In February, the true picture book WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek) soared onto shelves – almost six years from when I first wrote it as my March 2014 12 x 12 draft. “What took you so long?” you might ask. Well it took me almost three years to figure out how to write the story. Like Lilian Todd, my main character, I learned through trial and error (lots of error!).
Through my experience with WOOD, WIRE, WINGS (and two more forthcoming books!) I honed Five Tips for (un)Writing Narrative Nonfiction. I hope they’ll help you shorten the time required for your manuscript to take off.
Tip 1: Newsworthy does not equal book-worthy.
When looking for narrative nonfiction subjects, we often focus on folks who could make news headlines, even if they didn’t in their day. They were first. Or fastest. Oldest or youngest.
But in narrative nonfiction, newsworthy is not the same as book-worthy. To be truly book-worthy, a life or event has to reveal a takeaway that resonates with children. And the book has to have multiple hooks. THIS is what makes a story re-readable and book-worthy.
Lilian Todd was the first woman to design an working airplane on her own. That’s newsworthy, sure. But what makes her story book-worthy is the theme of persistence in the face of repeated failure. THIS is what children (and all of us) can relate to. Plus the book has the added hook of showing students the engineering design/invention process through Lilian’s work and the kid-friendly subject matter of airplanes.
If Lilian succeeded on her first try, her story wouldn’t be book-worthy. If she was inventing a tobacco pipe, she wouldn’t be book-worthy (not for a picture book anyway).
Conversely sometimes completely unknown people (at least to U.S. audiences) become book-worthy simply because of the themes and hooks that resonate with young readers.
Challenge: Before you write your next narrative nonfiction piece, give it the book-worthy test. Make sure the story has a strong takeaway and multiple, kid-friendly hooks.
Tip 2: Forget the facts (focus on feelings)
Think of narrative nonfiction writing like an Impressionist painting by Claude Monet. He focuses on the light, the emotion, NOT on portraying his subject in minute detail.
Many nonfiction writers (myself included) work like photographers. We try to record every name, date, place, and title with our words. These details clutter up our picture, pulling focus from our main character.
True confessions: I always do this. I write at least one terrible, fact-filled draft every book. I call it my kitchen sink draft. But I have to do it before I can harness my inner Impressionist.
Challenge: Write a kitchen sink draft filled with every fact imaginable. Now set it aside, and take out a clean sheet of paper (or open a new document on your computer) and write with as few facts as possible focusing on your character’s feelings instead. DO NOT refer to your sources while writing this second draft.
Tip 3: Write poetry (not prose).
Starting out, many of us think of writing narrative nonfiction is like writing a college research paper. We use complete sentences with subjects and predicates. We capitalize. We use long sentences with lots of clauses.
But really, we should think of narrative nonfiction as free verse poetry. Poems focus on a moment in time. They use sensory detail and clever analogies to bring scenes alive. THAT’s what we want, not a Ph.D. thesis (though you will have done enough research for one!)
Challenge: Take a cue from poets. Write in sentence fragments. Throw in some onomatopoeia and sensory details. Try out some em dashes or ellipses. Remember, “Failure!” is a complete sentence.
Tip 4: Write a movie (not a book).
Good narrative nonfiction consists mostly of scenes where action unfolds in real time. It’s NOT a series of after-the-fact summaries of what happened.
In WOOD, WIRE, WINGS, for example I don’t tell you that Lilian took apart a clock as a girl, and couldn’t get it back together. I let you live that experience alongside Lilian, wondering if she will be able to make the clock tick tock again.
Challenge: Imagine your story like a movie in your mind. Now narrate what’s happening in real time using present tense (you can shift to past later). You should have a scene when you are finished.
Tip 5: Write with pictures (not words).
For those of us not trained in visual storytelling, we often don’t realize how much of the story can be carried by the illustrations. Most setting and historical context is better shown in pictures, leaving only the briefest of words in the draft.
In an early draft of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS, I had a full paragraph describing inventions created during Lilian Todd’s childhood. When illustrator Tracy Subisak finished her dummy, she has shown them all. No need for my words.
Challenge: Try dummying your book BEFORE you write it (or after the kitchen sink draft). Think about what scenes will appear on each page or spread. Now consider what the illustrations can show. THEN (and only then) consider what you absolutely must say with words.
Here’s hoping these tips help your work soaring onto shelves soon.
Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes books for curious kids. She’s the author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek, 2020), CECILIA PAYNE: MAKING OF A STAR (SCIENTIST), illustrated by Katherine Roy (Chronicle, Fall 2021), along with 25 other nonfiction books for kids. Find her at kirsten-w-larson.com or on Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest @KirstenWLarson.
Kirsten is offering a free picture book critique to one lucky 12 x 12 check-in winner. And it doesn’t even have to be narrative nonfiction.
