Browse the Blog

I've had a few conferences and presentations lately, and no matter the room or the topic, the same questions always find me. Some are about querying. Some are about the state of the market. And then there's the one that comes up more consistently than almost anything else when picture book writers are in the room: Do rhyming picture books still sell? The short answer is yes. Absolutely yes. As a literary agent and a children's author, I've been on both sides of this question—

A messy draft is proof of courage. It means you’ve silenced the inner critic that tells you your ideas aren't good enough. In my classroom, I used to tell my students: "I can't grade a blank page." The same goes for publishing. You can't edit a blank screen. You can't send an "idea" to an agent—you have to send a finished manuscript. Writing a "bad" first draft is the only way to get to the "good" second (or third...or fourth) one.

If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be a full-time author and publishing coach, I probably would have laughed, handed you a stack of 7th-grade essays to grade, and headed back to my whiteboard.

If want to write a children's book, but don't have any experience, don't worry! In this article, we'll give you some tips on how to get started and point you in the right direction for finding more information.

You can read every blog post, watch every YouTube video, or even get a degree in creative writing. But sometimes what you really need is practical advice from people who’ve been there.

Being overwhelmed by feedback from critique partners and fellow writers is so common…especially for new writers! So don’t worry, you aren’t alone!

Like jaywalking or littering, these are rhyme writing crimes of carelessness. Some readers may not even notice, and if you do get caught, you might be able to flutter your eyelashes and get off with a warning. But, if you really want your story to shine, it’s best to avoid these crimes altogether.

So when people ask me whether AI will replace writers, I’m not answering as a theorist. I’m answering as someone embedded in the daily reality of publishing. And that reality is this: Publishing has never rewarded “good enough.” It wants specificity. Emotional depth. Voice. Those things don’t scale neatly. And they don’t come from shortcuts.

Grammarly is a digital writing tool that provides grammar and spell checking, plagiarism detection services, and suggestions...

Deciding whether your children's book manuscript is truly ready to send out into the world—whether that means querying agents or diving into self-publishing—can feel both thrilling and terrifying. And honestly? Only you can make that call. But as an agented and traditionally published picture book author who’s helped hundreds of writers navigate both traditional and indie publishing paths, I’ve found that most successful authors can answer YES to the following question

If you're just trying to get your book out of your head and onto a page, that's totally fine! Heck, you can jot your very first draft down on a napkin if you have to. (We’ve all been there!) But, there comes a time when you have to dress your manuscript up for the big leagues. If you’re ready to pitch an agent or an editor, there are some general guidelines to follow.

In the search for the perfect critique partner, it's easy to get so wrapped up in what we want out of the relationship, that we forget about what we need to bring to the table! But, as the word partner implies, the relationship is not only about receiving feedback…it's also about giving it!

Our world is craving genuine people and authentic stories. The market is flooded every day with new children’s books. What will set yours apart?

Some days, finding time to write feels like trying to catch a firefly with oven mitts on—possible, technically, but wow does it take effort.

Below are four excellent writing conferences (including ours!) that picture book writers should keep on their radar—plus two kidlit writing organizations that are just too good to leave out. 👇