GOING BIG: Making the Leap From Picture Book to Long-Form Nonfiction

By Jessica Stremer 

October 2020, I wrote the first draft of a picture book about wildfires. It went through a few rounds of revisions, but still wasn’t quite working. There was just too much I wanted to say. I hadn’t tried writing long-form nonfiction before and didn’t really know where to start, so I set the project aside.

Two years later I drafted a list of picture book manuscripts to share with my editor for GREAT CARRIER REEF. I had begun researching the wildfire book again, but hadn’t yet created a proposal. On a whim I added to our pitch list, “I’m currently working on a middle grade nonfiction book about wildfires.” My editor liked a few of the picture book topics, but she was most interested in the wildfire book. It was the push I needed to finally get the proposal written.

If you find yourself at a crossroads, here are some things you can do to “go big” and make the leap from picture books to long-form nonfiction:

1. Research, research, research! But also, try to avoid going down a rabbit hole (believe me, it’s easy to do). Begin by collecting enough information to create a solid foundation about the topic. Jot down areas you’d like to investigate further and make a list of first-person interviews you’ll need to conduct. Organization is key here! There’s nothing like discovering a cool fact and not being able to find your way back to it again.

Tip: Start your bibliography early. You can always remove a source if you don’t end up using it.

2. Create a mock Table of Contents. This is my trick for staying organized throughout the entire process! Think about how many chapters your book will have. What will each chapter cover?

The great thing about long-form nonfiction books is that they vary in presentation and            content. Your table of contents will evolve as you continue your research, so don’t get           too caught up on getting it right the first time.

Tip: Under each chapter header, create a list of everything you’d like to include in that chapter. You can cross things off later if you choose not to include them, or incorporate them via fact boxes as I did in FIRE ESCAPE.

3. Compile a list of comparable titles. Finding comparable titles can be stressful for many authors, but there are also ways to make it fun. As you read comparable books, consider what those authors did that you like. You may also think of things you can do or include that will help your book stand out.

4. Identify gaps in the market. FIRE ESCAPE, was initially going to be a picture book, but I worried about market saturation, and realized what I really wanted to write about wouldn’t fit in 40 pages. When I looked for comparable titles, I had a really hard time finding anything like what I envisioned in my head. I realized there was a gap in the market, which helped fuel me to keep writing even when I felt like giving up. When writing your proposal, explaining how your book will fill a market gap is important.

Tip: Here’s one way you can mention a market gap in your proposal, “Many authors have successfully written about (topic), but none have (explain the gap and how your book fills it).”

5. Write a proposal. This point deserves its own post, so I won’t go into too much detail here, but a few key elements your proposal should include are: synopsis, author bio, comparable titles, and marketing plan. You’ll also need to include an introduction and three sample chapters of your book. Your table of contents can help keep you focused and can also be used to set small, obtainable goals.

Tip: Use your first three chapters to estimate how long your book will be. For example, each chapter is approximately 2k words x 10 chapters = 20k words total. Don’t stress over this detail, as your editor will most likely care more about the content than word count.

6. Take your time. Writing long-form nonfiction books is a process. Set small goals, take breaks, and have fun!

Jessica Stremer

Jessica Stremer is an award-winning children’s author who combines her love of science and writing to create books that inspire kids to explore and think critically about the world around them. Her titles include GREAT CARRIER REEF (a Cook Prize Silver Medalist and NY Public Library Best Book of the Year), LIGHTS OUT: A Movement to Help Migrating Birds (a SLJ climate change featured title), FIRE ESCAPE: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires (a JLG Gold Standard selection).

Her upcoming titles include PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN: How Science Saved a Species, TRAPPED IN THE TAR PIT: How Paleontologists Unearthed a City's Prehistoric Past, and WONDERFULLY WILD: Rewilding a School and Community. Jessica obtained a B.S. in Biology, with an emphasis in Ecology, from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She was a recipient of the 2023 Stephen Fraser Encouragement Award and 2023 finalist for the Russell Freedman award. When not writing you can find Jessica cheering from the sideline of her kids’ soccer games, spending time outdoors, and planning her next family adventure. 

 

SO, WHAT'S NEXT?

 By Stephanie Bearce

What a great month of nonfiction learning! Do you feel pumped up? Are you ready to write your award-winning book?

Or are you feeling a little lost? Wondering what you should do next?

