[christopher-healey Posts: 12 Status: Offline Constant Doodler WWW]

  I apologize if this is elsewhere, but I haven't seen anything so far.

I am currently working on an illustration portfolio and, as part of that, I am also illustrating an original story. I was wondering if one can use elongated words in a picture book?
The easiest example is "pleeeeeease!"...
I didn't know whether the fact that elongating words is technically misspelling them is something that would bother a potential publisher? I have tried emphasizing by using capital letters but the effect usually just becomes more shouty than anything else, which is not the feeling I'm looking for.

Hopefully this rambling question makes sense to somebody

[Stephanie Ruble Posts: 1,903 Status: Offline author/illustrator WWW]

Yes. You can do that.

[Vijaya Posts: 7,167 Status: Offline Encourage WWW]

I've seen this. And not just in PBs but also in novels to show speech pattern. But not overused, just enough to give you the flavor.

[christopher-healey Posts: 12 Status: Offline Constant Doodler WWW]

Thank you both 

I think I'm only going to use it twice throughout the story. Good to know!

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,003 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

This is especially fine if you are sending a book dummy as the illustrator. Otherwise these things are often up to the design department. (Just noting this in case someone who is an author only stops by.) In the end, the designer may change to a different font or italicize for emphasis, but there's no harm in using it.

[DianaM Posts: 971 Status: Offline Writer, rhymer, runner, punner. WWW]

That technique seems totally fine to me and I don't think it would be off-putting.

I don't think something like "kidz" instead of "kids" would work, however. Well, unless, the speaker is a fly or bee. LOL. Like in FLY GUY, for example.