I love the journey these first words took, and where it ended up - I love how it gives us so much information--just hints of it, without giving away the story--in such a natural, easy way. It feels effortless!
I'd also like to note something: This author was already working with an editor, who had the ability to choose to go from 32 pages to 40 pages. So many of us whose manuscripts are, as of yet, unsold, and perhaps who are also unagented, have to make our first lines work to get noticed by those gatekeepers within that 32 page restriction. We often hear of editors giving the OK to extend the # of pages of books, but we don't often hear how that part of the process occurs, what goes into it, and what about the original manuscript actually hooked the editor in the first place! I'd love to know more.
Hi Liz- I think what hooked my editor was the concept. Not many picture books address disability head on. Even fewer are written from a disabled character’s
point of view based on the author/illustrator’s own experience. It was something new. The decision to increase to 40 pages was a late one. My editor and I were going through the art, reviewing page turns and pacing and we agreed that the story felt crammed into 32 pages. But it didn’t need 8 more pages, I think just one more full spread was added. And then illustrated end papers and a double page title page equaled 8 pages.
So fun to read about how other authors have changed their first lines and the impact it has on the story!
Revised 1st line: "Oh, blarney stones! March weather is always changing,” said Katie O’Shea to her cat, Shamrock.
I love the journey these first words took, and where it ended up - I love how it gives us so much information--just hints of it, without giving away the story--in such a natural, easy way. It feels effortless!
I'd also like to note something: This author was already working with an editor, who had the ability to choose to go from 32 pages to 40 pages. So many of us whose manuscripts are, as of yet, unsold, and perhaps who are also unagented, have to make our first lines work to get noticed by those gatekeepers within that 32 page restriction. We often hear of editors giving the OK to extend the # of pages of books, but we don't often hear how that part of the process occurs, what goes into it, and what about the original manuscript actually hooked the editor in the first place! I'd love to know more.
Hi Liz- I think what hooked my editor was the concept. Not many picture books address disability head on. Even fewer are written from a disabled character’s
point of view based on the author/illustrator’s own experience. It was something new. The decision to increase to 40 pages was a late one. My editor and I were going through the art, reviewing page turns and pacing and we agreed that the story felt crammed into 32 pages. But it didn’t need 8 more pages, I think just one more full spread was added. And then illustrated end papers and a double page title page equaled 8 pages.
Wow, thanks so much for sharing this behind-the-scenes info, Katie!
Congrats on your #50preciouswords win, Sara!
I really liked your story when I was first scanning for my name, which I eventually found in the honourable mentions :)
Also,I’m finding these first lines blog posts so illuminating! Such a great learning experience.
Thank you so much for these,
Sanaa
Congrats on your 50 Precious Words win, Sara! I was so happy to see your name in the top spot!