Behind the Scenes of My Picture Book
This year, I published my picture book, くつ下をクローゼットの下にいれないでね (Don’t Hide Your Socks Under the Closet).
It was such a rewarding experience, but I’d be lying if I said it was smooth sailing all the way. There were plenty of moments when my editor and I didn’t see eye to eye. But through it all, we kept things professional and constructive—and yes, sometimes that meant I had to let go and compromise.
One of the hardest parts for me was the language. Writing in Japanese as a non-native speaker can be intimidating, and I constantly worried about whether I was using the right expressions. Whenever my editor suggested changes, I’d usually just agree, even if it didn’t sit well with me. Deep down, I wasn’t always sure if I was making the right call, but I trusted her expertise.
The story itself was where our biggest disagreements happened. That’s when I dug my heels in and tried my best to persuade my editor. Thankfully, they were open to discussions, and after countless revisions, we finally landed on a version we were both proud of.
But before I dive into the final result, let me take you back to the beginning of the process.
Personification
Early on, my editor had the idea to personify the socks—to make them the heroes of the story. She envisioned two socks repeatedly hidden under the closet, plotting a prank on the boy. The twist? One sock disappears, leaving the boy wondering where it went.
There was even a scene where the socks talked to each other. I just couldn’t get on board with this idea. I mean, how do you make socks into relatable characters? No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t imagine a drawing “sock personality.” Even now, if you asked me to, I wouldn’t know where to start!
Apologies
Another sticking point was the idea of a remorse scene. My editor suggested that the boy should apologise to the socks after realising it’s wrong to carelessly throw them around. In her version, the socks would miraculously reappear once the boy said sorry.
I struggled with this idea too. I often role-play scenes from my books to get a feel for how they’ll come across to children. When I tried acting out the apology scene—saying something like “I’m sorry, Mr Sock”—it just felt… awkward. I couldn’t imagine putting young readers in that position either. So, I pitched some alternative plot twists to avoid the whole apology scenario.
Finding the Perfect Ending
Writing a good ending is never easy, and this story was no exception. I went back and forth with my editor, trying out different ideas. We had plenty of suggestions and counter-suggestions, and it took a while to get it right. But in the end, we found an ending I’m really proud of.
What I Learned
Looking back, I’ve realised that it’s okay to disagree with your editor. In fact, those disagreements can lead to better ideas and a stronger story—as long as the conversation stays productive. The key is to make sure you’re both aligned by the time you reach the finish line.
So, if you’re ever in a situation like this, don’t be afraid to speak up, but also be willing to listen and adapt. Collaboration is how great stories are made.