Category: Uncategorized

The Truth About Querying: Why Persistence Matters More Than You Think

Emma Walton Hamilton June 30, 2026

One of the most emotionally difficult parts of getting a book published is querying. Writers spend years crafting manuscripts, polishing query letters, researching agents, and preparing submissions. Then they send…

Writing Difficult Topics for Young Readers: Balancing Truth and Hope

Emma Walton Hamilton June 23, 2026

One of the greatest challenges in writing for children and teens is addressing difficult subjects responsibly. Writers today are increasingly exploring themes such as anxiety, grief, trauma, mental health, racism,…

Why Writing for Children is So Much Harder Than People Think

Emma Walton Hamilton June 16, 2026

There is a persistent misconception that writing for children is somehow “easier” than writing for adults. After all, children’s books are shorter. Picture books may only contain a few hundred…

Should Writers Follow Trends in Children’s Publishing?

Emma Walton Hamilton June 9, 2026

Every year at both the Southampton Children’s Literature Conference and at Picture Book Summit, whenever aspiring writers have a chance to ask agents or editors a question, they ask some…

What Makes a Manuscript Stand Out to Agents and Editors?

Emma Walton Hamilton June 2, 2026

If you ask agents and editors what they’re looking for, you may hear many different answers: A strong hook. A fresh concept. Market awareness. Commercial potential. But beneath all of…

Should You Query Agents or Submit Directly to Publishers?

Emma Walton Hamilton May 26, 2026

Writers entering the children’s publishing world are often surprised to discover that most major publishers do not accept “unsolicited” – meaning “un-agented” – submissions. This naturally raises the question: “Should…

How Do You Know When Your Manuscript is Ready to Query?

Emma Walton Hamilton May 19, 2026

One of the most common questions I hear from my students, editing clients, and other aspiring children’s book writers is: How do I know when my manuscript is truly ready…

The Mucky Middle: Maintaining Momentum from Page 8 – 24

Emma Walton Hamilton May 12, 2026

Writers often worry about beginnings. They worry about endings even more. But the place where picture books most often falter is the middle—the long stretch between setup and resolution where…

Story Sonar: Listening Beneath the Surface of an Idea

Emma Walton Hamilton May 5, 2026

I’ve often written about the importance of developing what Peter H. Reynolds calls story radar—the ability to notice ideas in the world around us. A snippet of playground dialogue. A…

Playful Prompts to Reignite Your Imagination

Emma Walton Hamilton April 28, 2026

If you’ve been writing picture books for a while, you may have noticed that ideas sometimes arrive in bursts—and sometimes they don’t arrive at all. When inspiration feels distant, a…

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Category: Uncategorized

The Truth About Querying: Why Persistence Matters More Than You Think

Writing Difficult Topics for Young Readers: Balancing Truth and Hope

Why Writing for Children is So Much Harder Than People Think

Should Writers Follow Trends in Children’s Publishing?

What Makes a Manuscript Stand Out to Agents and Editors?

Should You Query Agents or Submit Directly to Publishers?

How Do You Know When Your Manuscript is Ready to Query?

The Mucky Middle: Maintaining Momentum from Page 8 – 24

Story Sonar: Listening Beneath the Surface of an Idea

Playful Prompts to Reignite Your Imagination

Writing Courses

Latest from the Kid Compass Blog

The Truth About Querying: Why Persistence Matters More Than You Think

Writing Difficult Topics for Young Readers: Balancing Truth and Hope

Why Writing for Children is So Much Harder Than People Think

Should Writers Follow Trends in Children’s Publishing?

What Makes a Manuscript Stand Out to Agents and Editors?

Should You Query Agents or Submit Directly to Publishers?

How Do You Know When Your Manuscript is Ready to Query?

The Mucky Middle: Maintaining Momentum from Page 8 – 24

Story Sonar: Listening Beneath the Surface of an Idea

Playful Prompts to Reignite Your Imagination

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