273 Responses
Wow! This is just what I needed right now. I have been researching a subject for years now … I have only completed one full draft of his story. I am constantly flowing between knowing too much and not knowing enough. My initial connection to this subject was purely emotional – and yet am SO caught up in facts. I am inspired to try getting his story on paper again … today!
Glad this was helpful, Elizabeth. Caught up in facts is definitely a part of my process every single time!
I love the idea of writing an emotion draft.
Many thanks!
These five points are so helpful, but the one I will work on first is to dummy up the book and then go back and rewrite it. It’s so factual, so I need also to follow #2 – minimize the facts and concentrate on feelings. GREAT suggestion!
Thank you, Kirsten! This is so helpful. The challenges offer concrete ways to reframe our drafts. I found #2 particularly resonated. Once I have the kitchen sink, I find it difficult to let go of all that hard earned research and often get stuck. Wow!
Just keep plugging along, Rebecca. It will come eventually (hopefully faster than it ever does for me).
Thank you for these great tips for writing narrative nonfiction. I will try to harness and mine some inner Monet today. What a great trick for feeling “the facts.”
Best of luck, Lori. I hope you create a masterpiece.
This is so helpful and perfect timing for me. I just did a kitchen sink draft and was wondering how to proceed. Now I can. Thank you!
Wonderful news! Wishing you all the best.
Thanks for the great post, Kirsten! I may even try a little nonfiction after this. I especially love “focus on feelings not facts.” Congratulations on Wood, Wire, Wings!
Hi Kirsten,
Absolutely one of the best sets of tips I’ve seen for writing narrative nonfiction and one of the best author posts I’ve read since I’ve been in 12×12. Thank you so very much!
Thanks Maria! That means a lot.
Thank you for this. A wonderful reminder that less is more!
Great advice! I can’t wait to read your books!
“Newsworthy does not equal book-worthy.” I love this!
Great post, Kirsten! I especially appreciate the distinction between newsworthy and book-worthy (multiple hooks and a takeaway message that resonates with kids). Thank you!
What amazing tips! Thank you. Write like a movie….fortunately, I’ve done some screenwriting so I think I’m pretty good at that. I aspire to becomw a visual storyteller like you!
These are wonderful tips, Kirsten. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I’m excited to be able to approach my biography with a better understanding of how to revise in order to make it “book-worthy”!
Thank you, Kirsten, for these inspiring tips. Finding that entry into a story is such a maze. Congratulations!
Kirsten I hadn’t seriously considered writing non-fiction until I read your post. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom. I’m excited to look for story worthy ideas that speak to kids hearts.
Squeeee! Just found the perfect tools to polish my PB bio! It has been on “Pause” for months. Thank you, Kristen!
Wow, I took two pages of notes. This is such good info for ALL our writing endeavors, whether narrative NF or fiction. I loved your comparison to Monet and his paintings and the suggestion to try a dummy BEFORE writing more than one rough draft. Great suggestions I’m going to put into practice for my April projects! Thank you, thank you 🙂
This is spot-on helpful, Kirsten! I’ll be saving your tips/challenges and referring back to them often. Congrats on your book. I look forward to reading it and more of your work!
Thank you for the excellent advice on narrative nonfiction, Kirsten. I particularly like the criteria for book-worthy stories. I will keep my eyes open for a hook, multiple layers, and a takeaway that will resonate with children.
Thank you for sharing your process. Love the kitchen sink and dummy before writing ideas.
Thank you for your insight and challenges – it has made me look at my work in a whole new light!
You are SO SMART, Kirsten! Love you and your books.
Thank you for the great tips- these will help with fiction as well! I especially like the challenges to use sentence fragments, and to dummy BEFORE writing.
Fabulous information to write great narrative nonfiction. Thank you!
great tips! I think I’ve learned from making lots of wrong choices, too. Thanks Kirsten!
Thank you for the wonderful tip, Kirsten! Can’t wait to read your book.
Thanks Laurie. Happy writing.
That’s the best way to learn…by making mistakes.
Thanks for sharing, Kirsten! Really enjoyed this post.
Great tips! I’m printing this for easy access. Definitely will be referring to them.
HI Kirsten! Guess what book is sitting right on top of my laptop so that every time I work on revisions, I have WOOD, WIRE, AND WINGS close at hand. It sits right beside me for quick reference. I can totally see how you applied all of your tips in your incredible book! Thanks for spelling it out! Success!
Congratulations!
Kirsten, you didn’t disappoint! These are great pointers, and I also write a kitchen sink draft. Or…many…But it’s all in the journey!
Love your tips and the whole theme of persistence!
Kirsten, this was a fabulous post, You offer up so much excellent information. It was so very helpful.
Thank you for sharing!
What a helpful post! I really appreciate the concrete tips combined with your experience. Thank you!
Thanks for the tips on narrative nonfiction. It’s something I haven’t done much of, but would like to.
Brilliant distillation of the process, Kirsten! Congratulations on your book–it’s a gem.
