Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect

By The Picture Perfect Podcast with Cara J. StevensArtsBooks
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Picture Perfect episodes

  • Episode #5: Crafting a self-published picture book series

    In this very special episode, we have our first guest! Teacher Terrel, one half of the mother-daughter duo known as Once Upon a Dance, joins us to talk about her self-publishing journey. With 20+ picture books and counting, Terrell has tons of experience and she's not shy about sharing the details -- good and bad, mishaps and success -- of her experience. Terrell has self-published through Amazon and Ingram, has hired editors, illustrators and book designers, and does her own social media marketing. If you're looking to self-publish a picture book or a series, this episode is for you!

    Learn more at onceuponadance.com, and give the team a follow on Instagram @once_uponadance.

    33 min
  • Episode 4: The question at the heart of your story

    In today’s episode, I share a writing craft secret that is at the heart of every great story: how to make sure there is a compelling question inside your story. Although I’ll be talking about it through a picture book lens, this secret actually works for all kinds of works of fiction, and some types of non-fiction as well.

    One of the main goals in telling any story is to drive the reader to keep turning the page until they finally reach the (very satisfying) end. In order to do that, you need to have an underlying reason for telling the story. If you can get your reader to wonder what happens next at every stage in your story, then you're well on your way!

    In this episode I share how to find the question at the heart of your story, give examples of beloved children's books that have simple yet elegant questions embedded in them, and help you locate or craft a compelling question to place at the heart of your own writing to help you weave your own magical spell with every story you write.

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    Show notes:

    Sign up for my newsletter for a deeper dive into each episode's topics as well as some extra goodies from time to time at carajstevens.com

    Get a copy of my book, Picture Perfect, in ebook or paperback on Amazon

    Send me a note and let me know what you're thinking or what you want to learn about next!

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    Books mentioned in this podcast:

    • Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom
    • Goodnight Moon
    • Harold and the Purple Crayon
    • The Day the Crayons Quit
    • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
    • The Lorax
    • The Cow Tripped Over the Moon
    • Jamberry
    • If I Built a Car
    • Harry Potter
      • 12 min
    • Episode 3: How to draw readers in and make a great first impression
      The key to successful storytelling at any stage is weaving a tale that is compelling, but if you don’t hook the reader in right from the start, they won’t stick around long and they might not even pick up your book to begin with. 
      This episode is all about that question: are you making a great first impression with your book? 
      The way you figure that out is to look at the title, the cover and the first line.
      Just as when you’re applying for a job, you have your resume, your cover letter and your interview. Each one is an opportunity to make a great first impression, show the potential employer what a great fit you are, and also make sure you’re a good match. 
      And, to use another metaphor, it’s the same as when you go fishing. The fish takes the bait — they pick up the book — they get hooked by the title, and then you have to carefully reel them in — with a great first line.
      If any one of them is a misstep or feels like a bad fit, the deal is off. Someone else gets the job, the fish swims away and the book goes back on the shelf. 
      In the previous episode, we talked about a book as a factor of two people: The AUTHOR and The READER.  Because… Let’s face it, if you’re writing for yourself, it’s a journal entry. But if you’re writing for a young reader, you have an obligation and goal to write something that your audience is actually excited to read before they even know what the story is about. 
      If you leave it up to kids, they’re going to hunt for the familiar first. 
      Listen in as we explore what attracts readers and how to craft a story kids will beg adults to read to them.
      Hungry for more picture book writing tips? You can find my e-book Picture Perfect by Cara J. Stevens on Amazon.com or go to my website at carajstevens.com and sign up for that newsletter to get the 20-point checklist and get notified as soon as new episodes drop. 
      Thanks for listening!
      11 min
    • Episode 2: Introducing the Zero Draft — the Road Map that will keep your writing and editing on track (even if you are prone to side-quests)
      If you’re really getting creative as you write and revise your manuscript, you’re GOING TO get lost and that’s a good thing. 
      The WHY we talked about in episode one — that is your story's compass. 
      Your ZERO DRAFT — that’s your map. It’s a bird’s eye view of your story. 
      That is why this is the best writing and editing tip I can give you —  even if the words come to you fully-formed as you write — is to write a ZERO draft no matter where you are in the writing process.
      Get a free download of the 20-point checklist for writing picture books by signing up for my newsletter at carajstevens.com.
      The Picture Perfect book is now available for free for KindleUnlimited subscribers or for purchase as an e-book or in paperback from Amazon.
      9 min
    • Episode 1: How to transform your simple idea into a strong story concept (hint: you need to find your WHY)

      One of the most frequent requests I get from aspiring picture book authors is "can you take a look at my story idea and tell me if it's any good?"

      In today's podcast, I share a secret with you that shouldn't be a secret at all because I want everyone to know this… if you think it could be a good picture book, then it can. Everyone who asks me that question will get a YES! 

      Some ideas need more deep work than others, but if you're inspired and passionate enough to put in the work, your idea deserves the chance to realize its potential.

      The difference between a great idea and a great story is in the deep work I mentioned above. And that comes from knowing your WHY: Why you are passionate about it. Why you want to share it. Why you believe there are people out there who are ready to fall in love with it.

      In this episode, I share a whole slew of questions you can ask yourself about your story, about your audience and about your motivation to help you find your WHY and create a deeper story that has the potential to change someone's life for the better.

      This episode is one in a series of 20 questions to ask yourself as you go through the process of writing a picture book. If you’d like access to the checklist with all the questions, sign up for my newsletter at carajstevens.com for a free PDF.

      And if you’re antsy to get the advice all at once, you can find my book Picture Perfect by Cara J. Stevens for free on KindleUnlimited, or for purchase as an e-book or mini-paperback on Amazon.com.

      Don't forget to subscribe to get notified as soon as the next episode drops. And if you liked this episode, it would mean so much to me if you could share it with your writer friends and take a moment to drop a rating wherever you listen to podcasts.

      Thanks for listening!


      11 min
    • TRAILER: Welcome to Picture Perfect, the podcast for picture book writers

      Welcome to Picture Perfect, the podcast for picture book writers.

      I’m Cara Stevens, children’s author, editor and book coach and the author of Picture Perfect, Picture book writing secrets YOUR editor WANTS you to know.

      I absolutely LOVE helping writers make their picture book dreams a reality as they navigate the process from idea to final manuscript. I’ve been working one-on-one with authors for a long time, but I know that hiring a book coach or editor or taking a class isn’t for everyone. That’s why I’ve created this podcast.

      Picture Perfect walks you through the key elements of picture book writing, from where to find an idea that makes your heart sing to specific details like how many words a picture book should be and how to find the ideal audience for your book.

      Stick with me as each week, we explore a different element of picture book writing in this free mini-master class I’ve created just for you!

      And if you’re looking for more info, you can subscribe so you won’t miss a single episode, sign up for my newsletter at carajstevens.com for a free picture book writing checklist, or buy my e-book, Picture Perfect by Cara J. Stevens at Amazon.com, available for free for KindleUnlimited subscribers.

      Thanks for listening!

      2 min

    About Picture Perfect

    From the publisher's feed

    Whether you are a seasoned author or a first-time writer, Picture Perfect is designed to guide you through the process of writing a book or novel that is entertaining, educational, and uniquely yours. With a little imagination, some hard work, and the guidance provided here in this podcast, you too can create a world that readers will want to visit time and time again.