How to Finally Write the Picture Book You Keep Thinking About

Ever experience this as a children’s book writer? You have an idea you love. You can see the cover in your head. You can practically hear a kiddo giggle at the funny part.

And yet your manuscript is… a few lines in your Notes app. A half-outline. A beginning you’ve rewritten 14 times. A doc called “NEW NEW FINAL DRAFT (14)” that is, we all know, is definitely NOT final.

If that’s you, you’re in the right place. Because today we’re going to talk about how to actually get to a full completed (but likely not good) draft.

Often with clients (and even with myself as I start on a new book idea) I find that I’m so caught up on making my book good, that I never actually get very far on the draft. I’m writing and revising, but not really getting thoughts on the page. But often when writing that initial version of our children’s books, your job is not to make it good.

Your job is to make it done.

A complete first draft is a gift to yourself because it gives you something you can actually work with. You can’t revise a blank page. You can’t strengthen a theme that isn’t on the page yet. You can’t fix pacing when there’s no middle. You can’t improve page turns when the story hasn’t even … turned.

So today, I’m handing you a little trick I like to use: The “Finish Line” Rule.

Here’s what you do: Pick a drafting window that is short enough to feel doable… but firm enough to create momentum.

There are two ways to do it—choose the one that matches your real life (not your imaginary life where you drink matcha on the porch and nobody needs anything from you):

Two 60-minute blocks (same day, with a break in between).
This is the “I need intensity or I will wander” option.

Six 20-minute sessions.
This is the “I can do anything for 20 minutes” option.

We like it practical around here so let’s go there. Here’s how to actually finish (even if you’re busy):

Step 1: Remember what “done” means.
Done means: there is a beginning–middle–end that exists in one document. That’s it. Done DOES NOT MEAN IT’S GOOD.

Step 2: Put your drafting time where it can’t be negotiated.
If it’s only in your head, it’s optional, so stick it on your calendar. Pick a time and tell a friend. Your spouse. Your mom. I don’t care who, just get accountability.

Step 3: Create one ritual that signals “we’re drafting now.”
It sounds cheesy, but this truly works. Light a candle. Open the same playlist. Make tea. Sit in the same chair. This is my favorite. And frankly, I’m a diva and I do ALL of these.

Step 4: Make one rule that protects the draft.
Try one of these:

• “I’m not allowed to fix the first page until the last page exists.”

• “No deleting paragraphs—only moving them.”

• “I can edit tomorrow. Today I only add.”

We’ve talked a lot about target word counts around here, but at this stage, don’t you worry about them for a second. You just write.

Step 5: Lower the pressure, raise the clarity.
Instead of “I need to write a picture book,” your brain often does better with micro-steps:

• “Today I’m writing the problem.”

• “Today I’m writing the climax.”

• “Today I’m writing the ending.”

If you’re circling your draft instead of finishing it, one of these is usually true:

1. You don’t actually know the ending yet, so your brain is (wisely) refusing to commit.

2. You’re trying to make it meaningful and marketable and perfect all at once. That’s too many jobs for one draft. We’re just writing, remember?

3. You’re secretly afraid to find out if it works. This is ME. Finishing means the story has to face the music and you’ll find out if it can work.

Here’s the truth: you don’t finish because you’re confident. You finish so you can become confident. Before you close this post, do these two things:

1. Choose your option: A or B.

2. Choose your finish date and put it on the calendar.

If you do nothing else, do that. Your draft needs a finish line more than it needs inspiration.

And if you’re the kind of person who does best with a clear roadmap (same), I put my full step-by-step sprint into a simple toolkit you can follow start to finish.

Here’s what I know: motivation is sweet… but structure is what gets manuscripts written—this is exactly why I made The 3-Hour Picture Book Draft toolkit and am offering it to you for just $29 (normally $97!).

If you’re ready to stop circling the story and finish a real draft this week, grab it here:

3-Hour Picture Book Draft

If not, no worries. Hopefully the tips in this email will get you putting that pen to paper or finger to keyboard.

Writing Together,

Laura