WOOD, WIRE, WINGS and the Process of Engineering a Story
Happy (Belated) Book Birthday, Plus a Signed Book Giveaway!
By Kirsten W. Larson
In 1906, just three years after the Wright Brothers first flew, Emma Lilian Todd, an inventor and self-taught engineer, looked at the airplane designs of the day and decided she could build something better. The process of creating her own unique airplane took Lilian four years, multiple designs and redesigns, and numerous tweaks and tests. Nevertheless, she persisted (as they say).
One of my favorite images of Lilian Todd, hard at work in her workshop, which was also her studio apartment. Photo credit: The Library of Congress.
Like Lilian, I spent four years finding the best way to tell her story, including trying out multiple formats and revisions sent out to critique partners and others to “test” my story. This week is the official birthday of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illustrated by Tracy Subisak and published by Calkins Creek. In celebration, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of my early “designs” with a focus on my opening line.
I started this book in author Susanna Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic class in March 2014. From the start, Susanna encouraged a flexible approach to writing and required us to brainstorm several first lines. I selected this one for my first draft:
“Even as a child, Emma Lilian Todd couldn’t hold a bit of wire or tin without twisting and turning them and making something new.” (March 2014)
I loved this first line from the start. It spoke to Lilian’s visceral need to make. Inventing wasn’t something Lilian chose, but something she had to do, as elemental as breathing. The line had a lot of heart.
Like Lilian, airplanes were in my blood. Here I try on my dad's flight helmet.
But like Lilian, I wasn’t satisfied. I kept tinkering in response to conference critiques and brainstorms I had for new directions. As is often the case, successive attempts didn’t necessarily improve my design. Here’s another crack at it from a year later:
“Toolbox by her side, Emma Lilian Todd whacked and snapped and snipped. In her hands, wood, wire, and tin transformed into toy airplanes.” (Feb. 2015)
This time I started the story not with Lilian as a child, but as an adult tinkering with toy airplanes. The lines have some nice alliteration and vivid verbs. Yet looking back on it now, I see that this approach didn’t speak to Lilian’s character as much as my initial first line from March 2014. Still, this is the version that enticed my agent (whew!) and eventually went out on submission to editors.
I soon learned my latest version wasn’t quite good enough to soar — yet — as many rejections came my way. Lucky for me, Carolyn Yoder, my brilliant and patient editor at Calkins Creek, offered me the opportunity to revise and resubmit my draft, encouraging me to add both context and heart. I tinkered some more and came up with this:
“Even as a small child, when Emma Lilian Todd saw problems, she sought solutions. At first, the problems were small, like how to find metal to make her inventions (Answer: She saved tin cans from her supper.) But as Lilian grew, so did the problems she wanted to solve.”(Jan. 2017)
Now, if you’ve read the book, you know this is close, but not the final opening. It captures Lilian’s problem-solving nature and places her invention of the airplane in that context. But let’s face it, it’s a bit flat.
Carolyn encouraged me to tweak my design AGAIN, and in April 2017, we came up with the final opening, part of the final design that soars onto shelves today.
“To Emma Lilian Todd, problems were like gusts of wind: they set her mind soaring. Sometimes the problems seemed small, like where to find metal to craft her inventions. (Solution: she saved tin cans from her supper.) But soon Lilian’s challenges ballooned.”
The opening still speaks to Lilian’s fundamental need to solve problems. Yet it uses lyrical language, including simile, alliteration, and assonance, which help it sing. My word choices also hint at aviation by invoking gusts of wind and balloons.
In my first job after college, I traveled to air shows like the Reno Air Races to talk to the public about NASA and its aviation programs. It was good training for writing a picture book about airplanes!
Through this lengthy process, I came to realize that crafting stories (and even airplanes) is not necessarily about the flash of inspiration or the initial effort. The ability to create something that really works comes down perspiration — in other words, persistence — over many years.
So here’s my advice to writers: If a story speaks to your heart, stick with it. Keep tinkering and tweaking your draft. Make sure you add to your toolbox along the way, keeping up with the latest designs (by reading new books) and honing your craft. Someday the book of your heart will take flight, too.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
In celebration of the book birthday of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS, I’m giving away a signed copy to one lucky follower. Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Entries will close at 11:59 PST on March 4. Winners will be chosen at random and announced here and on social media on March 11.
Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes books for curious kids. Kirsten’s debut book, WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE, illustrated by Tracy Subisak, is available now from Calkins Creek. THE FIRE OF STARS: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of, illustrated by Katherine Roy (Chronicle), will follow in fall 2021. Kirsten also has written 25 nonfiction books for the school and library market.
Follow Kirsten:
Twitter: @kirstenwlarson
Instagram: @kirstenwlarson
Website: kirsten-w-larson.com