Picture Writing: A New Approach to Writing for Kids and Teens

by Anastasia Suen

An interactive and innovative resource provides children with the necessary tools and techniques to unleash and enhance their creativity in writing by concentrating on the selection of every word, image, and phrase to construct evocative characters, settings, and plots driven by description. Original.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

From her studio in Northern California, developmental editor Anastasia Suen reads, writes, and edits books for creators of all ages.

Reviews

[Zoraida Rivera Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book slowly trying to internalice so many techniques and information about how to write
using all the senses and adjusting to the type of manuscript, be it fiction, non-fiction or poetry.
I was especially impressed with the chapters about revising a manuscript from different angles and
analyzing the arcs, not only in fiction, but in non-fiction as well.

This is a book I'll keep in my library to go over again.

[Katherine Norland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I enjoyed the section on Plot. I also thought it was good at breaking down the different types of books for different age groups and what the difference was. It gave a lot of examples on books to reference in each age group category. And I walked away with a nice list of "To Dos" to help me with the rewrites on the children's book I'm writing.

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a nice, basic craft book on writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for kids and teens. It covers the basics, with its own spin. I never mind reading (or skimming) through a book like this for perhaps a refresher on some topic, or to come across something surprisingly inspirational. I’ll give this book to my teen niece, who aspires to write.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Writing by Anastasia Suen (Writer’s Digest Books) PB RRP: $29.95

Just about everything a writer could want to know about writing for kids can be found here. Sections include:
Picture Writing
Plot
Character
Setting
Putting it all Together
Look Again and
Appendixes

Each section is then broken up into chapters ranging from such subjects as writing from the intuitive right and logical left brain to preparing a manuscript for mailing. Of particular interest are the story arcs and storyboarding diagrams for board and picture books.

The general layout of the text is busy. Pages include subheadings, quotes, sidebars, examples and additional highlighted blocks of text, all of which I found somewhat distracting--though, I admit, far more appealing to the eye than endless pages of dull text.

Suen ties the creative process up nicely in the section, Look Again with its insight into editors’ views, pitching, marketing, sales and a step by step guide to publication.

While I feel this book is more suited to the beginner writer, there are plenty of gems to be had for those who’ve read it all before. For my money Picture Writing gets 8/10.

[Dyah Rinni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ini salah satu buku pegangan saya saat menulis tentang anak-anak dan remaja. Banyak pengetahuan praktis tentang menulis bagi anak-anak yang saya peroleh di sini. Cocok banget buat yang mau nulis buku fiksi ataupun non fiksi buat anak-anak dan remaja. Oh, ya. Ada latihannya juga, lho. *damn.... gue udah kaya' sales buku aja*

[Jane Healy]

This book was so good, I returned it early to the library and bought my own copy. What an excellent reference/handbook for anyone interested in children's lit. Though it is specifically for writers, it would also be useful to those studying children's lit, especially modern children's lit. Each type of writing for children is explained and defined with understandable examples from recent books.

[Stephi K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how this book had different sections of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. I could just read about what I was interested in. It would be a great book to read after you have a finished manuscript.

[Diane]

Wonderful lessons on how to write children's stories

[Diane Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book also has a lot of good information about writing for children. Useful tools like how to storyboard etc. I also use this book to refer to when writing a piece for kids.

[Susan Bearman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent workbook for writers, especially picture book writers. Great prompts. Good beginning book for writers.