Category: Uncategorized

Character Arcs in 32 Pages: How to Make Every Page Turn Count

Emma Walton Hamilton February 10, 2026

There’s a particular magic to picture books that still thrills me—even after years of writing, editing, and teaching them: In roughly 32 pages (often fewer than 500 words), we can…

Navigating the Search for Agents for Children’s Books: Tips and Insights

Emma Walton Hamilton February 3, 2026

Finding the right literary agent for your work can feel a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. With so many agents out there, where do you even…

Story Radar

Emma Walton Hamilton January 27, 2026

My friend Peter H. Reynolds once gave me a great image for cultivating ideas. He said he had “story radar”… and I loved it so much, I borrowed it. Now…

Mind Mapping for Picture Book Writers

Emma Walton Hamilton January 20, 2026

Some writers love outlines, others feel boxed in by them. Mind mapping offers a third option—especially useful in the early stages of picture book development. Why Mind Mapping Works for…

The Power of “What If?”

Emma Walton Hamilton January 13, 2026

At the heart of nearly every picture book lives a question. Not a moral.Not a lesson.It’s… what if? Why “What If?” Works “What if?” invites possibility.It opens the door without…

Where Do Picture Book Ideas Really Come From?

Emma Walton Hamilton January 6, 2026

Writers often get asked this question: Where do you get your ideas?But it’s a tricky one to answer. Why? Because ideas usually don’t arrive fully formed.They come in fragments. The…

Your One Big Writing Question for the Year

Emma Walton Hamilton January 1, 2026

January invites lists. Target word counts. Submission goals.And while goals absolutely have their place, I want to offer you something that I’ve found to be far more sustaining. Instead of…

Permission to Pause: Rest as Part of the Creative Process

Emma Walton Hamilton December 30, 2025

As the final days of the year wind down, you may feel caught between two impulses: the urge to “get it all done” before the calendar flips—and the deep desire…

Writing Through the Holidays: Creative Routines in Busy Seasons

Emma Walton Hamilton December 23, 2025

Let’s be honest: November through December can be a whirlwind. Family gatherings, travel, school events, gift-giving, emotional highs and lows… it’s a beautiful season, but not always a spacious one.…

Plan Your Writing Year: Setting Smart Goals for 2026

Emma Walton Hamilton December 16, 2025

There’s something powerful about turning the page on a new year. It invites reflection, intention, and (hopefully) a renewed connection to our creative work. But instead of setting rigid resolutions,…

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Category: Uncategorized

Character Arcs in 32 Pages: How to Make Every Page Turn Count

Navigating the Search for Agents for Children’s Books: Tips and Insights

Story Radar

Mind Mapping for Picture Book Writers

The Power of “What If?”

Where Do Picture Book Ideas Really Come From?

Your One Big Writing Question for the Year

Permission to Pause: Rest as Part of the Creative Process

Writing Through the Holidays: Creative Routines in Busy Seasons

Plan Your Writing Year: Setting Smart Goals for 2026

Writing Courses

Latest from the Kid Compass Blog

Character Arcs in 32 Pages: How to Make Every Page Turn Count

Navigating the Search for Agents for Children’s Books: Tips and Insights

Story Radar

Mind Mapping for Picture Book Writers

The Power of “What If?”

Where Do Picture Book Ideas Really Come From?

Your One Big Writing Question for the Year

Permission to Pause: Rest as Part of the Creative Process

Writing Through the Holidays: Creative Routines in Busy Seasons

Plan Your Writing Year: Setting Smart Goals for 2026

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