Thank you for this wonderful and helpful post. Much appreciated. Congratulations on WOOD, WIRE, WINGS!
What great tips Kirsten1 I love – write poetry, not prose and write a movie, not a book. Thank you for sharing:)
Wow! Great post. I love the steps and tips you’ve shared. The examples are perfect. Thanks so much! Congratulations and best wishes!
These are great tips–thank you so much!!
Thank you for this inspiring and interesting post!
Very good advice, Kirsten. And congratulations on your book!
This is great! Writing nonfiction scares me a little. I’ve kept notes of potential story ideas for ‘that’ time when I’m ready to take one on. I’m anxious to see where your prompts might lead me.
Thank you, Kirsten. Your writing tips are fabulous. The kitchen sink draft is a clever description and useful to consider, like all these suggestions. I will use them!
Thank you for sharing your tips Kirsten and congratulations on your beautiful book. I’m taking a note of these tips for reference.
Kitchen sink draft … I love it. Must remember that. Thank you so much for sharing these very useful tips Kirsten. I’ve been playing around with a narrative NF PB idea for over a year now and haven’t been able to think about how to get started. I know there’s a story there – but it’s staying hidden. I’m going to give these tips a go.
Such Wonderful advice Kirsten. Thank you!
Thanks for this amazing post. This is such helpful information, especially for a story I have been trying to figure out how to write for several years. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Wood, Wire, Wings!
Fan-TAS-tic advice. (As always) I’m starting to think of you as the “Dear Abby” for PB writers.
Thank you so much for the great tips, Kirsten! Wood, Wire, and Wings is a wonderful book. Congratulations!
What a great checklist! I especially love the idea of treating scenes like a movie, unfolding in real time. This is what brings the book to life and puts the reader RIGHT THERE! I’m going to print out this list to check my writing…thanks!
Kirsten, thank you for the helpful tips. I especially liked the distinction you made between newsworthy and book-worthy – it clarified a lot.
Hi Kirsten,
Thanks for sharing your process. It’s always nice to learn how someone makes it work. I’m new to NF so all of this was helpful. I especially love, Newsworthy does not equal book-worthy. I’m going to think about that a lot.
Absolutely fabulous post, full of diamonds and gold. I find I have done some of these things in my narrative nonfiction, but missed others. And the ones I have done? I think, based on this, they can be done better. Thank you so much!
This is so helpful! I’m writing my first PB bio, and I am finding that the facts are what brings on the feelings. I am printing this out to help me along. Thank you so much!
That was so helpful! Thank you!
With a “wing” and a prayer, Kirsten! Congratulations of your debut picture book! I hope you celebrate this success, especially when you pop open your box of advanced copies. What a thrill to see the fruits of your labor for the first time!
Your Tips and Challenges create a kitchen sink filled with useful, wise checkpoints for our stories. I imagine your learning curve is not so mountainous now, and that must feel good. I appreciate your first tip that “newsworthy” doesn’t equal “book-worthy.” I enjoy researching topics and themes. Maybe my Master’s Degree set my enjoyment in motion. LOL I’ve wanted to challenge myself to write a nonfiction picture book, so I applaud and thank you for your advice. Your tips will be sitting beside me as I research and write. Sending you energy and inspiration for your writing journey…
Great tips! Congrats again on WOOD, WIRE, and WINGS!
Hi Kristen, thank you for sharing your five tips. Tips #2 & 5 were especially helpful!
Kirsten, thank you so much for sharing these useful tips. I kept them in mind as I was revising yesterday. And congratulations on your book release. I love it!
Great tips! I can’t wait to read WOOD, WIRE, WINGS. Love the title!
Wow, these are fantastic tips, Kirsten, thank you for sharing! Your book looks so fabulous!
Thank you for sharing the backstory of your book. Your tips will help everyone, even those not writing nonfiction! I often write down a description of the pictures I want in my story before I even write it. It definitely helps! Good luck with your new book and for future ones!
Great tip! I can use Tip #2 right now!! Thanks!
Love the kitchen sink analogy, it works for fiction writing as well- get everything out and then write a picture book. I appreciate how succinctly you expressed writing process. I found reading about your process helped me to really look at my own process to see what works and what I could do better. Thank you for sharing.
Fabulous tips, Kirsten! Thanks for sharing!
Definitely will revisit my narrative nonfiction draft with these tips in mind. Thank you!
Wow! Your tips #1 and #2 really spoke to me. I will take all of these to heart as I plan my next few NF manuscripts. Thank you!!
What a great post. Going to print it out and pin it to my bulletin board. Fewer words, more pictures. Write with emotion. I love, love, love your tips. Thanks for sharing. They all resonate with me.
This helps think through a non-fiction work. Thanks for clarifying a kitchen sink
First draft and then paring things down to basics.
Kristen – I loved this post so much I printed it out! Thank you and I can’t wait to get a copy of your book. I am hoping to get it from my Indie Bookstore.
