I do not find plotting easy. When I write I begin with the idea of a story I wish to tell, and then I wait for a character’s voice to become strong enough to lead me through it. Together we go on to discover what happens next.

However, there are many, many writers with a different approach – the plotting approach. Often they will lay out the bones of the story in advance, so they have a clear idea of how it will progress, and only then do they begin to paint in the emotional heart of the tale.

For me, one of the easiest places to spot plot is in picture books. In many the arc of the story has been perfected, allowing it to emerge from the illustrated pages as polished and smooth as a marble. The finished books, often little more than 400 words, feel so complete that it is hard to even imagine the layers of development that have had to be worked through to reach the final story.

The best of the picture books combine the genius of the words, with illustrations that deepen the magic. The combination means everyone is in for a treat … and occasionally a surprise too.

Take The Tadpole’s Promise. This was first published in 2003. I picked up a copy, as innocent as a child, and read it through with a ten year-old. We were swept along with the sunshine on the river beneath the willow tree, and did not expect the ending. It hit us like a splash out of nowhere, completely unexpected thanks to perfect plotting and a hidden twist. It also left us with plenty to digest at the end. My only advice with this picture book is to reach the end yourself, before beginning to read with a very young child.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023