Picture Books

Interested in writing picture books? Here are some resources to get you started.

General Resources

SCBWI - the Society for Children's Book Writers & Ilustrators. The organization that every children's writer and illustrator must join.

Linda Ashman The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books

Children's Book Insider - a paid subscription service to a fount of information about writing children's books, a monthly newsletter with tips about publishers and agents, writing courses, and more.

Mem Fox This is an AWESOME list of 20 Do's and Don'ts of picture book writing from award winning author Mem Fox.

Darcy Pattison How to Write a Picture Book Resources

The Purple Crayon - Harold Underdown, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, has a site chock full of resources and information, including an introductory article on the Basics of Children's Publishing

Susan Uhlig's link is full of resources from books to blog posts DEFINITELY check it out/bookmark!

Check out picture book courses we recommend in
Writing Courses..

12x12 - don't miss out on one of the premier communities of picture book writers and illustrators. A paid membership gets you monthly webinars, critique opportunities, a great member forum, and much more. Registration for 12x12 Picture Book Writing Challenge Opens Jan. 9

Courses

PB Rising Stars Collective 🚨 BIG NEWS IN KIDLIT 🚨 After years of watching thousands of picture book creators apply to opportunities like PB Rising Stars, hoping to be chosen, Ebony Lynn Mudd wanted to build something different: a long-term support space where creators could finally choose themselves. Introducing the PB Rising Stars Collective, a brand new space giving picture book creators ongoing personalized 1:1 critique support, career strategy, publishing education, and community all in one place. For years, so many creators have been stuck trying to piece together publishing careers through scattered classes, temporary critique groups, generalized advice, and support that disappears the moment a workshop ends. Inside the Collective, creators receive personalized 1:1 critique support every 3 months from creators like Lian Cho, Andrea Wang, Shamar Knight-Justice, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and more, plus personalized career and business strategy sessions, live MFA-level workshops for writers, illustrators, and author-illustrators, a growing 24/7 craft library, honest conversations about the REAL side of publishing, and long-term community and accountability designed to help creators actually move forward no matter where they are in their journey. We already have award-winning creators, agents from Starling Literary, and editors from major publishing houses like Penguin Random House involved, and the conversations inside the Collective have already been incredible, covering everything from how to know when you’re truly ready to query to the mindset shift of treating your creative work like a real business. Founding Member enrollment closes May 31st, and after that, founding perks disappear permanently, and enrollment will only reopen briefly each month for a limited number of creators. Click here to learn more and become a founding member here!

Express PB Coaching FREE Mini-video Series. Dive into this bite-size coaching series and master the art of preparing your picture book manuscript for submission with practical, easy-to-follow advice tailored for aspiring authors. Learn about manuscript readiness (word count, character development, and creating impactful takeaways, ensuring your story is polished and submission-ready): story enhancement (spot and fix plot holes, optimize text for illustrations, and master the technique of "show, don't tell" to enrich your narrative and engage your readers), character depth and dialogue (craft intriguing characters with clear stakes, and write authentic, age-appropriate dialogue that drives your story forward and resonates with your audience), and more.

Picture Books

Writing Tips for Picture Books

Story Arc/Narrative

Art Notes

Art Notes are Action Notes!

Character Driven Books

Character Driven Picture Books- Definition and Examples Character Driven Books in 3 Easy Steps

Revising/Editing a Picture Book

A Picture Book Editing Checklist.

Marketing

6 Powerful Ways To Market Children's Picture Books

Showing vs. Telling in (Picture Book) Pitches

Study the Best Picture Books

Character Driven Picture Books- Definition and Examples

Character Driven Books in 3 Easy Steps