Four signs you’re not cut out for self-publishing… and one reason you might be after all.

Self-publishing used to be for losers.  It wasn’t even called self-publishing – it was called “vanity publishing.”  Even the name meant you were a loser:  “You’re so vain… you prob’ly think this book is about you!”  In between staring at the mirror and primping your nails, you wrote a book; how cute! Who’s a loser now? That “loser”...

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Photo picture books: good, bad, UGLY.

I’ve taken some heat over the last couple days for this post, which suggests that writers can choose free photos from Wikimedia and other websites and use them in their books as an alternative to hiring an illustrator.  (Photo credit:  Albert Kok, Wikimedia) Yet photo-based picture books are a long tradition, going almost back to the beginning...

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Three pitfalls of using online photos in your self-published kids’ book.

You may have noticed that there are lots and lots and LOTS of photos out there on the Internet… lots of which are free for the taking.  One source for beautiful free photos is Wikimedia Commons, so let’s start there, looking at how to find pictures and legally reuse them in your own project. (top photo credit:  Nicolás García, Wikimedia)...

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Twenty years PLUS: Mini-interview with Barbara Reid

About a million years ago, or eight, as part of an early-years literacy program, our family got a free copy of a wonderful book called, Read Me a Book (how meta is that?!). The writer’s name was a source of endless hilarity to my daughter as she grew up – Barbara Reid. Perhaps because of that, the name stuck with us, and we started seeing her books...

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‘Tis the season – write holiday books that don’t spell HUMBUG (Part 2 of 2)

What the heck is a holiday-books post doing here in April? And not just any post – this is Part 2 of a 2-part series! (Click here to read Part 1 first.) Well, for one thing, not all of us celebrate our main holiday in December. Plus, if you’re thinking of writing or wrapping a book aimed at the December holiday season, April is actually a great...

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Writing to change the world.

While I’m off enjoying Passover with my family, here’s another guest post, this one by an anonymous mom with strong feelings about the future direction of children’s books. :-) In the past several years especially, the realm of children’s literature has made leaps and bounds in terms of diversity and promoting coexistence amongst our differences. But...

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Coming soon… interviews with Andrea Beaty, Barbara Reid.

I don’t usually give you a heads-up about what’s coming down the pike, but I just can’t help it.  These two are just TOO great not to mention! Who’s coming? Andrea Beaty, writer, Iggy Peck, Architect, and Rosie Revere, Engineer, and one of the goddesses of rhyming kids’ books in the world today (not to mention smart, science-y kids’ picture books!)....

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WriteKidsBooks.org Writers’ Workshop: Judo Juan

  Every once in a while, people email asking if I’ll take a look at their story.  I thought it might be fun to run this as an occasional blog feature, so I asked one writer’s permission to have his story and my suggestions appear here on this site. Rick was gracious enough to allow me to share his work, and I’d be thrilled if any of you would...

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Three ways to add real science to a picture book without putting kids to sleep

Guest post by an anonymous mom who just happens to be a neuroscientist. Kids have a short attention span, and when it comes to factual stuff like science, it can sometimes be a challenge to truly engage their busy brains without inducing boredom. In order to keep a child’s attention, authors of children’s books must incorporate interesting and colorful...

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‘Tis the season – write holiday books that don’t spell HUMBUG (Part 1 of 2)

What the heck is a holiday-books post doing here in April? And not just any post – this is Part 1 of a 2-part series. (Click here to read Part 2.) Well, for one thing, not all of us celebrate our main holiday in December. Plus, if you’re thinking of writing or wrapping up a book aimed at the December holiday season, April is actually a great time...

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Three timeless lessons from “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”

Some books never get tired.  I’m reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing with my kids right now as one of our chapter books, and it’s incredible how modern it is, considering it was first published in 1972.  Imagine – a book for kids in which: there are no internet, cellphones, or mobile devices of any kind the dad in the book isn’t used...

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Most children’s book writers fail… here’s why you don’t have to.

It’s easy to see why so many authors fail:  the market is flooded like no time before in history.  What will keep you afloat above the deluge?  It’s not enough to just write something that’s never been written before… you have to make your book extraordinary.  But even that’s not enough.  The secret?  Quit showing your...

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FREE printable “On Pesach” Passover mini-book

My gift to Jewish followers this Passover season… a free PDF of this very simple print-cut-staple easy reader for Pesach, featuring some cute and timely “borrowed” Internet graphics. I created this for my kids and their friends last year, but I'd love to see more families using and enjoying it! You can preview the book and download it here. Okay,...

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Deconstructing the story: Mini-Interview with Writer/Illustrator Rinat Hoffer

Rinat Hoffer is probably the most popular and perhaps prolific children’s-book author in Israel today. But for me and my kids, she’s something more – a friendly, fun bridge to Israeli culture and life in this strange, busy, modern country. We first “met” her books back in Canada at our local public library. I can’t tell you how long it would take...

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Writing so your illustrator won’t hate you (with tips from a pro!).

If you’re reading this post, you’re probably a writer, and not an illustrator (unless you are an illustrator and are wondering how not to hate yourself?).  So it’s not your job to draw the pictures for your story. Sounds basic, but too many authors forget and overstep what they’re supposed to be doing.  On the other hand, there are writers...

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