Archive for the writing process

BEHIND THE SCENES: All This Work for One Joke!

June 1, 2025 / / No comments

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Today I want to put a spotlight on all the effort that went into a single page from my upcoming beginning reader, Two Ballerinas . . . and a Moose. It took us a while to get it right and, amazingly, I think we did. Believe me, that’s not always the case. Sometimes the more we revise and tinker, the worse things get. Overcooked might be the word for that.

You be the judge.

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To begin, a Ready-to-Read is typically 32 pages, not unlike the vast majority of picture books. After dispensing with the title page and copyright information, there are basically 29 pages left to tell our story. That means every word, every page, every illustration counts. 

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We meet two ballerinas on the opening spread, pages 4-5.

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Note the use of ovals. (I’m not sure whether to credit the book designer, Leslie Mechanic, or the illustrator, Abigail Burch.)

Store away that oval feature in your head. 

Next Moose enters our story and he wants to dance, too. But Moose is hardly a ballerina. Ho-ho! That’s the story’s engine, if you will.

For starters, Moose is not dressed properly. Not for ballet.

Hippo points out that Moose is not even wearing the proper footware. 

To which Moose replies . . . 

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Now comes the payoff, the visual punchline.

Here’s Abigail’s initial sketch . . .

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Crocs! I believe that was my original suggestion in the art notes in the manuscript. A humorous idea, but . . . um. 

For me, the crocs weren’t reading. The visual was too subtle, especially for young children. The joke wasn’t paying off. I conveyed that to Elizabeth Barton, the book’s editor, who consulted with Leslie, who then discussed it with Abigail. 

Abigail came back with a revised sketch . . . and new shoes!

 

 

Terrific, now we were getting somewhere! Elizabeth noted that for the final art, they wanted even bigger platforms on the shoes.

I was still troubled by the shrubbery, which I saw as visual clutter. So I wrote to Elizabeth — who sought my opinion — with a further suggestion:

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PLATFORM SHOES SPREAD: Much better.

BUT WHAT IF . . . the right hand spread is, like, an oval around a much tighter focus on the shoes. 

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The next day, I explained in a follow-up email . . . 

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This design, in my view, breaks a rule of mine. Early on, there’s a spread with Beaver and Hippo enclosed in ovals. I like that technique. But then it never returns for the rest of the book, and I think that’s a structural design flaw (that no one will notice, mind you!). It’s why I thought the shoes gave us an opportunity to bring back that shape. 

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Once again, to her great credit, Elizabeth and Leslie met my comments with an open spirit of collaboration. It was time to move beyond sketches into final art. 

Here’s what Abigail came up with . . .

Nailed it!

Right?

Visually, yes. Now the joke works!

But I had one last minor worry.

I emailed Elizabeth . . .

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I realize that a late change might be a hassle, but since it seems possible, I would like a change from “dancing” to “ballet” for this image.
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Because obviously those are awesome shoes for dancing.
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It’s a case of writing a text and then adjusting when the art comes in. 
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If possible!
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If not, the world will continue to spin.
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Once again, Elizabeth agreed. 
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For the record, Elizabeth does not always agree, nor should she. My goal is not to “get my way,” it’s to have a creative voice in the process. After all, I’ve been in children’s books for 40 years. I might have some worthwhile observations along the way. And I can also be massively wrong about things, too. It’s the editor’s job to navigate all of that while keeping on eye on the prize — making the best book possible — and protecting the illustrator’s creative freedom. A balancing act of concerns.
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Anyway, that’s one page, one joke in a simple little story. We traveled a distance to get there. Many emails and conversations. To me, today, those shoes make me happy. It’s part of the pleasure of this job. I mean, we’re making a book for young children. It should be fun, right?
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Not every creative partnership works this way. Publishing can be closed and many times “they” prefer to keep the writer out of the process. The message: Stay in your lane. Which I also respect, because the illustrator needs her agency, too. As much as I want to be respected, I must also give that same measure of respect to everyone involved. We all have opinions, thoughts, but no one knows. We’re all guessing. The last thing I want to be is a headstrong, interfering writer.
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Nobody wants to work with a pain in the butt and I was dangerously close to becoming that guy.
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But here’s another thing I’ve learned in this business: The only thing that matters is the final book. There’s not a reader in the world who cares how you got there.
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I feel extremely fortunate to work with Elizabeth and Leslie and Abigail on these “. . . And a Moose!” books. And like any relationship, we are figuring each other out.
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Next up: Two Astronauts . . . and a Moose!
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Addendum: The “final” corrected page just came in:
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True story: If it was just me, I’d bring down the word “for” to the next line, to avoid what we call the “widow” (a line with just one word) for ballet.
But I’ll stop for all concerned.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
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Category: And a Moose!, the writing process / Tags: , , , , , , ,

FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #343: There Is an Exit After All

May 16, 2025 / / No comments

 

Here’s a recent email that touches on a painful subject. So I set aside for a couple of weeks before answering.

