Writing for Picture Books
Story Structure
Picture books have the same structure as fully written narratives (e.g. books and short stories).
They have an introduction, complication and resolution. Look at this story structure called
‘Freytag’s Pyramid’.
In your picture book, you
shouldn’t just retell a single
day from start to finish. This
is a narrative not a recount.
Your story must start with a
short orientation/exposition
that introduces the reader
to the main character, the
setting and tone of the
book. The inciting incident is
the event that starts your
character on their journey
throughout the text.
Rising action refers to the start of your characters journey before they reach the
climax/complication. The climax is the most suspenseful part of the plot and is usually the
turning point for your character. Your character will go through something difficult which
allows them to grow, learn and change.
The falling action is the part of the story where the main character tries to resolve the problems
of the climax. This leads to the resolution where the conflict is resolved and the reader
discovers if the main character achieved their goal or not. Make sure your story follows this
structure!
Picture Book Writing
You want your written words to be as interesting as the illustrations. Make sure you use similes,
metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia, visual imagery, repetition and rhyme. The tricky thing
is that you want to use the least amount of words as possible (Only 1-2 short sentences on
each page).
You also don’t want to just tell a literal story. You want to show not tell the reader what your
character is thinking, feeling and experiencing. Rewrite the following sentences to include a
technique and/or to show not tell.
I woke up and went downstairs for breakfast: ______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
When I was in class I was feeling really nervous: ____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Fill in this template, planning out your interesting sentences for each section of your story. Remember to show not tell and use language techniques.
Freytag’s Pyramid