This was exactly what I needed to shape up my new narrative NF. Thank you!
Thank you, Kirsten, for encouraging writing it all down and selecting just the most relevant to make you story. It is like a sculptor who chisels until only the statue is left. Afterwards you know you have chosen your most important points.
So helpful, I was re-writing my narrative nonfiction manuscript in my head as I read this!
This is a fabulous post, Kirsten. Love the challenges!
Thank you, Kirstenn! And congratulations on Wood, Fire, Wings.
These are such useful and immediately applicable tips. Thank you for the great post and congratulations!
Love it. Such a good description:
Think of narrative nonfiction writing like an Impressionist painting by Claude Monet. He focuses on the light, the emotion, NOT on portraying his subject in minute detail.
Thanks so much for the great tips!
Great tips! Equally useful for fiction picture books as well as non-fiction.
That is a helpful suggestion to dummy the book before writing the story. Thanks for all you do to help all of us.
Congratulations on your amazing book I can’t wait to get my hands on. Thank you for all your GREAT writing tips . INSPIRING!
Kirsten,
Even though narrative nonfiction is not what I usually write, I found your tips interesting. Congratulations on having your book published and on having several others in the process!
Brilliant post! And your tips apply to fiction pbs, too. Thanks for sharing them.
Such helpful info. Especially liked the part about newsworthy vs book worthy. Thank you.
Thank you, Lori! This is the first time I have felt I can write a nonfiction piece. I’ve always become discouraged because of my “kitchen sink” draft. This is an incredibly helpful post!
Thank you Kristenn, for such great tips for writing nonfiction. Your words encourage me to try this genre.
Thank you Kirsten! You’ve given a wonderful summary of the heart of a non-fiction PB and how to get there! Much of this is also great advice for any PB – verse, feelings, visually and child-focused. So many great points in this piece.
Great, practical tips Kirsten. Thank you for the insights and the exercises. So helpful! I can’t wait to get a look at Wood, Wire Wings!
Timely (for me) advice, Kristen! Thanks for sharing your hard-won wisdom. Now, to figure out how to print it…
Goodness. So many valuable tips here! I feel like I should print this out and reference it as I write and revise! The bit about Monet providing a feeling rather than a replication of detail was an ah-ha for me, a super detail-oriented person.
I love and relate to the poetry challenge. Writing as if the experience is happening in real-time, movie-esque–love that. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Excellent post, Kirsten. I like how you offered valuable tips and then took it further by giving us a challenge to complete.
Thanks!
“Forget the facts!”…What? But now I get it. The themes and feelings that come from the story are more important than just the facts. I haven’t written narrative non-fiction, but your post pulled me in to try some time. Thanks, Kristen. Great post!
Great tips! I’ll be making good use of them as I work on revisions and future ideas.
Great post! Thank you for your perspective. On perspective. 🙂
Wonderful post, Kirsten! So many takeaways on how to write great narrative nonfiction. Congratulations on WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane. I’m looking forward to reading it. Thank you!!
Kirsten, these are the best tips I’v seen fo writing narrative nonfiction for kids. I find that I am always drowning in facts, and cutting to get to the heart of the story is always so difficult! I love your challenge of putting the kitchn sink draft aside and then writing a draft focusing on feelings and emotions. I also love the idea of writing the story with a poet;s eye. Thnak you so much for sharing these tips!
Such a useful post! Thank you.
Kirsten, this is just what I needed to hear for a narrative non-fiction I’ve had brewing in my head for a long time. It’s like you’ve given me permission to share the story starting at the very heart of the tale. Feelings being as important as facts. Yes! Thank you so much and congratulations on WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane. Can’t wait to read it!
Writing is work. I was validated by your process of putting it all in and then starting again with a fresh piece of paper. I feel a good story is born again many times before it is fully grown. Congratulations!
Such great tips, Kirsten! You have made me look at my own work in a new way. Can’t thank you enough.
Congratulations on your book! My husband is a private pilot. We will both enjoy ‘feeling’ your book.
Great post! Very helpful–thanks!
I already know I will be coming back to refer to this post. Simple concepts, but they make a dramatic difference in the way the story is told. Thank you for sharing them with us!
Thank you Kirsten. I write fiction but I gleaned some great information from you.
Thank you for this information. Some of it I wish I had known before I started my nonfiction narrative. 😅. I was grateful to see that a project can take a while and still be successful.
This is the “best” post for a non fiction writer…focus on feelings, write poetry, write a movie!!! I see pictures when I write…but not the movie! Thank you so much. I love your thoughts.
I love that you noted how long it took you to create the story. So often, we fail to realize the time and dedication that goes into a successful book. It’s inspiring to me as I often shelve an idea, only to pick it back up months and months later with a different, fresh perspective.
This is so helpful about narrative nonfiction you give so many great tips and exercises! Thank you!
