WRITING FOR DIFFERENT FORMATS
It may seem odd to talk about writing different formats in a community dedicated to picture books, but that’s what I’m going to do!
You see, I started my career in children’s books because I wanted to write picture books. The first book I sold was a picture book. But the second book I sold was an early chapter book series, then a board book series, and most recently, an early graphic novel series.
In this, my debut year, I am releasing five books in three different categories, and adding a fourth category next year! Exploring different formats has been inspirational and important to my career and growth as an author.
Like many writers, I keep a list of story ideas. These ideas sit on the list and percolate in the back of my mind. Sometimes, I write a crappy first draft. Sometimes, these crappy first drafts turn into better and better drafts. Other times, they get discarded because I just couldn’t make them work.
Vicky Fang’s debut picture book, Invent-a-Pet, ill. Tidawan Thaipinnarong (Sterling Children’s Books, June 2020)
And this is when the magic of different formats has come into play for me. When my agent encouraged me to consider writing an early illustrated chapter book, I began reading mentor texts in that category. Suddenly, a picture book idea that wasn’t working made sense! It was too complex for a picture book, but perfect for an early chapter book. And so, my story about three collaborative robots took on new life as a chapter book with a rockstar/inventor at the helm: LAYLA AND THE BOTS.
Layla and the Bots early chapter book series, by Vicky Fang, ill. Christine Nishiyama (Scholastic, May & Aug 2020)
When I was struggling over a picture book concept about coding logic called IF/THEN, I attended a board book session at a local SCBWI conference. Afterward, my critique partner turned to me and said, THAT’s what you should do with IF/THEN. Of course! The kernel of my many manuscripts was this basic logic concept with rich storytelling implications. Thanks to that nudge, the seed for the I CAN CODE board book series was born!
I Can Code board book series, by Vicky Fang, ill. Jade Orlando (Sourcebooks, Oct 2020)
That same picture book concept had many iterations as a story about two robots. I spent years trying to find the right story about two robot friends with conflicting code. I wrote manuscript after manuscript about these two robot personalities, but I could never find the right picture book story to stick. When my agent (have I mentioned she is amazing?) suggested I try my hand at early graphic novels, a version of that concept finally clicked. It should be an early graphic novel series focused on friendship, not code! And so FRIENDBOTS came to be.
All this to say, while you’re reading mentor texts for your perfect picture books – consider that another format might be the key to unlocking your story! Is your story too complex for a picture book? Too simplistic? Too conceptual? Does a different format unlock or inspire new truth in your story that you had been missing before?
I still believe that given the right manuscript, any of these book concepts could have become a picture book. But the stories that were in my heart, that I was trying to express, needed a different format. As you explore your manuscripts, consider that you may need to shift: Perhaps you need to write a different story, or perhaps you need to write the story differently – and that might mean it’s not a picture book at all.
Vicky Fang is a product designer who spent 5 years designing kids’ technology experiences for both Google and Intel, often to inspire and empower kids in coding and technology. She started writing to support the growing need for early coding education, particularly for girls and kids of color. Her goal is for her books to inspire computer literacy for a wide range of kids—while letting their imaginations run wild with the possibilities of technology! She is the author of INVENT-A-PET, as well as the LAYLA AND THE BOTS early chapter book series, and the I CAN CODE board book series. Find out more about Vicky by following her on Twitter at @fangmous or on her website at www.vickyfang.com.
For our August check-in, Vicky is offering one lucky 12 x 12 member the choice of both Layla and the Bots books or a copy of Invent-a-Pet! Starting writing those drafts today!
197 Responses
Wow Vicky thanks for a great post. I love reading about your shift in writing mindset that allowed you to explore and find success in so many different formats. I look forward to reading all your upcoming books. Many congratulations!
Thank you, Melissa!
Thank you so much for sharing Vicky, and congrats on your book birthdays!! I have always felt split as I’m called to YA and PB (not to mention illustration) sometimes it feels paralyzing , it’s heartening to see how well it can work.