That’s how I feel after every great learning experience, whether it’s NF Fest, a retreat, or a conference. Now that I’m back at my computer, without the inspiration and encouragement of fellow authors - exactly what am I supposed to do?

Because the “After-Event-Slump” is REAL – (and probably diagnosable by your local critique group…) I’ve come up with a few brain and writing boosters. Try these tricks to get moving on that fantastic new nonfiction project!

1.     Get an accountability partner.

Find a fellow writer who is willing to check in with you at least once a week and make sure you are on track. It’s amazing how productive you get when you must give an accounting to another person. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate meeting or reporting system. Just take ten minutes a week to exchange writing goals and accomplishments with a fellow writer. Accountability builds success.

2.     BIC – Butt in Chair.

Okay – here’s the cold hard truth. Sometimes you need to glue that hinny in the chair and WRITE. It’s a job. Block out your time. Cancel extraneous appointments and start writing that story. If you don’t spend time with your fingers tapping on those computer keys, you won’t have a manuscript to critique or sell. Write the horrible, awful, disgusting first draft and then set it aside. Once you have SOMETHING to work with you can move forward. Revisions are what makes the story shine. But first you must WRITE!!

3.     Dig out old projects.

Use what you’ve learned from NF Fest to revitalize old manuscripts. You’ll be amazed what new ideas pop into your head for how to write that story with a new format. Can you add humor? Turn it into a layered text? Examine the story from a different perspective? Take what you’ve learned and apply it to those old stories, and you may be astonished at the shiny new manuscript you create.

4.     Plug into a writing community.

Part of the joy of NF Fest is learning that there are other writers out there working and struggling just like me. Carry that spirit into your everyday writing life and participate in writing communities.  If you don’t have a critique group – form one! Put out a call on NF FEST FB page to see who would like to form a critique group. Check out your local SCBWI region, and organizations like Storyteller Academy, Manuscript Wishlist, Highlights Foundation, Institute of Writers, Storystorm, and 12x12 challenge.

5.     Plan your next learning event!

Writers need to be learners. While it is a whole very l-o-n-g year until the next NF Fest – there are many other learning opportunities out there. Find a retreat, class, or event that will move you forward in your career and enroll! 

Most important of all – keep telling those true stories. The world needs your voice and perspective.

And keep in touch – let us know how the journey is going! The Nonfiction Ninjas care and we’re here to help.

Happy Writing!

About the Author: 

Stephanie is the award-winning author of 35 books for children. Her newest book, Mary Anning and Paleontology for Kids, will be released by Chicago Review Press in May. You can learn more about Stephanie and the world of writing on the Way-Word Writers Podcast. Waywordwriters.com or follow her X - @Stephanie Bearce,  Insta and FB - @stephaniemowrybearce.

 

 

You've Got an Idea. Now What?

By Peggy Thomas

 Ideas are like radio waves. They are all around us, and you simply have to raise your antenna to tune in. That means being observant, reading widely, talking to people, and being open to the world around you. The more you practice being aware, the more ideas you’ll accumulate. Unfortunately, not every idea becomes a book (at least not my ideas).

 
Before you plunge head first into writing, ask yourself a few questions:
 
#1. Is the idea kid-friendly? You may love the idea of writing about the history of buttons or the 2008 economic crash, but what would a 4th grader think. Even if you suspect that a young reader’s eyes would glaze over, it doesn’t mean your idea is dead. Just figure out a way to make your story more relevant to a young audience. For example, you could focus on kids who lost their homes during the economic crash. Or compile the most bizarre and zany facts about buttons.
 
#2. Has anyone else written on this topic? Do a quick search on Amazon, or conduct a more thorough search on WorldCat.org, which contains the records from more than 10,000 libraries.

Don’t panic if another writer had the same idea. You can still write about buttons, especially if the competition is more than five years old. Librarians tend to refresh their nonfiction every few years to keep their collections current. However, you do not want to write the exact same book, so…
 
#3. Can I add something new to the conversation? Look for cutting-edge research. Approach the topic from a different angle. For example, rather than a book about all buttons, focus on one collector, one time period, or write from a button’s point of view. When I wrote about George Washington, I approached it from a farming viewpoint in George Washington Plants a Nation (Calkins Creek, 2014).
 
#4.  Can I find enough information? I’ve had to drop several projects simply because I could not find material. Look for primary sources like letters, diaries, period news articles, and people to interview. 
 
Then you will be able to write a well-researched book with a fresh slant that any kid will love.