Today’s guest post is from Beth Anderson. A frequent theme in children’s books is perseverance. I wonder, is this because children’s authors know perseverance well? I doubt there are many (if any) children’s book writers who write one draft and find it ready to submit. For some, the revision process is fun. I think for others it may be torture. Either way, it is necessary. What is the highest number of revisions you’ve had on a picture book manuscript? Beth’s picture book THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE: BIAS, TRUTH, AND A MIGHTY MOOSE took eighteen months and a whopping forty-six revisions before it was ready for print! Many picture book authors have seen frustrating evidence that some of the general public seems to think anyone can write a picture book–it’s easy. This great post from Beth, shows exactly what it takes to unearth and polish a publishable story. Enjoy following her process below.
Revision can be daunting and frustrating, but there’s also something oddly fun about it—working a section over and over until POP, the right words drop into place; cutting and moving phrases, sentences, and paragraphs, always intent on focusing tighter, writing stronger.
I’ve learned that agents and editors see manuscripts differently than us authors. They’re really skilled at seeing the whole. As a writer hunkered down in the weeds with word choice, it can be hard to step back to assess the overall structure, momentum, and emotional arc. My biggest challenge is learning to see what’s on the page wholistically.
Using a variety of ways to work through manuscript revisions opens up my thinking. My brain shifts into different gears if I change up how I view the text and manipulate it. I might brainstorm by hand; use review notes for ideas, alternatives, and problems; cut up a printed copy; use colored highlighters to mark key elements; rework a scene or section by repeatedly copying and pasting and revising until I have many versions…and it finally clicks.
We’re taught to revise the basics first and progress down to word level. But I have to admit that even when a revision is a focused attack on one aspect, such as arc or character or context, I never manage to totally ignore the word level. I just can’t help playing with words.
So let’s get down to the specific journey of one manuscript, THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE: BIAS, TRUTH, AND A MIGHTY MOOSE, which began in May 2018.
Here are some brief notes on how I was revising at various points…
- May 2018: initially multiple references to forming a nation; focus was on the search for scientific truth; complexity of Buffon’s theory and Jefferson’s response presented a challenge; included lots of quotes; ending goes off into TJ’s future.
- June (#2-9): playing with beginning; working on pitch to guide focus; pulling out single scenes to work on; cut back on theory info in characters’ dispute; landed on term “scientific thinking” to match what kids hear in school
- July-Nov: (#10-17) introduced Jefferson and Buffon in compare/contrast structure; learned children had parts of his book in their textbooks so ending went to idea of handing science to next generation
- Dec: (#18-20) J/B contrast doesn’t transition well to action moving forward; ms still includes dream of exploring the West and Lewis & Clark; language getting stronger and punchier; bias concept more clear; ending shortened with handoff to next generation to search for scientific truth; threads of story more connected; still weak title
- Mid Dec: agent feedback; clarify panther/cougar problem; mammoth obsession role; a few gaps and confusing spots; still need clarity with theories and argument for kids
- Jan-May 2019: (#21-25) trying out varied kinds of truth (as in the Declaration of Independence) and idea of measuring truth; TJ’s conflict of duty to country with devotion to science; brainstorming on take aways
- April: editor critique – loves the science, hates the imperialism
- July: (#26-28) beginning still changing nearly every revision; first half still needs clarity/simplicity; ending getting closer; attempt to deal with L&C issue by including consequences as a different kind of truth (of the heart) but gets more complicated with heavier ideas
- Aug: (#29-30) *start shaping scientific inquiry focus, fits J’s process—becomes key to tightening and simplifying the complex issues and providing a frame to “solidify” the whole story. Move L&C to back matter; title is there (but flipped)
- Sept: (#31-35) shared #33 with agent; few tweaks, hard truths now in back matter; use Thomas as MC name instead of Jefferson to better connect to reader
- Oct 1, 2019: Subbed #36; few weeks later—an offer from Calkins Creek!
- Feb 2020: 9 revisions with editor Carolyn Yoder: clearer opening, context spots, mammoth references, stronger transitions, tweaked ending, clarity overall; add sensory details and amp up emotion and ‘ew’ factor
NOTE: Editorial revisions benefit from a dive back into the research, especially if there’s been a time gap between subbing and acceptance. This is really valuable as new details pop and inspire final tweaks as I’m looking for ways to fix trouble spots.
- Mar: 1 more revision after vetting; included a few more word level changes.
TOTAL: 46 revisions over 18 months
It’s always interesting to look back with the perspective of time, to remember the bumps and how I got over them. You can see from the timeline that I experimented with introducing the main characters, and also played with the main idea of “measuring truth” in different ways. The beginning and ending were constantly being revised. Narrowing the scope time-wise allowed me to move Lewis & Clark to back matter as a minor point. Making a complex idea (the theory and arguments) comprehensible to a child took a very long time. The answer was in the correlation between Jefferson’s process and the “scientific inquiry” process kids use in school. Cutting some of the really thought-provoking pieces simplified and focused the story, and also gave me an opportunity to address them in back matter in a way that would extend and deepen understanding.
I’ll leave you with three final tips – all of which create internal conflict in me as I unconsciously try to resist them. I’ve finally learned to give in…and just do it!
- You’ve heard it before – You have to be willing to dump your darlings.
- Listen to your gut – if there’s a spot you think is ok, but there’s a teeny, tiny voice that dares to whisper “maybe not but I don’t know how to fix it,” keep at it.
- When you need to revise a phrase or sentence, it’s better to revise the whole scene or chunk of text. If you’re not tied to keeping it all, the possibilities open much wider.
I wish you all the best as you revise your manuscripts!
Here is a nice video that talks a bit about THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE: BIAS, TRUTH, AND A MIGHTY MOOSE and gives a glimpse of the wonderful author Beth Anderson.
You can find an excellent educator/discussion guide for THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE: BIAS, TRUTH, AND A MIGHTY MOOSE here. The book is available at bookstores everywhere and here.
Here is an Educator Class Visit video with Author Beth Anderson and Illustrator Jeremy Holmes from Second Star to the Right Bookstore.
ABOUT BETH
Beth Anderson, a former educator, has always marveled at the power of books. Driven by curiosity and a love for words, she writes untold tales, hoping to inspire kids to laugh, ponder, and question. She’s the award-winning author of THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE, CLOAKED IN COURAGE, FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE, REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT, TAD LINCOLN’S RESTLESS WRIGGLE, “SMELLY” KELLY AND HIS SUPER SENSES, LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT!, and AN INCONVENIENT ALPHABET, with more historical picture books on the way. To learn more about Beth and her wonderful books visit her website here.
Alayne Kay Christian 