36 MARCH 2020 http://www.writers-online.co.uk
How long have you been writing for?
I’ve been writing novels sporadically for about two decades
now and had been writing comedy sketches for a couple of
topical comedy shows for a few years, but writing has only
really become a genuine focus in the last couple of years when
I switched to writing picture books. Until reading them to my
children I hadn’t appreciated just how amazing picture books
can be. I started out quite naively, unaware just how much goes
into writing them.What was your inspiration?
It was a fun conversation with my four-year-old daughter about
what pet she would choose if she could have anything. For some
reason I expected dog or cat but shouldn’t have been surprised
to hear that gorilla was her top pick. That started me picturing
an exuberant daughter happily presenting her poor befuddled
dad with crazier and crazier pets.How did you write it?
I had a decently solid storyline worked out but it was far from
fully cemented. I then used the desperate-grasping-for-rhymes
approach as my vehicle to drive the minor detail. This included
the ending that came about as a result of a rhyme.
Initially the lines flowed but then there was a lot of tweaking
and re-tweaking. At one point I sent out a ‘new improved’ draft
to my critique group that was universally agreed to be worse
than the original draft (they were right).Top tips- Join a critique group. I’m part of a really talented, encouraging
group and it has helped my writing tremendously. The first
draft of A Bundle of Fluff is a far cry from the current version,
and that’s a direct result of feedback I’ve received. - If you’re writing in rhyme, then study the rules of scansion.
I spent many a tortuous hour trying to get my head around
some of the subtleties, poring over published books to see it
being applied by the best. I’m sure I’m still far from perfect
but I feel like my stories are much stronger for studying. - Try to pack as much into each rhyming couplet as possible.
I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time restructuring
sentences to try to use two lines instead of four to convey the
same amount of information. It often feels like an impossible
battle but when it works it saves you two valuable lines that
you can use to squeeze in more plot elsewhere.
Judges’ comments: Phil’s rhyming story was full
of humour, adventure, with a clear escalation to
the end. The final twist created a brilliant and
satisfying ending.1st PRIZE WINNER
Phil Dillon: A Bundle of Fluff Isn’t Nearly EnoughTwitter: @megustopalomaStorm’s dad had agreed she could choose her own pet.
(A moment of weakness he’d come to regret.)
Storm couldn’t decide between fluffy chinchilla,
Or cudderly wudderly......8-foot gorilla.
The first thing Dad saw when he woke up was this
As Priscilla said, “Hi” with a lip-smacking kiss.
Dad leapt out of bed and was off like a shot
Till he heard a loud hiss and passed out on the spot.Shortlist- Matt Byrne: Why The Sky Is Blue
- Tracy Curran: The Teapot Genie
- Peter Frederick: My Sheep Are Asleep
- Fiona Hardin: Badger on the Beach
- Lorna Lee: Bella’s Bicycle
- Stacey Miller: Punkerella
- Alison Padley-Woods: More Cheese Please!
- Kathryn WIlliams: From Little Acorns
Submissions open for Picture Book Prize:
1 September-31 October 2020.
For tips and information, visit http://www.
amysparkes.co.uk, follow Amy on
Twitter (@AmySparkes) and check out
#WednesdayWritingTips.