Thank you Kirsten, this information is so helpful for anyone even thinking about writing a narrative nonfiction. Your book is so great for kids. Love the tips you gave us.
Thank you, Kirsten, for a very informative and challenging post. I took notes as I was reading it and know that I will refer back to your post when I work on future narrative nonfiction projects.
I am very interested in how your life experiences have prepared you to write narrative nonfiction. Is an autobiography in the works?
Been wanting to tackle my non-fiction idea and this post is just what I needed. Thank you!
Great advice! Thanks!
Great tips! Extremely helpful and inspiring! Thank you and congratulations!!
Thank-you for those tips. Tips 2-5 can apply to writing pb fiction stories too.
I have one nonfiction story I drafted that I think has real potential, but that I’m absolutely sure was a kitchen sink draft that focused way too much on getting the facts just right. Thanks for sharing your process and advice. And congratulations on WOOD, WIRE, WINGS and the other upcoming books!
Thanks Kirsten! I appreciate you sharing your 5 tips for Narrative NF. Your book looks wonderful. I am glad you and Emma Lilian Todd persisted! Best of luck with your future writing.
Fantastic post Kirsten! I’m so happy for you.
Thank you. These craft tips are coming for me at just the right moment. And I love the kitchen sink draft idea. Best to you with your own work! And stay safe everyone.
Thanks so much for such great info!
One of the most thoughtful, thorough posts. Love the tips. Hope I can put them to use this year, thank you.
Six years! This is my weakness as a writer — too much ambition and not enough patience. Thanks for sharing your story, your process, and your journey. 🙂
Thanks so much for this!
Thank you for your inspiring post!
I love your discussion of process and your focus on creativity in drafting nonfiction!
Great tips! Makes me want to look at my NF again.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful insight about writing such a fabulous piece of non-fiction!
Wow – this was post has some really solid content that I can apply! Thank you so much for these tips. I especially liked the idea of multiple hooks and how the idea must be story-worthy and not just news-worthy.
Really helpful post, Kirsten, especially this:
“Try dummying your book BEFORE you write it (or after the kitchen sink draft). Think about what scenes will appear on each page or spread. Now consider what the illustrations can show. THEN (and only then) consider what you absolutely must say with words.lly helpful post, Kirsten, thank you! Am tweeting this – hope you don’t mind: ”
Thank you!
Thanks, Kirsten. My comment got jumbled. Here’s the part of your post that I found most helpful: “Try dummying your book BEFORE you write it (or after the kitchen sink draft). Think about what scenes will appear on each page or spread. Now consider what the illustrations can show. THEN (and only then) consider what you absolutely must say with words.”
These are amazing tips! I can’t wait to apply them. Thanks for sharing what you have learned so that we can use the information. This makes writing non-fiction more approachable.
This is the best article on writing narrative nonfiction that I’ve read yet!
I really appreciate the idea of the non-fiction story being like an Impressionist painting rather than a photograph. As a kid, too many facts always pulled me out of a book.
Wonderful advice, thank you for sharing it. I have entered the world of writing from the back door as an illustrator first. Making a dummy of the book is incredibly helpful! I love that you mention to do it in the early stages of writing. It’s like writing in pictures first and haven’t we heard a picture is worth a thousand words? save yourself a thousand words per page! 🙂
So helpful! I have yet to try to write non-fiction, but maybe one day.
Great insights into nf writing and the market.
This is one of the most useful posts on writing non-fiction picture books I’ve read. Thanks for breaking it down so well. Looking forward to reading your book.
What great advice. I am working on a non-ficion picture book. This is just what I needed right now. Thanks!
Omg! This is exactly what I needed to help me finally go past research and start writing my newest WIP! Thank you!
I love your post! I have a pb biography I’ve been playing around with for years. I smiled in recognition when you said you have to write a kitchen sink draft – I had to learn to do that before I could write anything else. I love the thought of having painting and poetry in mind when writing a draft – I’m going to try that because nothing I’ve written so far works in the way that I’d like it to. Thank you and can’t wait to read Wood, Wire, Wings!
Love the idea of the “book-worthy” test. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. I loved reading Wood, Wire, Wings, and I appreciate you sharing your expertise with us. 🙂
These are great tips-thank you so much!
Great tips! I loved the one that suggested writing as many facts as you can think of on one piece of paper and only the character’s feelings and experiences on another. What a great way to make sure your writing has focus.
I agree with Maria that it’s the best article I’ve seen on narrative nonfiction. Thank you for taking the time to share your tips with us. Trying to soak in as much advice as possible. Take care!
Thanks so much, Kirsten! These are fantastic tips! I especially love your suggestion to “focus on feelings” . . . I can’t wait to try this with a NF manuscript.
Thank you for these tips. I have not written non-fiction yet, but your article made me want to try!
Wonderful tips! I’m looking forward to writing my first terrible, fact-filled draft.
What wonderful tips, Kirsten! Thank you.
