Ghostwriting Children's Fiction Sample

 

The following text and illustrator instructions are for an illustrated book series for children.

Title: Thomas the Tank Engine - 'The Story Train'

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[WHOLE PAGE PIC]

WE ARE OUTSIDE SODOR LIBRARY. THE BUILDING IS SEEN ON THE LEFT WITH SOME WORKMEN IN OVERALLS PAINTING THE WINDOW FRAMES AND PUSHING A WHEELBARROW OF BRICKS TOWARDS AN OPEN DOOR ETC. THE PLACE IS OBVIOUSLY BEING REFURBISHED.

 

A YOUNG LADY LIBRARIAN STANDS IN FOREGROUND, HOLDING OUT HER HANDS APOLOGETICALLY. A SMALL GROUP OF CHILDREN STAND IN FRONT OF HER, LOOKING AT EACH OTHER DISAPPOINTEDLY. SOME HOLD BOOKS THEY WANT TO CHANGE.

 

THOMAS IS SEEN ON THE RAILWAY LINE TO THE RIGHT. HE LOOKS ACROSS AT THE SCENE WITH CONCERN AS HE PASSES BY. ANNIE AND CLARABEL ARE BEING PULLED BEHIND HIM.

 

STORY TEXT

1.Thomas was puffing past the library. “Why are all those children standing
outside? “ he wondered. “The library is closed for repairs,” explained
his Driver.

 

2.The children were very unhappy. “We want to change our books and listen
to Storytime!” they complained. “I’m afraid you must wait until the library
opens again,” sighed the librarian.

 

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[HALF PAGE PIC]

SIDE VIEW OF THOMAS AT A PLATFORM IN MAIN STATION. HE FACES LEFT WITH ANNIE AND CLARABEL CLEARLY SEEN BEHIND HIM ON THE RIGHT. THEIR DOORS ARE OPEN AND THE LAST OF THEIR PASSENGERS, WHICH INCLUDES A NUMBER OF YOUNG CHILDREN, ARE SEEN DEPARTING OUT OF PIC TO THE FAR RIGHT.

THOMAS HAS A SATISFIED SMILE ON HIS FACE. ANNIE (IF IT’S POSSIBLE TO SEE HER FACE) IS FROWNING.

 

STORY TEXT

3.Thomas chugged on to Main Station where his passengers got out. “Well done, Annie and Clarabel,” he called. “That’s our last trip of the morning. We can take a break now.”

 

4.His carriages refused to move. “Thomas always forgets!” grumbled Clarabel. “Our work isn’t done until our seats have been checked for things left behind!”

 

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[QUARTER PAGE PIC]

CLOSE-UP OF THOMAS’ DRIVER INSIDE ANNIE. HE BENDS FORWARD TO PICK UP A PICTURE BOOK THAT HAS BEEN LEFT ON A SEAT BY ONE OF THE CHILDREN.

 

STORY TEXT

5.Thomas’ driver searched Annie. “Look at this!” he exclaimed. “Someone
has left a beautiful storybook behind. They won’t be able to have a
bedtime story now!”

 

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[QUARTER PAGE PIC]

NOW A CLOSE-UP OF THOMAS’ FIREMAN, STEPPING TOWARDS US OUT OF CLARABEL ONTO THE PLATFORM. HE IS HOLDING UP A WALKMAN WITH EARPHONES DANGLING DOWN.

 

STORY TEXT

6.Meanwhile, Thomas’ Fireman checked Clarabel. “ I’ve found this tape  
player,” he called. “It has a tape inside with a story all about Little Red
Riding Hood!”

 

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[QUARTER PAGE PIC]

CLOSE-UP OF THE FAT CONTROLLER, WALKING TOWARDS US DOWN THE SAME PLATFORM. HE IS CARRYING THE BOOK AND THE WALKMAN WHICH HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO HIM BY THE DRIVER AND FIREMAN.

HE IS HEADING FOR A DOOR ON THE RIGHT MARKED –
LOST PROPERTY

 

STORY TEXT

7. The book and the tape player were given to the Fat Controller. “I’ll put
them in Lost Property,” he said, striding towards a cupboard at the end of
the platform.

 

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[QUARTER PAGE PIC]

WIDER ANGLE SHOWING THOMAS ON THE LEFT, FACING US. HE HAS AN EXPRESSION OF STARTLED DISMAY ON HIS FACE AS HE LOOKS OVER TO THE RIGHT.

THE FAT CONTROLLER HAS OPENED THE CUPBOARD DOOR AND LOTS MORE CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF VARIOUS SIZES ARE FALLING OUT ALL AROUND HIM. WORD ON PIC –
THUD!

 

STORY TEXT

8.THUD! When Sir Topham opened the cupboard door, lots more
children’s books tumbled out. “ I had no idea so many books were lost on
the trains!” gasped Thomas.

 

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[QUARTER PAGE PIC]

BIG CLOSE-UP OF THOMAS’S FACE WITH HIS EYES LOOKING WIDE WITH EXCITEMENT.

THE FAT CONTROLLER STANDS TO THE RIGHT, WAGGING ONE FINGER AND LOOKING APPROVING.

 

STORY TEXT

9. Then the little Tank Engine had an idea. “Don’t put the books back in the
cupboard, Sir,” he called. “We can use them!” “How, Thomas?” asked the
Fat Controller.

 

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[QUARTER PAGE PIC]

WE ARE BACK OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY. THOMAS IS ROUGHLY WHERE HE WAS IN THE OPENING PIC, ONLY THIS TIME HE AS STOPPED. HE IS BLOWING HIS WHISTLE. WORDS ON PIC –
PHEEP, PHEEP!

THE YOUNG LADY LIBRARIAN IS SEEN HURRYING AWAY FROM THE LIBRARY TOWARDS SOME STEPS LEADING TO THOMAS.

 

STORY TEXT

10. Sir Topham liked Thomas’ idea. So they set off for the Library. PHEEP,
PHEEP! Thomas blew his whistle, calling the librarian. She ran out and
jumped on board the train.

 

INSTRCUTIONS TO PICTURE ILLUSTRATOR

[WHOLE PAGE PIC]

THIS PAGE NEEDS TO BE SPLIT, IN THE MANNER OF SOME 5-PAGE STORIES, BY A DIAGONAL LINE FROM BOTTOM LEFT TO TOP RIGHT. WE NEED TO SEE TWO PICTURES IN ORDER THAT BOTH ANNIE AND CLARABEL ARE INVOLVED IN THE FINALE.

[TOP HALF]

WE ARE INSIDE ANNIE. THE LOST PROPERTY BOOKS HAVE BEEN PUT ON DISPLAY AT ONE END OF THE CARRIAGE AND THE FAT CONTROLLER IS HANDING THEM OUT. THE REST OF THE SEATS ARE FILLED WITH EAGER-LOOKING CHILDREN READING THE BOOKS AND SHOWING EACH OTHER THE PICTURES ETC.

[BOTTOM HALF]

SIMILAR SHOT INSIDE CLARABEL. ONLY, THIS TIME, THE LADY LIBRARIAN IS SEEN READING FROM A LARGE STORYBOOK AND A FURTHER SMALL GROUP OF CHILDREN  SIT ROUND ON THE SEAT, LISTENING INTENTLY.

 

STORY TEXT

11. Later, Thomas rolled round his Branch Line with his carriages full
of children. In Annie, the Fat Controller handed out the lost books
for the children to read.

 

12.In Clarabel, the librarian read a story, giving the children their
Storytime after all. Thomas felt very proud of himself and his carriages.
“We’re the Story Train!” he chuckled.