Publishing professionals often distinguish between books that are “marketable” and books that are “lasting.” The two are not always the same thing. A marketable book usually has a strong hook — an idea that can be pitched quickly and easily. It may tap into current conversations...
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One of the most fascinating aspects of children’s publishing is that the book buyer is often not the same as the reader....
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Many writers view query letters as a frustrating obstacle standing between themselves and publication. But query letters serve several important purposes. A query...
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Writers often imagine that securing an agent is like winning a golden ticket — one magical "yes" that changes everything overnight. In...
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Every few years, someone predicts the death of books. First television was going to replace reading. Then came e-books, followed by streaming media,...
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One of the most emotionally difficult parts of getting a book published is querying. Writers spend years crafting manuscripts, polishing query letters,...
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One of the greatest challenges in writing for children and teens is addressing difficult subjects responsibly. Writers today are increasingly exploring themes...
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There is a persistent misconception that writing for children is somehow “easier” than writing for adults. After all, children’s books are shorter....
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Every year at both the Southampton Children's Literature Conference and at Picture Book Summit, whenever aspiring writers have a chance to ask...
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