 Guest Blog by Cathy Ballou Mealey The books I have authored about smores, sloths, and squirrels sit squarely on the fiction shelf, but now my debut nonfiction picture book biography will be published. How did I pivot from talking animals to writing about Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby, an influential journalist, spokesperson and ambassador for Maine’s wilderness and wildlife? It may not be as big a leap as you think. Here are some encouraging suggestions to nudge you into exploring narrative nonfiction topics using writing skills you have already developed. Use Mentor Texts When I started learning how to write picture books circa 2012, nonfiction biographies were popping up everywhere. Fresh, creative, and kid-friendly, these terrific tales relied upon the same fundamentals as picture book fiction: story arc with a challenge or conflict, high stakes, emotional resonance and a satisfying resolution. Studying nonfiction mentor texts will help you identify elements familiar from your favorite fiction such as lyrical language, sensory details, and engaging settings and scenes that build story tension. To convey Cornelia’s lifelong passion for the lush beauty of Maine’s woods and waters I studied mentor texts about naturalists and wilderness explorers such as The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever (Beach Lane Books, 2013) by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry.  Revise, Revise, Revise As you research your topic or subject, you will dive deep into primary sources and uncover many incredible details. The urge to include as much as possible in your story is powerful! Even after fact-checking and verifying key points, creating and continually revising an outline will help you focus on what to keep and what to cut so that the heart of your story really sings. As your manuscript develops, critique partners will be invaluable in discovering what resonates, what may need further clarification, and how the story ‘hooks’ new readers emotionally. I tried several approaches to telling Cornelia’s life story before deciding that a chronological structure would best emphasize the steady, enduring nature of her legacy.  Practice Patience and Persistence When Cornelia’s story was finally polished and complete, editors said the picture book biography market was over-saturated. After failing to get to, or through acquisitions, I tucked the manuscript away. However, during my research I had created a Google alert for “Fly Rod” Crosby. My email continued to Ping! with news when Cornelia was posthumously inducted into the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame, a hiking trail was named for her, a folk song was released, and a life-size statue was carved, painted and installed in Augusta. As “Fly Rod’s” legend and relevance continued to grow, I updated my manuscript and became more passionate about pitching her story. While patience and persistence are essential to any writer who wants to be published, staying aware of timely topics through a Google alert might help you pitch your work at just the right moment. Studying mentor texts, revising regularly, and practicing patience and persistence are nothing new to writers exercising their fundamental storytelling skills. Applying those steps to a narrative nonfiction topic can be a really satisfying way to stretch your repertoire, and expand your shelf of stories, possibly right into libraries and bookstores!
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