A well-placed page turn in a picture book can feel like magic. It’s the invisible hand that guides your reader through the story, creates suspense, emphasizes a punchline—or delivers an emotional gut-punch. And in picture books, where layout is limited and every word must earn its...
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Revision is my favorite part of crafting a picture book, and it's essential to great writing—but this week I want to talk...
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As writers, we spend so much energy crafting the beginnings of our picture books—hooking young readers, establishing characters, setting up a world....
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Repetition is a powerful tool in picture books—when used with purpose. It can: Build rhythm and structure Reinforce theme Create anticipation and...
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In picture books, 500 words (or less) is the goal for narrative fiction and non-fiction...
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"Voice" and "tone" are often used interchangeably—but in the publishing world they are not the same. And understanding the difference can elevate...
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This September, we’re focusing on the two Cs that define successful picture books: Craft and Character. And what better place to begin...
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You’ve revised, polished, formatted, and researched. You’ve written a strong query and identified a list of agents or editors who might be...
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You’ve polished your manuscript, formatted it beautifully, crafted a clear and compelling query letter… and now, you’ve finally hit send. First: take a...
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It’s a classic question: Should I include art notes in my picture book manuscript? The answer - if you are an author only...
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