It’s our last episode for this initial round of the Picture Book Summit Roundtable series. We plan to bring you more episodes on topics that affect picture book creators in the future. Thank you for your feedback and we hope we get you thinking! You can catch the first two Roundtable episodes here: PBSummit Roundtable – Book Bans PBSummit Roundtable – Anything Goes in Picture Books These Days Today, it feels like we’ve entered a time portal as we discuss the future of Artificial Intelligence, mo...
Jul 11, 2023•25 min
Today, we bring you the next episode of our Picture Book Summit Roundtable series. We'll record and share PBSummit Roundtable at various times throughout the year, so we can continue to share current events that affect publishing and you. You can catch our first Roundtable episode here: PBSummit Roundtable – Book Bans This week's discussion centers around how Anything Goes in Picture Books these days! From books about untold history to books that break all the rules, Julie Hedlund leads us on ne...
Jun 20, 2023•27 min
This week, we are thrilled to bring new feature to the podcast: The Picture Book Summit Roundtable! In our weekly Summit planning meetings, we often discuss current events in publishing, how they affect picture books, and how they affected picture book creators like you. We decided to record our conversation and invite you to listen in! Our Picture Book Summit Roundtable includes Julie Hedlund, Katie Davis, Kelli Panique, and Emma Walton Hamilton. And because we like to start everything we do wi...
Jun 06, 2023•22 min
It's our final installment of the 4 Big Reasons Your Manuscripts Get Rejected. Following agent submission guidelines is a rather obvious part of the querying process....right? "Query-whisperer" Emma Walton Hamilton gives us an inside look as to why following submission guidelines are crucial—and how over half of all new authors get it wrong. Have you listened to the other parts of 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscripts Get Rejected? Catch up here: 046 - 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscript Get Rejected Part 1 - ...
May 23, 2023•13 min
It's time for the third biggest reason manuscripts get declined by agents and editors and this is a BIG one. Manuscripts are turned down every day for the simple reason that they are just not ready. So, how do you know when your manuscript is ready to for publication, therefore ready for an agent's or editor's eyes? Katie Davis outlines the why and how of familiarizing yourself with the workings of the picture book industry, professional mistakes to avoid, and what to do with your manuscript bef...
Apr 25, 2023•12 min
It's time for the second biggest reason manuscripts get tossed out by agents and editors. Have you ever heard: "Your story didn't resonate with me"? Julie Hedlund shares how this type of response maybe indicate a lack of emotional resonance in your story. Listen in as Julie defines emotional resonance and how to ensure your picture book has it. Get one more step closer to picture book success with these tips. Dash’s Picture Books Picks for Emotional Resonance The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Ba...
Apr 11, 2023•12 min
With 25 years of experience in the publishing industry as an editor, agent, and teacher Laura Backes covers the first big reason why manuscripts get rejected, and what you can do to avoid it! Find out how you can avoid getting editor feedback that says “This story feels familiar” or “It’s too similar to what’s been done already.” You’ll be one step closer to getting a “yes” after listening to today’s advice. Tune in for our next episode for the second biggest reasons manuscripts get rejected!...
Mar 28, 2023•11 min
A good writer tells a story, a great writer brings the reader into the story. One of the best ways to render that sense of immersion is capturing the authentic voice of your characters—especially when writing picture book biographies. Award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of Before She was Harriet and many other iconic titles, shares exactly how to do that with her own method of asking questions of yourself and your characters.
Mar 14, 2023•11 min
Ah, the age old question: How do you write a compelling picture book? It may be simpler than you think! Peter H. Reynolds shares how to harness the answers to these following questions for great story-writing: 1. Where have you been? 2. Where are you now? 3. Where are you going? 4. Where would you like to be going?
Feb 21, 2023•14 min
Do you have fears that intimidate your writing or illustration? Jon Klassen shares how his fears (and desire to have a job!) inform his creative process and shares how to use your fears to your advantage when developing your own stories. You may just find that those fears are the exact things that make you (and your work) uniquely you.
Feb 07, 2023•12 min
Wouldn't it be grand if there was a fool-proof formula for creating good picture books? That's exactly what Julie Hedlund has spent years researching and studying, and she's come up with 10 essential ingredients or "layers" for picture books that you can follow like a checklist.
Jan 24, 2023•11 min
In Part 3 of How to Get Out of the Slush Pile, Emma Walton Hamilton reveals about actionable ways to polish your manuscript's hook to get agents and editors excited about reading your story!
Jan 10, 2023•15 min
It's time for the second episode in our three-part series: How to Get Out of the Slush Pile! Author and rhymer extraordinaire Julie Hedlund discusses one of the best ways to signal to industry professionals that you're not ready to be published: writing bad rhyme. Writing poetry is one thing, but writing a rhyming picture book is a whole other kind of animal and if you're not doing it right, you'll never get out of the slush pile. Julie spells out best practices for writing good rhyme for pictur...
Dec 27, 2022•11 min
It's the first of our three-part series: How to Get Out of the Slush Pile! Nothing turns an agent or editor more than a poorly written main characters. It's a common mistake for new authors and one big reason a manuscript never makes it out of the slush pile. To help you avoid this mistake, Picture Book Summit Co-Founder Laura Backes shares important questions to ask when evaluating your work-in-progress before hitting send on your next submission. Listen in for actionable solutions in creating ...
