From Script to Picture Books: Ellie Irving’s Tips on Writing and Publishing Children’s Books
I’m thrilled to share an insightful interview with children’s author Ellie Irving. Ellie has written everything from middle-grade novels to picture books.
In our chat, Ellie reveals her journey from aspiring screenwriter to published author. She offers a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of her writing career.
Ellie shares the intricacies of writing for different age groups, the importance of resilience in the face of rejection, and how she balances the demands of writing with parenting.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your writing to the next level, I hope Ellie’s experiences inspire you on your own creative journey. Let’s dive in.
Thanks so much for chatting with me about your writing journey, Ellie.
Can you start by giving us a quick introduction? Who are you and what do you write?
Hello! My name is Ellie Irving, and I’m a children’s author. I’ve written five middle-grade novels for children (8-12-year-olds), several educational class reads, and my debut picture book, Oh, Armadillo! This Party’s All Wrong! was published last year.
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get your first break writing children’s books?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer—actually, I always wanted to be Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote. I would type my stories on a Petite Super International Typewriter from the age of about seven. As I got older, I switched my attention to TV and scriptwriting, embarking on a part-time MA in Screenwriting at the London College of Communication (where we met).
As part of that course, I was tasked with writing a feature film script. I chose to write a kids’ movie. After speaking to a few producers, I was told that it was nigh on impossible to have a kids’ movie made in the UK. Unless it was based on a book. So I thought, right, well, I’ll turn it into a book then.
I spent about a year adapting the script into a children’s book, then another year trying to get an agent, before eventually landing both an agent and a two-book deal with Penguin Random House within the space of a few months. I’ve been writing children’s books ever since. I have yet to solve any crimes, however.
Can you share with us the inspiration behind your first picture book? How did it find its way to publication?
Very simply, I started writing picture books because I had a baby and ended up reading so many of them. In all honesty, reading several books a day, over and over again, was the best education in learning about rhythm, pacing, and concise storytelling. With my first attempt at a picture book, I got as far as having an editorial meeting with a Big Five publisher and was given great notes.
I rewrote the story, and it was taken to an acquisitions meeting, but unfortunately, it wasn’t taken further. But I figured it wasn’t bad for a first go. I’d learned so much in a short space of time. Oh, Armadillo! was my second attempt at a picture book. This time it was bought by Quarto in July 2021 before being published in February 2023.
Switching from writing middle-grade books to picture books is a bit of a pivot. Has your approach to storytelling changed?
Well, for starters, I can no longer afford to spend three sentences saying one thing. When I write middle-grade, I have the ability to explore a subject in depth. I can leave in the odd superfluous joke.
With picture books, every word has to earn its place. I also write picture books in rhyme—specifically stories where every line has 14 syllables or stories where every line has 11 syllables. So, the words have to rhyme, fall within a certain rhythm, advance the story, be fun and have a pleasing flow so it’s easy for the adult to read.
I personally think it’s much harder! Also, your audience has a much shorter attention span. So you really have to work to make the story compelling and one that still feels fresh and fun on the 7,000th reading.
On the plus side, the story will be highly illustrated. So there’s scope to tell jokes or add another level to the story within the pictures. I’ve also had to think much more about how a story will look on the page. With Oh, Armadillo! I had to sacrifice a couple of words to fit the illustrations around the text, making sure the story wasn’t compromised and the rhyme and rhythm still worked.
Let’s talk about marketing. What strategies are you using to build your author platform and engage with your audience and their families, online or in person?
If I’m honest, social media is my least favourite part of it all.
I have a flurry of online activity in the months leading up to publication across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. There are unboxing videos when I receive my advance author copies of the book, sharing nice quotes that other authors and book people have said about it, and making a little animated video for publication day, and that’s about it.
My husband works in advertising, specifically media strategy, so he’s always telling me to do more, but I’m 42, and I’m too old for TikTok.
I also do as many in-person events as I can in and around publication. So, school visits, library talks, and bookshop signings—which is a great way of engaging with my target audience. I try to keep that going throughout the year too. I’m mulling over the idea of starting a newsletter to build up an audience of interested readers. But there are only so many hours in the day. That might have to be put on hold for a little while.
What keeps you motivated and inspired when facing challenges in your writing journey? Can you share a time when you had to overcome a setback or creative block while working on your books?
One thing I’ve learned along the way is that there will always be challenges. I was very naïve when my first book was published. Mere days after I turned 30, and thought, ‘this is it! I’ve made it!’ In actual fact, the hard work was only just beginning.
Over the subsequent 12 years or so, I’ve encountered lots of highs (winning awards, signing new book deals, international speaking engagements, lovely reader feedback) and lows. Namely, writing at least two other picture books, three middle-grade novels, and one for 5-8-year-olds that were all rejected by multiple publishing houses, or realising that the book you’ve just published is very low down the list for marketing and promo resources, and it hasn’t sold anywhere near as many copies as we’d all hoped.
I’ve learned that a sustained writing career really is a marathon and not a sprint. I have to pick myself up and dust myself off after every knockback and just keep going. Because the alternative is to just… give up? And I’m not willing to do that!
Being both an author and a parent must keep you busy. How do you manage to juggle writing deadlines and creative inspiration with the demands of parenting? Any tips or tricks for finding balance in your busy schedule?
I’ve had to learn to snatch moments to write when I can. I used to think I could only write when I had a stretch of at least three or four clear hours. But realistically, if I want to achieve anything, I’ll have to jot notes for half an hour during my little one’s nap or while she’s watching TV.
I have a supportive husband who handles childcare on the weekend. So I manage to write for one whole day a week, more often than not. And I have to force myself to write in the evenings. The last thing I want to do after an exhausting day running around after a toddler and a six-year-old is stare at a computer screen. But if I can manage an hour at night, that’s a good day, in my book.
Finally, where can readers find you online to stay updated on your writing journey and connect with you? Do you have a website or social media profiles where they can follow along and support your work?
Readers can find me on Twitter: @Ellie_Irving
Instagram: @Ellie_Irving
Facebook: Ellie Irving Author
And they can also contact me via my website: www.ellieirving.co.uk
Thank you so much for sharing your insights, Ellie. I look forward to seeing what you write next!
I hope you found Ellie’s story inspiring. She reminds me that the path to becoming a successful writer is often filled with both triumphs and challenges.
Where are you on your writing journey?
Whether you’re navigating the complex world of publishing, honing your craft, or simply trying to find the time to write amidst a busy life, it helps to have guidance and support along the way.
That’s where I come in.
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Katy’s quite honestly brilliant at this!! I’d never have written the 110,000 words of my first novel without her… Of course there were bumps on the road but Katy always found inventive solutions or options for me to keep going.
Frances, novelist & screenwriter