The #1 Best Resource for Picture Book Authors
If you’re a working or aspiring picture book writer, this post is for YOU. The single best resource that I know of for picture book writers is – for a…
Category: Uncategorized
How Far in Advance Do Schools Book Author Visits?
Authors interested in doing school visits often wonder when they should contact schools to cultivate bookings. The answer is: as far in advance as possible. Many – if not most – schools…
What’s Your Biggest Question About Doing School Visits?
I’m putting the final touches on School Visit Wizard, a step-by-step, customizable kit to help authors book, plan and deliver A+ author visits in schools. I want to make sure…
What’s your biggest question about writing children’s books?
Happy New Year! As a children’s author, editor and writing coach, I spend a lot of time talking about writing and/or publishing books for children and young adults. I feel…
Announcing the Ultimate Guide to Picture Book Submissions!
I’m thrilled to announce that my good friend and colleague, author and 12X12 Picture Book Challenge Founder Julie Hedlund, and I have officially launched our new course, The Ultimate Guide to Picture Book…
Backstory Basics
Backstory can be essential to understanding a character and his/her journey. It can deepen conflict, reveal motivation and elicit sympathy for a hero or secondary character. But… Nothing can kill…
Reader Resonance
The middle grade and YA sections of your local bookstore and/or library these days are teeming with genres, styles and subject matters for teens and ‘tweens to explore. Some offer…
To Prologue or Not to Prologue?
Many middle grade and YA authors debate whether or not to include a prologue when beginning their manuscripts. Prologues are sections of story that precede the first chapter, similar to…
The Promise of Your Story
We’ve been zeroing in on the unique craft elements of beginnings – opening pages, scenes and chapters – in the Children’s Book Hub over the past few weeks. One of…
Chapter Books vs. Middle Grade: What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between a middle grade novel and a chapter book? The lines can often seem blurry – but the truth is that each is a unique format in…