Dec 13, 2022•13 min
"Don't be too preachy in your writing!" You may have heard it many times before, but how? Try leveling up with sophistication. Julie Hedlund discusses the sparkle of sophisticated humor in picture books, where to find great examples of it, and how to incorporate it in your own writing.
Nov 29, 2022•16 min
Author Katie Davis spells out why pacing is important for good picture book manuscripts in today's market, analyzes examples of pacing in some of her favorite picture books, and reveals various methods for achieving excellent pacing in shorter texts.
Nov 15, 2022•13 min
They say that if you want to get published, don't write rhyming picture book manuscripts! But is that really a rule to live by? Spoiler: Of course not! Julie Hedlund, author of three rhyming picture books and Co-Founder of the Picture Book Summit, shares how to write rhyming manuscripts that will actually sell.
Nov 01, 2022•10 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Emma Walton Hamilton unearths a brief history of picture books including how Randolph Caldecott started the genre by creating illustrations that helped to tell the story instead of the pictures simply reflecting what's in the text. Emma shares how picture books evolved from morality tales to books for "naughty children" and books that break the rules and meet children where they are. It's the best kind of history lesson for picture book creators.
Sep 20, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 35
What makes a great read-aloud? Join author and librarian Betsy Bird for an entertaining look examination of what separates the good picture book read-alouds from the great picture book read-alouds. Librarians have always known that picture books can often break down into two groups: one-on-one titles and read-aloud titles. One-on-ones are great for getting snuggly at bedtime, but if you want to engage a large crowd of kids, you need a text that pops in an entirely different way. Betsy breaks dow...
Sep 06, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Listen in as Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund share their submission expertise and give you the key components of a killer query letter and plus top tips for improving your own query letter. You’ll leave this episode with actionable items you can apply immediately to your own queries. Get ready to polish those queries until they shine brighter than you thought possible.
Aug 23, 2022•12 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In Part 3 of Where the Ideas Are, let's talk about how to develop your picture book ideas into a strong manuscripts. At the core of every good picture book is a central dramatic question. What is that, anyway? Picture Book Summit co-founder Emma Walton Hamilton discusses the importance and function of the central dramatic question and how to find it. Be sure to catch Parts 1 and 2 of Where the Ideas Are in podcast episode 031 Generating Ideas with Katie Davis and episode 032 Assessing Ideas with...
Aug 09, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In Part 2 of Where the Ideas Are, PBSummit co-founder Laura Backes shares how to assess if your idea is one worth pursuing including... Finding out if there's room in the market for your idea Deciding if your has kid-appeal Determining if your idea is the right size for a picture book Catch part 1 of Where the Ideas Are in episode 030 Generating Ideas with Katie Davis.
Jul 26, 2022•12 min
Welcome to our three-part series Where the Ideas Are! We'll finding, assessing, and developing ideas for marketable picture books stories. While we can’t tell you exactly where to get your next great idea, Katie Davis can give you tips for harvesting the ideas that are cropping up all around you. Look for parts 2 and 3 in episode 031 with Laura Backes and episode 032 with Emma Walton Hamilton.
Jul 12, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In today’s episode, we’ll hear from Samantha Berger, a twice Emmy-nominated writer and award-winning author of over 80 books for young readers, including Crankenstein, Monster’s New Undies, Snail Mail, and Rock What You Got! Samantha wrote for Nickelodeon for 12 years and now she writes for Sesame Street. Now, she's revealing five things you need to know about being AND writing funny.
Aug 24, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton talks about the three things you should do before you start submitting, the key components of your query letter, including how to craft your hook and what to include in your bio, query etiquette, and submissions dos and don’ts.
Aug 03, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Today’s episode showcases literary agent Jennie Dunham, founder of Dunham Literary Inc. Her clients have appeared on the NYT Bestseller list and have won numerous awards including the Schneider Family Award, the Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and NYT Best Illustrated Book. Jennie shares insight on what agents do, what they don't do, and how to prepare for working with an agent.
Jul 31, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 27
You vow again and again, “Today I will work on my book!” But something just keeps getting in the way. In this episode, Katie Davis shares insights and tips for avoiding procrastination and getting your "BIC" or Butt In Chair. Listen in for a few tricks that will give you the motivation needed to complete the next phase of your work.
Jul 06, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Nonfiction picture books are one of the fastest-growing segments of the market today, but how do you make them accessible and fun, even for the youngest of audiences. In this episode, award-winning author Ruth Spiro explains how to introduce complex scientific topics in a way that makes them understandable and engaging for younger readers, and even babies. Listen in to sharpen your skills related to STEM-based writing for children.
Jun 22, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 25
In this episode, Picture Book Summit co-founder Emma Walton Hamilton provides some helpful insight on determining whether a manuscript is truly ready for submission. Listen in to avoid some common mistakes that could cause your hard work to be rejected by a publisher.
Jun 15, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this episode, Picture Book Co-Founder Laura Backes gives us insight into creating memorable picture book characters by discussing the cognitive development of kids in the picture book audience. You’ll look at your main characters and how you develop them in a whole new way after this mind-opening episode.
May 18, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 23