 

Dear Sir,

I hope you are doing well. I am a 13 year old and a huge fan of your EXIT 13 MOTEL series. I just simply love it. I have been waiting for books 3 and 4, but I didn’t see it out there. I just wanted to ask if it was coming soon, I would be waiting for it. I know you would get some hundreds of fan mail, but if you would be able to spare a few minutes, do reply back. It would mean the world to me. It’s my first time writing a fan mail so I would like to apologise for any mistakes I make.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
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I replied . . .
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Aakriti,
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My apologies for taking nearly a month getting back to you.
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I could say that I’m busy, that I’ve had things to do. And while that’s generally accurate, the truth is that you hit a nerve. A sore spot. A place of disappointment and pain.
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As far as I know, there will not be another book in the EXIT 13 series. 
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It just didn’t sell fast enough. And publishing has increasingly become a business of “instant” success or failure. If something doesn’t hit big, right away, then the publishing world moves on to the next thing.
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There is always a next thing. 
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At different times, a series like EXIT 13 might be considered a slow grower. A series that needs to find its audience. Three books, four books. Time for word of mouth to spread. Time to occupy shelf space in bookstores. 
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That’s not the world we live in anymore.
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R.L. Stine once said that his GOOSEBUMPS series didn’t take off until the 4th book. So even something as stunningly popular as GOOSEBUMPS took time to develop.
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Oh well!
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Here’s more of an explanation for you . . . 
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Thank you so much for your letter. 
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Starting the series, part of the challenge was to have enough “story” for it to go 4 books, 6 books, 8 books long. A deep, involved mystery. 
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I wish I could have wrapped it up for readers with at least one final book. Got the McGinns out of the motel, at least. Explained some of the business with the animals and woods and the aliens. 
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Thank you for reading the books and, most especially, for reaching out.
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I appreciate you . . .
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James Preller
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Category: EXIT 13, Fan Mail, the writing process / Tags: , , ,

FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #341: My Pen Pal Jaquan (Plus Some Actual FREE Writing Advice!)

May 7, 2025 / / No comments

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Back in February of 2018, I received a piece of fan mail from Jaquan. It was partly in braille, a first for me. And it would become the first of many, many missives we’ve passed along over the years. You see, Jaquan is a dedicated, passionate writer. He’s been sending me stories all this time. There have been lags and spurts, but I’ve tried to keep up. Mostly with encouragement and enthusiasm. And every once in a while I’ll stick in a Pro Tip!

That first envelope looked like this:

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A closer look . . .

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For me, receiving a letter from a reader is a privilege, an honor, and an obligation. There was a time, when my Jigsaw Jones mystery series was at its peak, with new titles appearing on Scholastic Book Clubs four times a year, I got a lot of letters. It was almost a problem. I’d get overwhelmed. I tried creating a small brochure, and then postcards, but they made me feel like a robot. For the most part, I’ve made the effort to write authentic responses to each and every letter. That’s partly why I’ve been sharing a sampling of letters-and-responses on this blog since 2008.

Fortunately, I don’t get nearly as many letters as I used to.

Wait, fortunately?

Oh, well!

(Aside: I also suspect that “letters to an author” is not quite the thing it used to be in schools. Particularly snail mail. It’s too bad.)

The writing life has its ebbs and flows, and I’ve been doing it for the past 39 years. Still hanging in there.

And for the past 7+ years, I’ve been hearing from Jaquan. Recently, I received this one, which was a little different from the rest:

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Dear Mr Preller, I hope your doing well i’m a huge fan of your jigsaw Jones series it inspired me to make A series of my own A little while ago I sent books of my  of my own for you to check out  like my dog detective series I really appreciate the influence you have on your writers like me Young writers like me I know you’re super busy and I just want to say thank you for the inspiration lots of good ideas and thank you again when you get a chance to read them, please give me your honest opinion on my work  warm regards Jaquan J, your author Friend ps, thank you again JJ 

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Here’s my reply:

