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It’s not that I blame the authors for asking! Believe me, I get it! When you’re new to the industry and you have no idea what the standards are, it’s hard to know if you’re capable of meeting them. New authors are frequently just trying to get a general feeling for where they stand. They want to know if they have a shot. They want to know if their dreams are achievable. It's a totally reasonable ask! But, yet, I find myself stammering and mumbling and doing my best N

But, if you’ve made the decision to submit directly to publishers, you might be asking the next logical question. How? In this blog post I’ll map out the process of how to submit a book to a publisher without an agent, so you can avoid common mistakes and make sure you’re not wasting your shot!

Jeanette Gil is an award-winning Cuban-American children's book author, educator, doctoral candidate, and proud grandmother (Abuela Gigi ) based in Miami, Florida.

What small step can you take TODAY to move yourself a little further up that mountain? Whether you’re just starting out putting pen to paper, or you have a polished manuscript ready to submit…these are all small steps I’ve taken to move myself forward on my publishing journey.

Great ideas for children's books aren't hiding in some magical place where only the "cool" authors are allowed. They're all around you—you just have to train yourself to notice them. Once you start looking at the world like a writer, you'll begin collecting story ideas without even trying.

Nicole Loy writes fun, read-aloud stories that bring laughter and excitement to reading. An educator by day and dessert enthusiast at heart, Nicole lives in rural Ohio where she enjoys biking, hiking, and exploring new places with her husband and daughter.

Creating quality picture books is part art, part science (books are actually quite technical to bring to market), and a lot of collaboration. The collective expertise of the author, illustrator, editors, book designer, formatter, and others is what makes a book ‘pop’. And while all partnerships matter, when you are the author and publisher, your collaboration with the illustrator of your book is particularly critical, delicate, and more nuanced than many expect.

Katherine is an award-winning picture book author who writes stories that celebrate the love and joy found in family life. Her books often feature authentic disability representation, inspired by her belief that every child deserves to see themselves in literature. Katie lives on Cape Cod with her husband and two young daughters.

Every writing conference, blog post, and publishing guide tells you the same thing: "Authors need a professional online presence." But when you start researching your options, it feels overwhelming. Do you spend weekends learning WordPress? Hire a designer for thousands? Use a template that looks like everyone else's? The good news? You don't need to choose between broke and professional.

At Home Author chats with literary agent, James McGowan about publishing and the querying process.

As a literary agent and a children's author, I've been on both sides of this question—and whether or not your story rhymes isn't really what you should be asking. What matters is whether rhyme is the right tool for this specific book. And understanding the difference will save you from a lot of confusion about why certain feedback keeps coming up in your rejections.

Looking for the best software to write a children's book? Compare top writing tools for picture books, revision, layout, and planning.