The Kidlit Compass Blog

The Why’s and How’s of Choosing an Editor

Emma Walton Hamilton April 5, 2010

Writing for young people is deceptively difficult. But getting published these days can be a harder task than the writing process. The marketplace has changed dramatically over the past ten…

Social Networking 101 for Children’s Book Authors

Emma Walton Hamilton March 16, 2010

This topic is WAAAYYY too big for one little blog post (which is why it’s a 101 as opposed to a 500). That said, for those of you who are…

6 Mistakes Beginning Writers Make in Children’s Books

Emma Walton Hamilton March 7, 2010

In my freelance editing practice, I read as many as 100 children’s book manuscripts a year – sometimes more. Over and over again, I see aspiring authors making the same…

Re-Purposing

Emma Walton Hamilton February 15, 2010

Question: How can you turn one book into multiple sources of income, and continue to promote the original book at the same time? Answer: Re-purpose it! Re-purposing means converting the…

Agents and Publishers

Emma Walton Hamilton February 8, 2010

Two of the most frequently asked questions I hear from aspiring authors are: “Do I really need an agent?” and “How do I get one?” The answer to the first…

Cover and Query Letters

Emma Walton Hamilton February 1, 2010

Whether you are submitting to an agent or a publisher, you must include a cover letter and an up-to-date bio with your manuscript. Keep in mind the following: – Be…

Submissions 101

Emma Walton Hamilton January 25, 2010

So, you’ve written a children’s book and you’re ready to submit it to an agent and/or a publisher. The following are the industry standards for manuscript submission, regardless of whether…

Show Don’t Tell: Examples from Children’s Books

Emma Walton Hamilton January 24, 2010

Some picture books are narrative all the way through with no dialogue, and some are only dialogue with no other narrative, as in Mo Willems’ wonderful “Don’t Let the Pigeon…