A Helpful List of "Things to Consider When Writing a Picture Book Biography"

Posted last year on the Highlights Foundation blog, Donna Janell Bowman's list of points to consider when writing a picture book biography is really helpful, as is the pull-quote "Tell compelling true stories that read like fiction."

Here's Donna's point about Narrative Arc:

What events led to your character’s meaningful contribution? Though this is an over-simplified definition, a story usually involves a character who faces internal and/or external obstacles while in pursuit of their goal. Their journey–the active plot–is the narrative arc where stuff happens. For example, an encyclopedic entry might read: The Great Blondin performed on a tightrope over the Niagara River in 1859. That is fact. But crafting a beginning, middle, and end that includes historical context, character insight, and how Blondin overcame skeptics, dangers, and an obstacle-riddled process to achieve his goal, is a narrative arc.

The post also covers theme, point of view, structure, and more. Read the full text here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee