Picture Perfect

What lights you up about writing for children? In this episode, Cara shares how your creative spark and your deeper why can shape stories that truly connect—whether you're writing a picture book, middle grade novel, or workbook. Thanks for making this the top picture book podcast on Spotify and Apple! If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, follow, and share. Visit carastevens.com to learn m...

In this episode, we hear from Tanya Wright , a powerhouse of talent whose career spans award-winning acting, screenwriting, producing, directing, and entrepreneurship. Known for her unforgettable roles on Orange is the New Black and True Blood , Tanya has recently added a new passion to her portfolio: children’s literacy and advocacy. In this episode, we dive into Tanya’s journey behind Hairiette...

In this episode, we’re talking about one of my favorite ways to shake things up when you’re feeling stuck—plot twists! And, while we're talking about plot twists, this episode marks a new season and a new chapter in The Picture Perfect Podcast universe. Our audience have spoken and we're listening -- you're looking for more general writing advice, not just for picture books, with more...

In this episode, titled "Exploring the Power of the Hero’s Journey in Storytelling," we delve into the well-known narrative framework "The Hero's Journey", first popularized by Joseph Campbell. This structure, derived from global mythological motifs, maps out a hero's transformative path through various stages—from the initial call to adventure and facing formidable cha...

In this episode of The Picture Perfect Podcast, we delve into the world of chiastic structure—a fascinating narrative technique that mirrors the beginning and end of a story to create a beautifully symmetrical and deeply satisfying tale. Join me as we explore the secrets of crafting stories that come full circle, leaving readers and viewers feeling fulfilled. Whether you are a storyteller of pictu...

In this enlightening Picture Perfect episode, we delve into the powerful role of intuition in crafting picture books. Whether you're sketching out your first characters or polishing a final draft, learning to tap into your intuitive sense can transform your creative process. We'll explore practical tips and inspiring insights to help you connect more deeply with your inner creative spirit....

How to Edit Your Picture Book the Marie Kondo Way Embrace the art of letting go to transform your story into a masterpiece Editing your completed manuscript can feel overwhelming, especially when it means cutting scenes, characters, and ideas you love. But don’t worry — you don’t have to kill all your darlings. By applying Marie Kondo’s life-changing method of clearing clutter to tidy up to your w...

In this episode, we delve into the heart of storytelling by examining what makes a main character shine in the world of picture books. We look at main characters in classic children's literature as well as go through a sample developmental edit of an actual client manuscript to show how to transform a character from flat to fantastic with a few taps of the keyboard. Stick around to the end for...

In this episode, we address the age-old writing advice of “Show don’t tell” as it relates to writing for children. We dive into why it’s so important to show instead of tell, especially with children’s books, and I include some real excerpts from a developmental edit with one picture book client. I also share a tried-and-true method of writing picture books that helps ensure my own manuscripts are...

In episode 6, I share how to make the most of the limited word count of a picture book. That includes storytelling techniques, some tips on how to economize your words -- including some words that can almost always get cut from any manuscript -- how to use editing to maintain tension in your storytelling, and what it really means when authors say “show, don’t tell.”  As a bonus, at the end of this...

In this very special episode, we have our first guest! Teacher Terrel, one half of the mother-daughter duo known as Once Upon a Dance, joins us to talk about her self-publishing journey. With 20+ picture books and counting, Terrell has tons of experience and she's not shy about sharing the details -- good and bad, mishaps and success -- of her experience. Terrell has self-published through Ama...

In today’s episode, I share a writing craft secret that is at the heart of every great story: how to make sure there is a compelling question inside your story. Although I’ll be talking about it through a picture book lens, this secret actually works for all kinds of works of fiction, and some types of non-fiction as well. One of the main goals in telling any story is to drive the reader to keep t...

The key to successful storytelling at any stage is weaving a tale that is compelling, but if you don’t hook the reader in right from the start, they won’t stick around long and they might not even pick up your book to begin with.  This episode is all about that question: are you making a great first impression with your book?  The way you figure that out is to look at the title, the cover and the...

If you’re really getting creative as you write and revise your manuscript, you’re GOING TO get lost and that’s a good thing.  The WHY we talked about in episode one — that is your story's compass.  Your ZERO DRAFT — that’s your map. It’s a bird’s eye view of your story.  That is why this is the best writing and editing tip I can give you —  even if the words come to you fully-formed as you write —...

One of the most frequent requests I get from aspiring picture book authors is "can you take a look at my story idea and tell me if it's any good?" In today's podcast, I share a secret with you that shouldn't be a secret at all because I want everyone to know this… if you think it could be a good picture book, then it can. Everyone who asks me that question will get a YES!  So...

Welcome to Picture Perfect, the podcast for picture book writers. I’m Cara Stevens, children’s author, editor and book coach and the author of Picture Perfect, Picture book writing secrets YOUR editor WANTS you to know. I absolutely LOVE helping writers make their picture book dreams a reality as they navigate the process from idea to final manuscript. I’ve been working one-on-one with authors for...