Barbara Targonski

1. Story Structure & Plot Development

   • Review of story arc to ensure a clear beginning, middle, and end

   • Suggestions for engaging openings and satisfying conclusions

   • Ensuring a balance of conflict, resolution, and character growth suitable for young readers

2. Character Development

   • Feedback on creating memorable, relatable characters

   • Ensuring characters are distinctive and their actions drive the plot

   • Helping characters evolve in ways that resonate with the target age group

3. Pacing & Flow

   • Reviewing the pacing to maintain the attention of young readers, keeping it engaging and appropriate for the length of the book

   • Ensuring transitions between pages or scenes are smooth and natural

   • Suggestions on balancing action and quieter moments to create a dynamic flow

4. Language & Tone

   • Ensuring language is age-appropriate, clear, and accessible

   • Refining tone to match the mood of the story—whether whimsical, heartwarming, or adventurous

   • Adjusting vocabulary to keep it engaging and educational without being overwhelming

5. Dialogue & Voice

   • Ensuring dialogue sounds natural and fits the character’s personality

   • Offering suggestions for improving character voices and their interactions

   • Enhancing emotional resonance through the dialogue

6. Illustration & Visual Storytelling

   • Offering feedback on how the text supports and interacts with the illustrations

   • Ensuring the story is visually engaging, with room for the illustrator’s creativity

   • Suggestions on how to enhance the visual flow of the story to complement the narrative

7. Theme & Message

   • Reviewing the underlying theme of the book, ensuring it’s clear and meaningful for children

   • Offering suggestions on how to strengthen or clarify the book’s message

   • Ensuring the theme is age-appropriate and resonates with young readers

8. Word Count & Length

   • Reviewing the overall length of the text, ensuring it’s appropriate for the age group and fits the picture book format

   • Suggestions on trimming unnecessary words or expanding underdeveloped ideas

   • Ensuring the word count supports a balanced reading experience with room for illustrations

9. Rhythm & Rhyme (if applicable)

   • Reviewing the rhythm and flow of text, ensuring it reads smoothly aloud

   • Offering feedback on rhyme schemes, meter, and consistency if the book is written in verse

   • Suggestions for improving the lyrical quality of the text while maintaining clarity and meaning

10. Overall Manuscript Feedback

    • Providing holistic feedback on how the manuscript works as a picture book

    • Suggestions on improving the overall storytelling experience for children

    • A collaborative review with actionable advice for revisions to create a more compelling, engaging book

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              An in-depth critique/developmental edit of one picture book manuscript (up to 1000                          words). You will receive both in-text comments and an email.

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               EMAIL ME @ plantabookpublishing@gmail.com