Allison
asked
Stacy McAnulty:
We have all your picture books in my K-4 library. Do you consider writing a novel "a step up" in your career, or are they just different art forms entirely? Any insights you might want to share would be appreciated. I love to tell my students how writers hone their craft.
Stacy McAnulty
First, THANK YOU for carrying my picture books in your library. Libraries are how I connect with most of my readers. So thanks!!!
I don't consider novels "a step up" in my career. I started by writing picture books and hope to continue creating them. I call picture books "everybody books" (which I heard from a librarian) and believe we can all enjoy them.
And I love writing both picture book and novels!
There are some differences, of course. For picture books, I'm only doing half the work. The illustrator is doing the other half. A talented illustrator brings the character to life! I try to give the characters a voice, but the illustrator is developing much of the personality. Not to mention, the illustrator is setting the scene and adding layers. (In general, illustrators are AMAZING. They're magical!)
For a novel, all these elements rest on the author's shoulders (my shoulders). I get to dig deeper into the lives of the characters and their world. This is both fun and daunting. I cannot rely on art to convey any of the story. Words are all I have.
I don't consider novels "a step up" in my career. I started by writing picture books and hope to continue creating them. I call picture books "everybody books" (which I heard from a librarian) and believe we can all enjoy them.
And I love writing both picture book and novels!
There are some differences, of course. For picture books, I'm only doing half the work. The illustrator is doing the other half. A talented illustrator brings the character to life! I try to give the characters a voice, but the illustrator is developing much of the personality. Not to mention, the illustrator is setting the scene and adding layers. (In general, illustrators are AMAZING. They're magical!)
For a novel, all these elements rest on the author's shoulders (my shoulders). I get to dig deeper into the lives of the characters and their world. This is both fun and daunting. I cannot rely on art to convey any of the story. Words are all I have.
More Answered Questions
Rhyse Sterling
asked
Stacy McAnulty:
Welp, its been a year since you said "Nope. And we don't have any planned at this time. My next novel will be THE WORLD ENDS IN APRIL, coming September 3, 2019. (Again, not a sequel.) But I would love to revisit Lucy, Levi, Windy, Pi, and even Maddie in the future." And one year ago ways obviously the past so this is the future! (right...?) So are there any plans for Lucy and the gang now?
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