We’ve changed up the Picture Book Summit submissions process for 2025! Let’s dive into the details. First, let’s introduce to this year’s Featured Agents and Editors and tell you a little bit about their panels at Picture Book Summit. 2025 Featured Agents Agents Assemble: Query Critiques to the Rescue
What is going on in picture book publishing these days? Is it slow for everyone or is it just you? How are global events affecting the industry? Surely, COVID-19 isn’t still impacting our market? In this episode, Emma, Julie, and Kelli explore what publishing looks like currently, what it may
One of the big advantages of attending a conference—online or in-person—is the opportunity to submit to Featured Agents and Editors. Many agents and editors are open to submissions from conference attendees, even when they aren’t open to general submissions. Simply by making the effort to attend a conference, you demonstrate
“Show, don’t tell” is a common piece of writing advice, and it applies to pitches as well as manuscripts. A pitch that shows rather than tells can be more vivid and engaging, reflecting your grasp on the unique craft of picture book writing and capturing the interest of agents and
Sharing the Takeaway in a Pitch Without Spoiling the Ending One of the trickiest parts of crafting a pitch is knowing how much to reveal. You want to give agents and editors a sense of your story’s theme and takeaway, but you don’t want to spoil the ending, otherwise why
How to Infuse Your Pitch with Your Story’s Unique Style Your pitch is more than just a summary of your story—it’s a reflection of your narrative voice. Infusing your pitch with your story’s unique style is the key to making it stand out to agents and editors. The Importance of
In the Picture Book Pitch Formula, we gave you a template to use as a starting point for writing your pitches. As a reminder, this is the template: You’ll notice that this template incorporates all the key components of a great pitch. Who is your HERO? What do they want in the story?
Focusing on Obstacles and Stakes A great picture book pitch isn’t just about conveying what your hero wants—it’s about what’s standing in their way. It’s about conveying the dramatic tension in your story, and what’s at stake for your hero. Understanding the role of obstacles and stakes is key to
Piquing Agent & Editor Interest Without Giving Away the Farm Crafting a compelling pitch is an essential skill for any picture book author. It is the single most important part of your submissions package to agents and editors for publication consideration. A well-written pitch will spark an agent or editor’s
In this episode, children’s picture book authors Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund give an overview of the four essential components of a query (introduction, pitch, bio and market info, and conclusion). Then they dig deep into crafting the ever-elusive perfect pitch. Listen in for tips on creating a pitch
It’s our last episode of our series the 4 Biggest Reasons Your Manuscripts Get Rejected! Following agent submission guidelines should be a no-brainer when it comes to searching for an agent, right? “Query-whisperer” Emma Walton Hamilton gives an inside look as to why following submission guidelines are crucial—and how over
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 for publication, therefore ready
