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Using Scene Cards to Write Picture Books
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This writing technique uses scene cards (reference James V. Smith) to develop the story. A scene card is a regular index card, you use one card per scene of your story. On each card, you write an outline for one scene. The cards all together make up your entire story - beginning, middle to end. Thetechnique is adapted here for writing a picture book. Here's how it works:
Start with 15 index cards. These cards will tell your entire picture book story. Card 1 is your beginning scene. Card 3 will be your first obstacle point, Card 8 will be your second obstacle point, Card 12 will be the third obstacle point, Card 14 will be the resolution point, and Card 15 will be your ending scene. Use this as a guide; you will likely want to add more scenes and you may want to rearrange the card order, but to start, try the 15 scene method as outlined below:
Card 1: Write the outline for your beginning scene. Include the following:
The story's main character
An indication of age-level
A sense of time and place
The goal - what the MC wants
Card 3: Write the outline for the first obstacle. Include the following:
What the obstacle is
The goal of the MC - why does he want to overcome this obstacle?
The disaster - what happens to cause the MC to fail?
Card 8: Write the outline for the second obstacle. Include the following:
What the obstacle is
The goal of the MC
The disaster that causes the MC to fail.
Card 12: Write the outline for the third obstacle. Include the following:
What the obstacle is
The goal of the MC
The disaster that occurs
Card 14: Write the outline for the resolution. Include the following:
What the MC does to resolve the problem.
Why this resolution is the best solution to the problem.
How the MC has grown or changed as a result.
Card 15: Write the ending scene. Include the following:
How the MC and/or supporting characters react to the resolution.
A satisfying conclusion.
Now go back and fill in the cards between obstacles:
Card 2: You established the goal of the MC on Card 1, which was the "hook" to move you to the next scene. How does the MC or supporting characters react to his goal? What are his plans to achieve it? Can you foreshadow a potential obstacle? What is the hook to get to the next scene?
Card 3: The obstacle (you've already outlined this one.)
Card 4: How does the MC react to the obstacle? What are his options now that he is confronted with this obstacle? On this card, show how he thinks through his options. What is the hook to move to the next scene?
Card 5: The MC can try one of his options to see if it will work. When it doesn't work, what does the MC learn? What is the hook to move to the next scene?
Card 6: Show how the main character decides what to do next. His decision should be plausible, maybe it might work to overcome the obstacle. Build hope and anticipation into the hook to the next scene
Card 7: Show how the main character executes his best option. Just when he thinks it might work, it doesn't because...
Card 8: Obstacle 2. (which you've already outlined.)
Card 9: How does the MC react to the second obstacle? On this card, show how he thinks through his options. He's learned something now, having faced two obstacles, what has he learned, and how does it help him as he...
Card 10: works through his options. How do the supporting characters help him? Are they discouraging? Encouraging? What is the hook to move to the next scene?
Card 11: His options here should have changed because he's grown from his missteps. Show how he decides what to do next. This should set up a nail-biter obstacle 3
Card 12: Obstacle 3 (which you've already outlined.)
Card 13: How does the MC react to the third obstacle? Can he apply what he has learned from his previous two failures? Show how the MC feels, play with his struggle, but ulimately he must win, so that he can have...
Card 14: The Resolution (which you've already outlined.)
Card 15: The Ending (which you've already outlined.
From the 15 cards, see if you need to add scenes, or if the story would work better by moving any scenes around. Try to keep the total number of scenes to between 15-24 (for the 32-page picture book.) Additionally:
1. Make notes on the cards regarding the MC character's feelings - is he happy, sad, angry, frustrated, lonely?
2. Make notes on the cards as to how you can establish a sense of place without intruding on the illustrator's creative license. Think about each card as a picture that will be illustrated. Are all the cards going to show the same scene, over and over? How can you make them different?
3. Make notes on the cards as to which characters are part of the scene. Do you have too many? Do all the characters play an important role? Can any be deleted or combined?
Try to keep the resolution and ending tight, because once you've established what the resolution is, the reader will be ready for a satisfying ending.
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