Oohs and Aahs for 1.17.25
Going from meh to magical
Last year an award-winning illustrator came to me saying her book felt meh and she didn’t know why. This was a Very Big Deal, Fancy Dream Client, and I wanted her to walk away feeling excited to finish her book.
Often when a picture book loses a little magic during the editing process, it’s because there’s something going on with the theme. It could be too simple or generic, or it could be muddled and trying to do too much. So I went through the manuscript and circled anything that felt evocative, poetic, or thematically relevant. Then I made a list of those words. I knew the theme was somewhere in there.
Once I had a feeling for the direction I wanted to see the book go in, I talked with the author to make sure she agreed. Then I went back through the book to see where the theme was showing up. I marked any place that felt right, and I noted places where I thought we could emphasize the theme a bit more or less. Then I suggested small changes that would tilt the book in that direction. In a picture book, a word here or there can make a difference. A single sentence can clarify or add weight to the theme. It’s a balancing act. Not too little. Not too much. When I did this for my client, she said,
“WOW, Heidi! You’re good. Better than good. This is terrific feedback.”
Then we got down to the work of rebuilding the story from the theme up.
Want help making your own book magic?
This Week I’m…
Indulging in these beautiful truffles (I happen to live down the road from their shop!) 🍫
Absorbing
survey results on the editorial job market 🤯Cheering on Neha’s new book, The Power Pause, which reframes motherhood and all the gray areas that surround it in a new light 👏
Reading this New-Yorker-level deep dive on Goodnight Moon 🌙
Watching the SNL 50th anniversary doc 🦚
Sharing a list of fire-related Go Fund Me’s that haven’t received enough donations 💸
Offering 50% off an hour of creative coaching when you bundle it with the Before You Begin Workbook 💛
Nebula Notebook is a place to meet kindred spirits, get inspired, and learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process—even when life is bananas. 🍌🍌🍌
✏️ PS—The fastest way to grow as a writer is to book a manuscript critique or a creative coaching session with an expert. My clients get agents, sell books, and win awards. They also learn how to enjoy the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard. 👏
Do you exclusively work on illustrated or children books? Or do you have preferences with those?