Thank you, Vicky for this advice. My critique partner suggested one of my picture book manuscripts be a board book. I haven’t delved into it yet, but I believe trying new formats may be the ticket…especially when I am frustrated. Thanks again.
Yay, give it a try, Nancy! I hope it unlocks something for you!
Vicky,
I too have manuscripts that don’t work as picture books but unlike you I have yet to try them. You’ve inspired me. Thanks!
I’m so glad, Nancy! I hope you unlock some gems!
Thank you, Susan! Best of luck trying something new!
Vicky,
These are all such great books. I am glad you explored different formats. You are an inspiration in not giving up on an idea, but envisioning what else it could be. Congratulations!
Aw, thank you so much, Maria!
Thank you, Vicky, for the helpful post. And congratulations!
Thank you for sharing your journey with these manuscripts. It’s really interesting to hear how different concepts clicked in different formats. (And your agent sounds great!)
Thank you for the kind words! (And she is!)
Thank you, Vicky. I’ve had this idea tugging at me for quite a while now. A picture book it’s not–but it could be an early reader. Maybe. You’ve inspired me to look into this more seriously.
Exciting! There’s a wide range of early readers, so I bet if you start reading some, you’ll get some great ideas! Best of luck.
Thanks for sharing your journey! Very inspiring.
Thank you, Marcia!
Years ago I received a critique for what I thought was a PB, but the agent felt it might be better told as a CB. Now I’m taking the leap & trying out a new format. I’m 3 chapters in & liking it! Thanks for the encouragement!
Hooray! Good for you.
Thank you, Vicky, for sharing about how you ventured into different formats, and congratulations on your successes!
Thank you, Jennifer!
I don’t know if I’m going to start writing in all formats, but you have certainly inspired me to read your books as they become available.
Aw, I hope you do! Thank you for the support!
(I mean, I hope you do read my books! You should write what you are meant to write! 😉)
It’s so interesting to see the course that different stories take. Thanks for sharing this with us, Vicky!
Thank you, Jilanne!
What great advice, Vicky! And congrats on your many books coming out!
Thank you, Kirsten!
This is such interesting, different and yet logical advice. Thank you for sharing your story and tips with us, Vicky.
Thank you for the kind words, Dan!
I am so impressed with how many formats you are tackling successfully! So inspiring! Thank you for your wise words. I really enjoyed reading this post!
Thank you so much, Kristy!
Thanks for sharing your story with us, I have several pb manuscripts that I just can’t seem to get to work, and you have made me think about trying them in a different format! Maybe you have helped unlock a new direction for some stories that otherwise wouldn’t have seen the light of day!
Yay! I hope you unlock some great stories, Joan!
Congrats on your huge success! You’ve certainly given me something to think about for my pesky PBs that are not working. Thank you!
Thank you, Laurie! Good luck with the pesky PBs! 😁
Great post, Vicky. Thanks for offering another way to look at a manuscript. Congrats on your books!
Thank you, Dee!
Thanks for sharing how your writing evolved from one genre to another. Great ideas!
Thank you, Bettie!
Thank you for sharing a bit about your journey and process, Vicky. I admire you for what you’ve accomplished, and I’m inspired!
Thank you and good luck with your inspiration, Robin!
Thanks for the encouragement and for sharing your journey, Vicky. You’ve shown us that being brave enough to take a risk with something new can lead to great success. Much luck and continued success!
Thank you, Rose – and hooray for taking risks!
Thanks Vicky. Your experience with formats has inspired me to stay open to the possibilities another format may provide.
Thank you, Jane! Good luck exploring new formats!
Wow, what a wonderful post. Thank you! Very helpful and inspiring. Congrats on all of your success.
Thank you, Karin!
Thank you Vicky for the inspiration to find the right format!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Mary!
Thank you, Vicky, for being an example of change and transformation. Your willingness and ability to accept change and move along with it is an inspirations to all of us who think if we stay where we are long enough, it might work. Sometimes we need to step away from our work and try another side or route.