Write with pictures, not words. Great advice to keep in mind. Thank you!
Kirsten,
your tips condense so much wisdom in clear words. Thanks for that. I can’t wait to read this new picturebook.
Your post makes so much sense. Thank you. I, too, include too many facts–at least in my first 10 drafts. 🙂
I love your tips. Thank you for sharing with us. And thank you for not giving up. You inspire us.
Kirsten, great road plan for writing narrative nonfiction! Fabulous!
Thanks!
Lucy
Thanks for a great post! I agree – newsworthy doesn’t always mean book worthy’. Congratulations on your book!
Kirsten is a fabulous writer and giver to the writing community. I love the descriptions of how she develops the information and then the feelings, that’s a fascinating way to tell a story. And always with great appreciation for the art. I can’t wait to read this book!
Such a great post! Thank you for these pieces of wisdom!
These tips are incredibly helpful and will live forever on my office wall. Thank you!
Thank you for the great insight. I look forward to trying out the kitchen sink draft with my next manuscript!
This post was incredibly helpful!
This is a new area of picture books for me, so thanks for these tips. Good luck with your book.
Thank you Kirsten! These are great tips. Especially liked “Newsworthy does note equal book-worthy” and “focus on feelings.” Congrats and good luck on your book!
Fantastic post! Really instructive but also encouraging. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Wow! What helpful tips! Thank you for sharing your expertise with us!
Great tips, Kirsten! I’ve never tried my hand at narrative non-fiction, so this is really helpful.
This looks so fabulous Kirsten! As someone who is just starting experimenting with NF – this was the perfect read before I dig in 🙂
wonderful advice! Thank you for sharing. Your book looks beautiful, can’t wait to read it!
This is a MAGNIFICENT how-to for the PB bio I’ve been dragging my feet to finally draft! Thank you so much for this- your words are so inspiring!!!!
I love love love this article. You have nailed it, from the kitchen sink right down to “Failure! is a sentence,” this article has soooo many truths in it. Thank you Kirsten.
Love your advice and even though I’ve not yet tackled a non-fiction bio, pretty much all of what you say carries into fiction work too! Thank you for sharing.
This is a great post, thank you Kristen. It’s one that I’ll read again and again I’m sure.
It sounds like persistence is part of your process as well as part of your story. Thanks for telling us about it!
Thank you for this great article. Narrative nonfiction has always intrigued me. Breaking down exactly what to focus on with what is “book worthy” clears the fog and actually makes me feel like I could try this. Thanks!
Hoo boy… Kitchen sink writer here. Every. darn. time.
But then I get to revise it and craft it… my favorite part!
Wow, is this good stuff. I am highlighting a lot of her information. That book is magnificent. Thanks for sharing from your own experience.
Excellent article! Narrative non-fiction is my favorite genre. Looking forward to reading this book! Persistence in the face of repeated failure—a lesson we all need!
Great tips! Can’t wait to read the book!
Thanks for the great tips as I begin to revise my PB bio. I’m also writing about the writing process.
Engineering process, not writing process 🤦🏻♀️
I especially like your tip on writing in poetry instead of prose. I’m definitely going to give that a try this month.
Thank you Kirsten. Your tips and challenges are jam-packed with excellent information. I like the idea of doing a kitchen sink draft and then moving on.
Thank you Kirsten, this post is excellent. Even with fiction, doing the kitchen-sink version, and then a fresh draft can be refreshing. I also love how you remind us to get our poet hats on, as well as our movie/theatre/scene creating hats. I’m also thrilled to learn about another book (AND historical female) that teaches/shows about failures before success. It’s important for all of us to hear, especially kids. Cheers!
I think it’s so interesting to dummy before writing! I love the idea and will think about that before my next draft!! great post
Great image to think of story real time – not past reporting. Thansk!
um…thanKS.
Thank you for sharing your experience on writing for the non fiction, picture book market – one I am trying to crack. Brilliant words of advice.
Great advice! I would love to win a critique for the manuscript I wrote this month!
As a narrative NF writer myself, this was extremely helpful and relatable. Thanks for the wisdom, Kirsten, and congrats on your story!
The thought of tackling a non-fiction MS was just noodling around in my brain yesterday. Thank you for your tips!
So many good tips!
Great tips!
I have an idea for a narrative nonfiction, these tips will be immensely helpful in bringing it to life.
I love the “kitchen sink draft.” Even though I tend to write fiction, I think it applies to that as well.
Great tips! Thank you!
I really like they way you posted challenges with your tips. Imagining your story as a movie and narrating in the present tense is a great way to make your work more visual. It has taken me some time to think about and visualize how much the illustrations will help me to tell my story! Thanks for these images!
Thank you for such great advice, with tips that are easily are applicable!
Thank you for an insightful post. I especially like Tip #2–thinking of narrative nonfiction as a Monet painting. He is my favorite Impressionist painter, so this will be easy to remember. I look forward to reading your book.