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Jaquan,
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What a kind letter, my friend, thank you.
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As a writer — and sometimes as a writing teacher — I often come up against the limits of how much I can help any other writer. In the end, we are all alone and need to do it on our own. That quiet time with the blank page and the stirrings of our heart, our own talent, our own dedication.
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I love that you love to write. That you love books and reading. If I’ve helped inspire you, and if I’ve encouraged you, then I’m satisfied with that. I don’t have many wise strategies to impart. We are all fumbling in the dark.
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Follow your enthusiasms.
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Keep going.
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And most of all, enjoy it, have fun with it, let your reading & writing be a source of pride and pleasure in your life.
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If we look to the outside world for our happiness, we will almost certainly be disappointed.
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Maybe that’s the creative process in a nutshell? Why we make things out of nothing. Create your own happiness. Light your own candle in the dark & difficult world.
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You’ve been working hard at this for a long time, Jaquan, and it shows. I’m glad you’ve kept me informed, sharing your stories over years. I see your growth. I’m grateful for you.
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And, yes, you are right. I have a life, things to do, and can’t always give your letters a considered response. Don’t mistake a period of silence for indifference. I care about you, and your writing, and I’m right here, cheering you on.
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By the way, I just looked it up. I first heard from you in February of 2018. So many letters and wonderful stories since. You had wanted to send me a letter in braille and a person at the Visions Center, Pamela, wrote to me. I later received your letter and still treasure it.
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We’ve been writing back and forth for seven years now. Isn’t that something?!
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It’s my turn to thank you, Jaquan. I’m so glad you reached out.
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Your friend in books & letters,
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James Preller
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Category: Fan Mail, the writing process / Tags: , , , , ,

COVER REVEAL: You’ll Love the Paperback Version of “SHAKEN”

April 15, 2025 / / No comments

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I am asked about book covers from time to time. People are generally curious about the author’s “say” in a cover. 

The answer varies from author to author, publisher to publisher. 

But first, this:

Making a cover is an art. An imprecise creative act. And in talking about these experiences honestly, I don’t mean to disparage anyone’s work. Everybody goes into it wanting to make a great cover. Or, if not great, at least a cover that fits the book. A cover that works.

If you are a big name author — someone who generates significant sales — you’ll will have clout in all regards. You’ll have, at the very least, serious input and veto power over any cover. The publisher wants you to be happy. They want to keep you in the fold.

However, if the author does not occupy that rare air (read: most of us), the publisher will have final word on the cover, which they take very seriously. They hold meetings. Explore options. Discuss covers with sales. Analyze marketing histories and receive input from booksellers. Some publishers even test covers and titles with focus groups. It’s a dificult, challenging, artistic in-house process. And usually after all that happens, after decisions have discussed and agonized over and finally made, that’s when the author will be brought into the process. Often that simply means: “This is the cover, hope you like it.”

After all, this is their business, their investment, their expertise. They want to sell the book (almost) as much as you do. 

I once read someone’s take on this — sorry, I forget who — which I’ve pretty much adopted: The cover is the publisher’s domain. Everything between the covers is the author’s. 

Since I’ve been directly involved in children’s publishing for 40 years, I’ve found it disappointing to be kept out of that creative process. I’ve seen some of my books get beautiful, effective covers. And others that I instantly knew had badly missed the mark. Covers that made little sense or were, in a word, unappealing. It’s a sinking feeling when I look at a cover that I know doesn’t work, because it typically spells doom for sales.

It happens. 

On a more subtle level, I believe that a cover signals to booksellers and reviewers (not just consumers) how a publisher views that particular title. Or where a book fits in the pecking order. There are budgets to consider, projected profit-and-loss statements to balance. A cover also, obviously, provides clues about what kind of story awaits inside. Sometimes for marketing purposes these clues are vague and even intentionally misleading. Sometimes we look at a cover and can’t wait to start reading. 

As a freelancer, I have another rule: Try not to be too very much of a pain in the neck. Nobody wants to hire the difficult writer. Life is full enough of headaches without actually paying for them. Moreover, my default is to genuinely honor and respect the different people involved, who are all doing their best. It’s a team effort and sometimes you’ve just got to step away and let those folks do their jobs. 

Which is to say: 

I love the new paperback cover to Shaken. It won’t be out until 2026, so you’ll need to wait, but for me this is a cover that I truly like. And that’s not always the case.

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Category: Shaken, the writing process / Tags: , , , , ,

MAXX TRAX Remembered!

March 4, 2025 / / No comments

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MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue! was my first published book, 1986. I worked closely with my late beloved pal, editor Craig Walker. Could not have written it half as well without him. I was a snot-nosed kid, 25. The book sold more than 1.5 million copies (no royalties, flat fee) on book clubs, first time out of the gate. A shocking success (I worked on the 10th floor as a junior copywriter at the time). Scholastic bizarrely changed illustrators for the second title — a totally new look, computer generated, and awful — and it didn’t fare well. Oh, well. Done, gone, those two books long out of print.
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And yet not entirely forgotten. I still get emails about it. Several just this year. People who remember loving MAXX TRAX as a kid. Or parents who read them with their children. They still love the thrill of trucks and action stories. I haven’t been able to sell anything like it since. This is almost 40 years ago. This photo came to me last week . . . so kind of this family to remember those books & think of me.
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Category: Fan Mail, the writing process / Tags: , , ,
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