Aw, you are so sweet, Marjorie. Thank you and good luck with your manuscripts!
Thank you! After hearing “complicated” in so many critiques, I’m finally exploring longer formats. You’re an inspiration. Congrats on ALL your books!
That’s great! I hope you unlock something great, Mary!
What a great topic for a post! Thank you for sharing your great ideas and congratulations on your success!
Thank you, Jennifer!
It’s impressive that you can make coding simple enough for a picture book. Congrats on getting all those book deals!
Thank you, Chelle!
Wow, writing across so many different formats is most impressive. Congrats on all your upcoming titles! I’m sorely tempted to try your suggestion with a couple of my ideas that keep nagging at me, but just don’t seem to work as PBs. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
You’re very welcome and I hope it leads you somewhere great! Thank you for the kind words.
Thank you for an inspiring post and congratulations on your success!!
Thank you, Charlotte! 🤗
Great post! Thanks for sharing, Vicky!
Thank you, Kara!
Wow! Such an inspiring post! Love your willingness to jump age levels and types of books to do the best thing for each story. Great tip! Congratulations!
Thank you, Angie!
Great post, Vicky! Thank you for sharing your writing journey with us. It was interesting to read how different formats clicked and offered you another way of looking at your manuscripts.
I have quite a few picture book manuscripts that just don’t work and am now considering rewriting them as early chapter books and possibly one of historical ones as a middle grade novel.
Great ideas! Good luck with your manuscripts.
Thanks, Vicky. So much to think about. I have a couple of stories that I’ve thought might just not be picture books.
Good luck finding the perfect format for your stories! I’m sure you will.
Thank you for your inspiring post. It was a great reminder that sometimes the best revision is a re-vision of the story. One way or another. 🙂
Ha, nicely put! Thank you, Nina.
Thank you Vicky. I too turned a picture book manuscript into a chapter book. Writing it as a picture book gave me the story line and then I was able to expand it. Love all your book ideas!
Yay! Yes, every draft helps you know you story better, even if it’s not the right version at the end, right?
Congrats on your books! We are enjoying Invent a Pet!
Hooray, I’m so glad! Thank you, Suzie!
Thank you for sharing your publishing triumphs and great advice! Not every story is as it seems, and they can almost be changed into anything you want. All you need is someone to point it out to you, ha ha! Good luck with all your different but wonderful books!
Haha, yes! But it’s up to you to figure out the right answer. 😉
This was great! Thank you so much.
Thank you, Sara!
I hadn’t thought of trying different formats as in early chapter books, graphic novels, or
Board books. But now I am looking at different ways to tell a story. Congratulations on your successes in different forms.
Thank you, Sheri!
Wonderful post, Vicky! Congrats on all of your successes!
Thank you, Cathy!
So inspiring! Thank you for a great post and congratulations on all of your success!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on different formats for storytelling potential. Very inspiring.
This is such a good topic. It’s one I’ve thought about with the occasional story as I work on it, but I loved seeing what that pivot to another format process has looked like for you (your board books in particular look fascinating.) Also, what a fascinating pathway you’ve taken to children’s books! I love it!
Thank you! What an amazing post!
Congratulations Vicky! I love your post! You’ve made me think about stepping outside my comfort zone and try other formats.
Congratulations Vicky! You have obviously put a lot of hard work into your writing and it has paid off. This is an incredible year for you, keep it up. Looking forward to your next format. You are very lucky to have such a wonderful agent and she has done a remarkable job finding homes for all your MS’s. Congratulations to you both 🙂
So inspiring! You give me hope!
So inspiring! Good reminder we all need to think outside the box. Thank you!
Wonderful, Vicky!! I love that you are writing in so many genres. Congratulations on all your success!!
Write a different story OR write a story differently – LOVE that advice. Thanks, Vicky. And I’m so intrigued by your I CAN CODE board books. I’ll definitely be checking them out. Wishing you all the best for your debut year.
Wow, big debut year for you!!! Congrats on all the titles.
