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You finally did it. You finished your manuscript, polished it until it gleamed, had a few beta readers swoon over it, maybe even worked with a freelance editor. You're confident it's strong—maybe even really strong. So why are the rejections still rolling in?

Write because you want to write, not because you want to be published. Because that is the one thing that is truly under your control!

Your Amazon book listing doesn’t need to be perfect on Day 1 — but the more polished and professional it is, the better your chances of making a sale.  Use this checklist to audit your book’s page today (and revisit it regularly after launch). A few thoughtful tweaks can make a big difference!

But, if you want to SELF-PUBLISH a children’s picture book, then YOU are the publisher, and you are going to have to invest some money to create a quality product.  So, how much should you expect to invest? 

If you know me at all, you know that school visits are one of my absolute favorite parts of being a children’s book author. The hugs, the high fives, the curious questions like “How long does it take to write a book?” and “Do you know Mo Willems?” (yes, that’s a real question I’ve been asked)… I live for this stuff.

Not just royalties. But smart money moves. Tiny financial shifts that make a big difference. And most of all, let’s talk about building stability—one choice at a time.

These days, I might find out I hit a bestseller list while I’m cleaning Play-Doh out of the carpet. Or while one kid is yelling that their banana broke in half and the other is crying because I dared to sing the wrong version of the clean-up song.

Good dialogue captures a character’s personality, moves the story forward, and helps the reader connect with the character. But when dialogue sounds inauthentic, it can throw off the rhythm of a read-aloud and disconnect the reader from your characters.

As a freelance picture book editor, I read hundreds of manuscripts each year. And some common mistakes always stand out.

Comp title is just short for “comparable title.”  It’s an already published book that has something in common with your unpublished manuscript, and including it in your query or cover letter helps the agent or editor understand where your book would sit on the shelves of a bookstore, or what readers would be likely to purchase your book.  

Querying feels incredibly complicated when you’re an author. (I’ve done it myself for years and know the pain!) Now that I’m an agent, it can be just as complicated, but for different reasons.

If you’re looking to lengthen a book that’s short on pages, here are some ideas that will not only help you meet the minimum page requirements, but will also add value for your readers.