EVENTS The art of leaving it out

Sue Rawlings made her way to the top room of the Theodore Bullfrog in May with her 900-word manuscript to attend a Masterclass on how to keep your picture book word count down without losing the plot. Here, she tells us what she learnt. 

The pub is a good space for a group of our size (estimate about 30), and fairly easy to get to. In my opinion there is no better pub name.

We started the day by congratulating Natascha Biebow on her MBE - what a fantastic honour - we’re all so proud of you. Thanks for all your hard work for SCBWI.

Everyone was riveted by what Michelle had to say. (Centre:) Natascha Biebow scribbling away, having just been congratulated on her MBE for services to SCBWI.

And then it was down to business. Our speaker, Michelle Robinson, is so full of enthusiasm that it’s hard not to be totally engaged. Her direct and upbeat presentation showed empathy with authors at all stages. She shared her own journey and we soon realised that her hard work and determination have more than a little to do with her considerable success.

Aspiring authors, take note: writing books with minimal word counts does not involve taking it easy!

Michelle was a copywriter before becoming a prolific picture book author, with 30 published picture books, including Ten Fat Sausages, Goodnight Spaceman and How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth. So she was well placed to advise on how to tackle that annoying problem of reducing word count, whether it was applied to manuscript or pitch. (My pitch generally starts with an enthusiastic introduction followed by apologetic waffling and ending in tears - definitely needs work.)

Workshoppers analyse the text of the Gruffalo to see what they could cut.

The workshop was nicely paced with information and exercises. Analysing known texts – such as Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo and Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are – and having a go at rewriting elements of them, helped us to identify the important aspects of each story.

Referring back to why you had the idea for a given story in the first place, was a helpful tip. It’s easy to lose your way in the redrafting process, even as an experienced author

We were encouraged to look at our own work from different angles and to try different styles, keeping the important parts of the plot but losing anything superfluous. Referring back to why you had the idea for a given story in the first place, was a helpful tip. It’s easy to lose your way in the redrafting process, even as an experienced author.

Michelle (right), prolific author, delivers the Masterclass. The pub is a good space for a group of our size (estimate about 30), and fairly easy to get to.

Michelle was generous with her advice and in sharing her own experience, so there was much more to be learned. Her usual count of about 300 words is something we may all still aspire to. My 900 words are going to be slashed … I know it has to be done … I know I can do it … (sob!)

I have been to (and delivered) various workshops and it’s hard to find better value than the Masterclasses that SCBWI offers. Thank you to everyone who organised and ran this day. My advice is, if you have an opportunity to hear Michelle, don’t miss it.

*All pictures: Yael Biran

                                                                                                                                                                   



Sue Rawlings is an aspiring author and a late starter. She has been a teacher and runs an art business, helping grown-ups to rediscover their inner child through painting workshops in her Hampshire studio. After a few health setbacks, including falling over her own feet in order to break a few bones, she is continuing a long held desire to write for children, and would love to find an agent who would help to promote her (now much shorter) picture books.
                                                                                                                                                                  

Fran Price is Events Editor for Words & Pictures magazine and writes picture books and middle grade stories. If you have a SCBWI event to promote or report, do contact her at events@britishscbwi.org