Thanks so much for the great tips!
Thank you so much for your post! It was very helpful.
So much great information and challenges here to consider and take with me into my writing day. Thank you!
I love “Forget the Facts, Focus on Feeling!” I’ve seen posts for Wood, Wire, Wings all over Kirsten. I hope things are going well. Congratulations!
I love “Focus on Feelings not on facts!” I’ve seen your book all over the internet, Kirsten. I hope it’s doing well! I know I’ll be adding it to my classroom library. Congratulations!
Kirsten –
Thank you for your great tips that are a little different than ones I have read before. Plus you added some great writing challenges! Shelly
I’m always seeing book worthy themes in my biographies, but something still hasn’t resonated with editors.
Making the move from NASA to kidlit – and finding a nitch there is inspirational to all of us handling other jobs and careers while pursuing our creativity.
Thank you for so many terrific tips! Newsworthy does not equal book worthy is going to stick with me, as well as taking a cue from poets. Really great challenges here.
Wow! What excellent instruction! Thanks!
“Persistence in the face of repeated failure” you say? We writers should each have a PB bio writeen about us!
Wow, thank you! Haven’t written non-fiction yet, but will try some day. Loved your analogy of writing and painting like an impressionist. I am an illustrator so wonderful way of approaching a story. THANK YOU.
Thank you for this insight, Kirsten. One day I will attempt a non-fiction picture book!
These are great tips! Thank you for sharing! Also, the book is wonderful! Congrats!
Great article, great advice, especially “write a movie, not a book.” Thank you!
I am excited about the book! I can’t wait to get a copy. The suggestions you had for aspiring writers are perfect! Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom. 🙂
Thank you for all this great advice, and congratulations on this book! Looking forward to reading it!
Great post! Love the list of ideas, so practical and common-sensish . . . but not common at all . . . brilliant!
Congratulations, Kirsten. I loved your post. The facts are easy enough for kids to find, and your poetry will inspire the search. Good ideas!
I love PB bios of women who were ahead of their time. This book looks awesome!
I see the poetic influence you mention just in the title of your book. It sounds beautiful!
These are great suggestions, Kirsten. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. I have a pb biography idea, and these ideas will be very helpful to me. Congratulations on your book!
I’m not sure where the month of April went, but I’m so glad that I could wrap it up with this encouraging & wise post. Thank you, thank you!
Oh, this is wonderful and bookmark-able, Kristen. Thank you! I’ve never written a nonfiction PB draft, but I’ve had ideas for them during Storystorm, and point number 1 just knocked me backwards. Brilliant.
Great advice! Thank you, Kirsten!
Thank you, Kirsten! Can’t wait to try out the tip #2 on my next rewrite. Congratulations on WOOD, WIRE, WINGS!
Thanks for this post, Kirsten! It is encouraging to know that it took you a while to find the right way to tell this story. I have one simmering that I can easily imagine taking a long time to finish cooking! And I will definitely think about poetry when revising.
So much great advice! I don’t write narrative non-fiction (yet!), but I’m already thinking about how these tips can apply to my fiction writing. Thank you!
wow, this is super enlightening and inspiring! Can’t wait to read your book!
This was really helpful, Kirsten. Thank you for those insightful tips. I look forward to reading your book!
A wonderful set of tips. Definitely bookmarking this blog for future reference. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Kirsten! I want to print it out and do a revision of my manuscripts.
Write with pictures (not words) – amazing tip.
Thank you so much, Kirsten! I want to print it out and do a revision of my manuscripts.
Write with pictures (not words) – amazing tip.
Congratulations on your book.
Thank you for the helpful 5 points, Kirsten! I especially needed to hear that the 1st draft will be a ‘kitchen-sink’ version, and it’s ok! Gotta start with the facts to massage them into the work of art. Congrats on your success!
Thank you for your post, Kirsten! I love the kitchen sink draft! Can’t wait to read your book.
Emma, What a fantastically helpful post! Sometimes I think I am aware of each of these and then I see it written down and realize I’ve forgotten one…again. Really, I must make a checklist and tack it up where I will be reminded more often. Thanks so much for the nudge to think “picture” book!
Love these tips, Kristen. I need to use the “kitchen sink” draft idea so that I can get that out of my system. So helpful even with fiction. And what a lovely book–Wood, Wire, Wings!
Kristen, thanks for your tips. I love your perspective.
Danielle
Thanks Kirsten. You’ve helped me many time. Great suggestions
It’s a pleasure learning from your experiences, and your experience. I love the ideas of book-worthiness, feelings, poetry, making dummies, and creating ‘movies’. Because of you, many of us can take flight.
Kirsten,
What great writing tips! I especially like the idea of writing from the perspective of a movie showing the action unfolding as the viewer watches the scene. That underscores the need to write in the present tense, not in the past.
