The #1 mistake beginners make when writing a children's picture book
If you're new to writing picture books, here's a mistake I see constantly: writing text that describes exactly what's already in the picture.
A picture book is a partnership between words and images — not words that narrate the pictures. If your illustration shows a girl crying in the rain, your text doesn't need to say "she was sad and it was raining." Let the picture carry that. Instead, use the text to add something the picture can't show — a thought, a joke, a secret, a "but then...".
A few quick fixes that make a huge difference in early drafts:
Read your manuscript without imagining any pictures. If it still fully makes sense on its own, you're probably being too descriptive — leave room for an illustrator (even if that's future-you) to add meaning.
Cut adjectives and adverbs first. Picture books thrive on strong nouns and verbs ("stomped" instead of "walked angrily").
Aim for 300–600 words for a standard 32-page picture book. New writers almost always write too much. Every spread should earn its place.
End each page on a small hook, even if it's subtle — something that makes a kid (or the parent reading aloud) want to turn the page.
Picture books look simple because all the hard work is invisible. If you're working on your first one, don't worry about writing something "perfect" — just get a full draft down, then revise with these questions in mind.
What's the story idea you're working on right now? Happy to give feedback.