflict or an antagonist in addition to the internal worrying, because something needs to happen, otherwise why is she at a hotel? Why not worry at home about it? That may be a clue as to where your external conflict should take place. Action needs to occur (to entertain the audience). I recommend the book, "Story Genius". I think you'll enjoy it.

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

@@soulcustodytojesus9296 thanks for the book recommendation. You can have conflict with yourself and have action in the story. I didn’t go through the whole plot of my story, I’ll save that for a separate video ☺️ but there will be lots of exciting things happening. Also there’s plenty of picture books that don’t have an antagonist

[@soulcustodytojesus9296]

@@EmmaCarpenterIllustration yes, a logline of the plot of the story may prove helpful. I can't wait to find out about Hattie and her hotel. Cheers!

[@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! 💓

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Oh wow sooo many amazing ideas! I can see why your username has a lightbulb in it 💡😆 I've got a lot to think about. I'd actually love to do a series of books with Hattie, then I could explore her world more 👻

[@lightbulbnirvana]

@@EmmaCarpenterIllustration I hope you will do a series. I you can do that it means you must be bursting with ideas. I shall christen thee a lady of light! ✨✨

[@chyldstudios]

I just use ChatGPT to help me write :)