This is so encouraging, especially for those of us experimenting with various formats and genres. Great idea to use mentor texts to think about formats that might work best for a story. Thank you for sharing!
What an exciting year for you! Congrats on all your debuts. I am looking forward especially to the board book series
Vicky – Thank you for sharing how you came to write your books. It’s always helpful to hear that others struggle or work to find the right way to share a story for them. Reminds me again just how personal writing is even when the stories also touch many other people. Congratulations on your books!
Vicky, this post is so inspirational! You got my “robot’ brain wheels turning.
Thank you!
Lucy Staugler
I really appreciate the wisdom in your post, Vicky! Experimenting with new formats sounds like a great way to add zest to a tired revision. I will definitely try this!
Vicky, what a wonderful post! I love that you are getting little ones into coding and seeing the fun in it instead of the fear some of us have for it.
You have me going back to all my manuscripts seeing if they have potential to have more than one option for publication. Thanks for a chance to win some of your books.
Vicky, thank you for sharing how you have been inspired to write various genres of books. Your post has encouraged me to review my story ideas for fresh approaches and formats.
When you queried your agent, did you mention several story ideas or did you focus on your first picture book proposal?
Congratulations on all your success. I look forward to sharing your books with children, fellow teachers and authors.
Thanks, Vicky, for sharing how your ideas for PBs turned into another format. I did that with a couple ideas, one was just blah, one I tried MG, but couldn’t get past a couple chapters, and now I’m working on it as an early chapter book!
Congrats on your successes in so many different areas!
Congratulations on your upcoming publications! I look forward to reading them. I think you were pretty brave to step out of your comfort zone and experiment with different formats. That’s an inspiration. Thanks for sharing this information and suggestion. Definitely gives us something to think about
Vicky, congrats on so many wonderful things! You inspired me to try new formats and I’m looking forward to putting the words I just typed into action. Thank you for an amazing post!
Thanks for sharing your journey! Always good to hear these stories
Wow — such an interesting journey!
I love your relevant, current book topics. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Vicky! I appreciate your story and that you shared it with us.
Such a seamless integration of STEM – well done! Happy to see my interview related to yours!
I love this post, Vicky, but this part really resonated with me; “Perhaps you need to write a different story, or perhaps you need to write the story differently – and that might mean it’s not a picture book at all.:
A few of my PB manuscripts could become chapter books, if fleshed out, or reduced significantly to work as a PB. Thanks for sharing this.
I’m writing picture books but really want to start writing early readers and chapter books. Thanks for your great post.
Thank you for sharing your journey. Congratulations on your successes.
I love the idea of writing chapter books, I just don’t know if I could write one that would sell. I’m still working on picture books. Thanks for the thoughtful blog post.
Thanks for sharing your journey! 🙂
Thank, Vicky! This is giving me some ideas of what to do with some of my PB manuscripts.
This was wonderful and inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing your journey.
I love this! I’ve thought of trying different avenues with my stories but was intimidated! Thank this helps give me the push. Can’t wait to read your graphic novel!
Allison
Such great inspiration and I love the idea of switching up formats if stuck on a manuscript. Thanks for sharing!
I love how flexible you are in changing your manuscripts. I have a couple that need rethinking in that way.
Thanks for the info, Vicky! Very inspiring!
Thank you for affirming that as a writer of children’s book, I can write in a variety of formats. This was not a past trend. What I find is author’s craft carries across formats to leave a fingerprint of the author no matter the genre or format.
Thank you Vicky. I had a similar experience when trying to write a PB about color. My critique partners nudged me to expand it in MG. Am doing just that and pleased with the ongong results.
I found this post very helpful and have started reworking what I thought was a picture book into a board book after reading your advice! Thanks!
I’m so glad I could read about your process! Thank you for sharing, and for sharing your books!
Congrats on all your new books, Vicky!
Congrats, Vicky! So happy for you on all your successes. So happy we connected at PBBC!
I want ALL these books!
I love your Layla books! They’ve been one of my mentor texts as I work on my first early chapter book series.
