Story Radar
My friend Peter H. Reynolds once gave me a great image for cultivating ideas. He said he had "story radar"...
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The Kidlit Compass Blog
Mind Mapping for Picture Book Writers
Some writers love outlines, others feel boxed in by them. Mind mapping offers a third option—especially useful in the early stages of picture...
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The Power of “What If?”
At the heart of nearly every picture book lives a question. Not a moral.Not a lesson.It's...
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Where Do Picture Book Ideas Really Come From?
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...
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Your One Big Writing Question for the Year
January invites lists. Target word counts. Submission goals.And while goals absolutely have their place, I want to offer you something that I’ve...
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Permission to Pause: Rest as Part of the Creative Process
As the final days of the year wind down, you may feel caught between two impulses: the urge to “get it all...
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Writing Through the Holidays: Creative Routines in Busy Seasons
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...
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Plan Your Writing Year: Setting Smart Goals for 2026
There’s something powerful about turning the page on a new year. It invites reflection, intention, and (hopefully) a renewed connection to our...
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Your Writing Year in Review: Reflecting on 2025
Before we launch into the new year with fresh goals and shiny new ideas, let’s take a moment to pause and look...
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Giving Thanks for Mentors, Critique Partners, & Book Friends
As writers, we often focus so intently on craft, revisions, and submission strategy that we forget to pause and appreciate the people...
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