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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

Think of an agent as your professional filter and advocate. While they bring a lot to the table, they also come with a specific set of hurdles.

Here are the top five ways to find reliable critique partners who will give you constructive criticism and help you improve your writing.

Using IngramSpark also puts your book in Ingram's database which is where schools, libraries, and bookstores go to order books...

Here’s why they’re wrong and why you should ALWAYS have your manuscript fully edited BEFORE your illustrator begins:

A print-on-demand company like KDP makes your book available worldwide on Amazon.

Most self-published children's book authors pick their release date the same way they'd pick a restaurant on a Friday night—by feel, without much thought, based on whatever's convenient at the time. Then they wonder why launch day felt flat, why sales didn't move the way they expected, why all that work didn't seem to pay off.

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.

5 literary agents currently open to picture book submissions!

When you've decided to write a children's book, it's easy to wonder how to actually get the art for the book. If you're an artist, then this might not be a concern at all but lots of picture book authors are not.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about where AI and publishing will go next. Laws will continue to evolve, and so will technology. But some things are already clear. Copyright belongs to humans. Authors deserve transparency. And ownership begins with understanding what you’re agreeing to.

If you're a children's book author with a completed manuscript, the next step is to find a publisher.