Three Clever Ways to Build Up Your Climax by Natascha Biebow

 Picture books are a tall order:

• a limited word count
• a unique premise
• an opening that needs to hook right away
• plus a satisfying ending, preferably with an unexpected twist.

But what about the middle?

You’ve got your character, your problem, a spiffy opening. The story rings with promise like an unwrapped present.




Then, the action starts. Your story reveals itself, bit by bit, like the giftwrap as it's peeled away. Your reader is filled with expectation: what could be inside?!



This bit needs to be page-turningly exciting, like a game of pass the parcel, where each layer reveals a little bit more and readers can't wait to find out what the big prize is. Don’t let your middle sag! A sagging middle will make readers turn right off.But how? How can you make the middle really, really compelling?


1. Use the rule of three: build up the plot and make things worse for the protagonist using three incidences that lead to a dramatic crisis and turning point in the story. This should be 75% of the way through your picture book, roundabout spread 7.  
Make your characters face their worst fears,






make time run out,




make your characters fall in the mud, get lost, or  . . .?



2. Create a pause (with words and visuals):




3. Use clever page turns and don’t be afraid to use the book format creatively:
TURN IT! 




POP-UP, FLAPS or FOLD-OUT PAGES




USE BOLD WORDS



After the pause, you are ready for the big reveal:

We get to see what was inside the present and everything changes. Ahh, an experience so satisfying, we can’t wait to do it again (and again and again!).

Natascha BiebowAuthor, Editor and Mentor

Blue Elephant Storyshaping is an editing, coaching and mentoring service aimed at empowering writers and illustrators to fine-tune their work pre-submission.  Check out my Cook Up a Picture Book Small-Group Coaching Courses!
Natascha is also the author of Elephants Never Forget and Is This My Nose?, editor of numerous award-winning children’s books, and Regional Advisor (Chair) of SCBWI British Isles.  www.blueelephantstoryshaping.com