Wonderful post! Great suggestions. I have to go back and reread all of my rejected PBs. 🙂 Congrats on all of your success.
Thank you for that fun and inspiring post! Good for you!
Cheers to your success in your debut year! Great work! Thanks for sharing your process & your books!
Thank you for this inspiring post! And congrats on your success!
Thanks for the post and the reminder to be always be flexible!
Vicky, that is such a good point about a different genre unlocking an idea! I actually think this is a light bulb moment for me. I am going back to look over all my ideas and see if a particular genre seems to leap across to a genre. You also nudged me about keeping on reading those mentor texts. I’m so glad I read your post – thank you!
Thanks for the advice Vicky.
Hi Vicky,
Congratulations on all of your books coming out across all formats. I’m glad that you were able to expand your vision of yourself and your writing. I had a similar thing happen where I turned a picture book character into a middle grade character!
Thanks! Great advice to think flexibly about formats!
Congratulations on all your books. I appreciate the example of working across genres, as I aspire to that myself.
What a fun read. I love reading the back stories of a book and how the books came to life. Good Job.
To be a successful writer, one has to be flexible. You are a great example of that by being able to shift stories from genre to genre. You inspire me to try that with some of my manuscripts that I am stuck on.
Such an inspiring post. And you have given me the encouragement I need to rewrite a story. So thank you.
So exciting that you write in different genres. Kids can read your books throughout their childhood.
Thanks, Vicky, for helping me understand how my draft might be written in different formats. It’s great to know that it doesn’t have to fit into just one type. I appreciate you sharing your experiences to help us in our writing.
I love robot and inventing books. Yours look amazing. Thanks so much for sharing your journey. What a great insight that if a manuscript isn’t right for one format, it might be right for another. I appreciate you sharing that it helps to be open to trying different things. Thanks!
What wonderful advice Vicky – and congratulations. I’ve also been struggling with an idea that I can’t make ‘fit’ into a picture book, so going to look at other options.
Wow, Vicky! This is just what I needed to hear. A couple of ideas never felt quite right, but it might have been the genre, not the idea. Thank you! And I’m glad you have the perfect agent for you.
Simple questions with the potential to create significant shifts. Thanks, Vicky.
Kudos to you Vicky! I also write in different formats and one of my critique partners once said, ‘This is not a picture book, you have too much to say here, try a chapter book format.’ I’ve been revising since.
Take care.
I love this post, Vicky. Sometimes we get ourselves stuck in the “picture book” box, but there are so many other formats out there that could make a sinking story fly! Congrats on your success!
Hi Vicky, thanks for your advice. I think it is definitely worth examining the possibilities of my story ideas. I look forward to reading your latest publication.
Danielle
This was so inspiring since I have begun work on a chapter book and am exploring collaborating on some early readers. Thanks you!
Great post. I have several story ideas that I love that have languished. Thanks for giving me a useful framework for figuring out what type of stories they are meant to be.
Wow, Vicky,
I love how you found a way to salvage more of your ideas in this competitive PB market! I also am a STEM lover and writer, and I love how you’ve found fun ways to connect your other work outside writing in fun ways for children. I’m very interested in this illustrated non-PB world of books, and this post was excellent. Thank you, and good luck with your new books! Kelly
Congratulations, Vicky. You have inspired me!
This was such a great article, Vicky! It was so eye-opening and helped me understand that the possibilities go far beyond picture books. It gave me a new way to look at my ideas. Thank you for sharing your wonderful books and passion for coding and technology!
This is an inspiring message. I want to dig through my picture book idea files and rethink what format best suites each story. Thank you
Thanks for this awesome post, Vicky! I can relate! I had a picture book idea a few years ago that ended up turning into my NaNoWriMo project last November. I appreciate your encouragement not to give up on my ideas–but to be open and ready for new possibilities. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you for sharing how you were able to convert your PB manuscripts into different formats and get the stories you wanted to tell out in the world!
