The process to how I wrote and illustrated my first children's book, Mr. Noet:
In my previous post I talked about my inspiration for why I wrote Mr. Noet. In this post I am going to dive into my writing process. I write this post with the intention to give you insight on my process in hopes to help guide you writers in discovering or perfecting yours.
Brainstorming
The first step in my writing process was brainstorming. I had a message in mind, and the name Mr. Noet just came naturally. I began to brainstorm what a teacher would know if they knew everything, and when I say everything, I mean things that no other teacher would know. I made a list of all the things I would want a teacher to know, and I shared it with my family and friends to get feedback.
Writing the Rhymes
The next step was turning my ideas into rhymes. I took the best ideas and turned them into rhymes. I wanted Mr. Noet to know so much that he could talk to animals, so I wrote about the class visiting the zoo and seeing Mr. Noet talking to a Cocadoo. I used feedback to help guide me and to narrow my ideas down.
Illustrating
The third step was illustrating my ideas. I drew my ideas on paper and pencil, and I narrowed them down to those that called for the best illustrations. I had rhymes and illustrations, so basically a skeleton of what my story would be.
Connect the Ideas
From there, I just had to connect the ideas that I had. I needed an introduction and conclusion, and some in-between rhymes to move along the plot. Some of these connections needed illustrations, and some did not.
Finalizing the Manuscript
Once I completed all of the text and all of the illustrations, I began to put it all together so that it could be presented as a picture book. I went to Procreate and recreated my illustrations. I then used Calligraphr to create my own font and add the text. The manuscript was now complete.
Cover Page
Last but not least, I created the cover page. I had a couple of ideas for the title, but in the end, I kept it simple. I knew what I wanted on the cover, and how the title and characters would look, but the background details were more tricky. I browsed my public library and did some research for how to make my cover stand out. I came up with a number of ideas, and with some feedback, I completed my cover.
Final Feedback
Before I started the publishing process, I got some final feedback from friends, family, and some critique partners I found online. I made some minor changes and was finally ready to publish.
Conclusion
Overall, my writing process was a mix of brainstorming, rhyming, illustrating, connecting, and getting feedback. It is essential to explore all your ideas, experiment, and cut ideas if needed. Feedback is also key, as it can help you refine your ideas and make your book better. Remember, your book is for your audience, so make sure to consider their opinions. With hard work, dedication, and some patience, you can create a fantastic children's book that you can be proud of.
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