Thank you so much for great tips! I haven’t wrote any non fiction books but I can see that I can apply to my fiction books too. can’t wait to read your books.
“Newsworthy does not equal book worthy” love this reminder.
Such helpful tips, Kirsten, thanks!
Kirsten,
You make me want to sit down and write a narrative nonfiction picture book RIGHT NOW!
Bravo! And thank you.
Thanks for this information. I don’t write non-fiction but I still took away several pieces of good advice that I can use in my next book revision.
Great ideas to set the scenes and find the feelings. It’ll be nice to request your books at the library when it reopens!
Thank you for your wonderful article. I appreciate learning from your experience!
Thanks Kirsten, this is helpful to remember to emphasize the emotions our characters are feeling, and to also make sure to leave plenty of room for the illustrator to show, instead of simply telling.
Kirsten, I read your piece this morning. The timing was ideal, as I wrote a heavy info-dump story yesterday and am anxious to revisit my story from an emotional angle. I am especially fond of your encouragement to include a lyrical tone to narrative non-fiction. I agree valuable story material is not only newsworthy but book-worthy.
Thank you for sharing these very helpful tips Kirsten! I have a few non fiction stories I have wanted to begin writing..it’s where to begin I find. I am going to try these tips!!
Thank you!
Marianne
Thanks for the great tips for writing narrative nonfiction. Congrats on your book and your up-coming
ones, too!
Excellent post! Every tip you mentioned rings true for me. You’ve condensed so much insight on writing narrative nonfiction into one concise post. Thank you!
Kirsten, I also want you to know that I participated in a small, online writing workshop this month, and one assignment we had was to select a very recent mentor text to use throughout the weekend. I chose Wood, Wire, Wings! I pulled great examples of your craft straight from the text to share with our group–always attributing to you–and everyone was impressed with your writing. One example: your opening lines. You capture the theme, character, and subject right from the start, using lovely imagery. Congrats on such a successful project!
Thank you, Kirsten! As a NF writer, this post was so helpful (I’m pinning it for later reference too). I appreciate all of your guidance over the years. Thank you for all that you do for 12×12!
I printed this post out to help me draft a PB biography I’ve been researching. It’s my first narrative nonfiction and your insight is EXACTLY what I need to keep moving forward. What a gift! Thank you!! (It’s about a Norwegian-American fiddler–and your name makes me think you may have Scandinavian roots?)
I have a story that I keep rewriting – I think writing it as an emotion-draft might be a great way to look at it from another angle. Thank you!
Great advice! I’m going to try and dummy out my story idea before writing it. Congratulations to you, Kirsten!
Kirsten, Thank you for this excellent post. Your tips are outstanding. Congratulations on your beautiful book! I look forward to read my copy when it arrives.
This was informative but also encouraging. I’ve run across a few different interesting people/stories that I had an emotional connection to that I thought might make for a good picture book. But I’m always held back by an imaginary belief that I can’t write narrative non-fiction. Maybe it’s time to just give it a go!
These are great tips! I know I will be referring back to this post multiple times. Thanks, Kirsten!
Fantastic post! I am getting started on a narrative non-fiction and I found your advice very helpful. Thank you! Congrats on the new book!
Kirsten–I especially connected to your tip about writing our narrative non-fiction like free verse poetry. I like the idea of really focusing in one specific moments in time and using sensory details and metaphors to bring those moments to life. All of your tips were so helpful–I think it’s reassuring to see that a kitchen sink draft is a necessary part of the writing process. Thank you for taking the time to share your writing wisdom with us. Your book looks like an absolute gem that I would love my sons to read.
Thank you so much for these awesome tips, Kirsten. I’m taking “feelings not facts” as a tip for my fiction PBs too — I know I generally could improve any draft by focusing on the feelings of my characters more than the point-by-point plot. Thank you!
I love writing narrative non-fiction and your post was incredibly helpful!! Thank you so much for both the tips and challenges! I look forward to reading your books!!
Thank you for giving me something to hang onto these days. I like your tips and helpful hints. They are guiding lights in these dark times.
Helpful tips. Thanks for sharing. Excited to apply these to the idea I’ve been toying with. And looking forward to reading your books.
This is hugely informative, Kirsten. Makes me want to write an NF.
I am so behind reading this, but I’m so glad I took the time to read it today. There is so much wonderful information in this post. Thank you!
What a terrific post, Kristin! Thank you for sharing your inspiring ideas…I loved when you said to, “Think of narrative nonfiction writing like an Impressionist painting by Claude Monet. He focuses on the light, the emotion, NOT on portraying in minute detail. his subject.”
Congratulations on WOOD WIRE,WINGS and can’t wait to read CECILIA PAYNE!
Thank you so much for showing how to decide if a topic is book-worthy and then how to make it child- and heart-worthy. Wonderful! Congratulations!
I have drafted my first NF story, and this is very helpful! I appreciate you sharing these tips! I can’t wait to read your stories with my family! Thank you!