Cheers to all your successes! Thank you for sharing your tips on choosing genre. 🙂
Fantastic advice! And I am so glad this has worked for you. I am new and am feeling this kind of approach myself, but was afraid I would get sidetracked and never finish anything. I’d love another blog post sometime on your process working on multiple projects with varying formats. Thank you and congratulations!
Congratulations on your successes! Your journey and writing process are inspiring. I will be keeping my personal rejects aside to consider rewriting in other formats in the future. Thanks for the great examples and tips!
Thanks for the advice and encouragement.
Love this, Vicky! I do have some ideas that maybe I need to re-look at format. I love seeing what you were able to accomplish by keeping an open mind!
Thanks Vicky for this, it’s actually something I have been thinking about and glad to learn it’s a viable idea.
You are an inspiration, Vicky! Thanks so much for the post (& sorry I’m a little late in reading it, or maybe even re-reading it; August was the longest/fastest month ever!)
This is so helpful! Every time my mind wanders to other forms, I think, “No! PB or bust!” It’s great to see that the right format can help an idea blossom.
Vicky, thank you for such an inspiring post! I know what you mean when you mention that a book concept can come to you, but you may have to find another format. I originally envisioned my chapter book, What Happened to My Strawberry Yogurt?, as a picture book. However, after a few rounds of critiques, I realized that it would work better as a chapter book.
Vicki, thank you for sharing your story, and congratulations on your stellar year! I am anxiously awaiting the Layla books – I am obsessed with the Branches series and my students adore them.
This was an interesting post and made me think hard about some of my PB ideas. I know, in my critique group, we’ve had a couple people try stories in different formats and often discovered they were not writing a PB but a chapter book.
Great post. I may have to pull out some of those stories that just weren’t working and try a new format. Thanks!
What a celebration in originality! Well done!
Love this idea. We all have stories to get out there. This is such a great
thing for writers to consider. Can’t wait to read your books. The illustrations are wonderful!
Congrats to you and the illustrator.
Best, Debbie Lodato
Thank you, Vicky, for this inspiring post! I love that you were able to rethink, reimagine and revise your pb ideas to success. The power of an open mind! Congratulations!!
Thank you! I’ve been trying to think more along these lines.
Thanks Vicky! Your books are so clever/creative! Can’t wait to play around with formats to see what sticks! 🙂
Inspiring! Thank you, Vicky. Congratulations 🙂
Thanks for sharing. This was very inspirational! Knowing that you are not limited gives me ideas for ways to take my writing. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
That’s amazing! Great advice. Thank you!
Vicky –
You are amazing to do five books in three different categories! And thank you for the great advice on trying different formats too!
It’s wonderful when reading mentor texts you suddenly realize what you can do with yours; or at least give you an idea for another story!
Wonderful advice, Vicky! I love writing in different genres, and it’s a good idea to be open to what serves the story best. Congrats on your success, and all your fun books!! 😊💛
Vicky! 4 books in one year! I bow down to you and also congratulate you! That is an amazing feat and I’m so happy for you. Thank you for helping me see that picture books aren’t the only way to go! I tend to stay inside my safe, little box! 🙂
Michele
Hmmm this gives me a lot to think about. Thank you!
Thank you for the inspiring and liberating advice! I love how you successfully found your way to so many different formats.
Excellent suggestions Vicky. Can’t wait to read your books!
Thank you for the great advice , Vicky!
Congrats on your books, Vicky! They look awesome. 🙂
Well that’s great timing! My draft for July was a new format for me-early CB and I tried to figure it out as a PB but it just didn’t work. Excited to see your books on the shelves! Thanks for the inspiration.
Very cool — we never know how our stories can evolve if we’re open-minded, including their format!
Thank you for this insightful article! And congrats on your books!
Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring me to explore different formats.
Great perspective. Thanks for sharing!
Some ideas are just waiting for you to come up with the right format. Sometimes sooner sometimes later.
Congratulations on your multiple successes and thanks for the wonderful advice!
Thank you for your post! A great reminder to courageously consider trying a different format when things feel stuck. Congrats on your success!