What “textured digital” means, and how to find an illustrator who does it. – The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #65 Children’s book illustration is changing, and you need to know about it or it can hurt your book’s success. For a while, a very clean, smooth look has been popular, and many came to…
A stage-by-stage map through the Chronicle, sorted by where you are on your journey. – The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #64 Whatever you’re wrestling with in your author journey this week, I’ve probably already written about it. The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle has grown into quite a library now (we’re on edition #64 already!), so…
One shelf needs 19 sales to hit number one. Another needs 1,073. Same book. Here’s my full keyword and category research, numbers and all. – The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #63 One of the categories my book fits in needs 19 sales to hit number one. Another one needs 1,073! In Issue #61, What Testing…
Three picture book trends and what’s driving them: SEL, screen-free, and comfort stories. The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #62 Kids are reaching for screens more than ever, and feeling more anxious with it. So let’s look at what’s changing in the picture book world because of it. For every action, there is an equal…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #61 I have a confession to make about my own picture book. Before I wrote Lilou’s Lost Rainbow, I did what all the advice says to do. I ran my idea through Publisher Rocket. I checked keywords and categories. I looked for comp titles. And I did all of it with…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #60 If you’ve been around children’s book circles, I’m sure you’ll have heard these questions: self-publishing or traditional? Which one is better? I get asked this quite often, and I mostly support self-publishing. I think traditional or hybrid publishing can be a better fit for some authors, but I’ve…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #59 I used to think the common denominator between successful people was intelligence. But then I noticed something that made me think again. Looking around at the people I’d known over the years, I started to see that some very successful people didn’t have exceptional IQs, and some people…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #58 Over the past two weeks, I wrote about the three forces reshaping the world of children’s books and the three things your book needs to really connect. This week is more personal. This is my Why–why I do this work and what Children’s Book Mastery is built on,…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #57 Last week, I went over three forces reshaping the world of children’s books: screens, children’s mental health, and AI flooding the market with noise. This week, I want to talk about what it actually takes to write a book worth putting into the world in this difficult time….
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #56 Childhood has changed. Three forces are converging, and together they’ve created a situation unlike any other in the history of children’s publishing. This makes writing more important than it has ever been and more worth doing well. This week I want to walk you through all three. Force…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #55 Sometimes I’ll read a picture book, and it hits my heart in exactly the right place and in the right way. Feeling very inspired, I think I want to write something like this. I’m sure you’ve experienced that same feeling. I see this with authors I work with all…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #54 There have been several changes in the self-publishing industry in a fairly short time that I felt I needed to share with you. Some of these will affect you directly. I think they’re all worth knowing about even if they don’t change anything you do today. I’d rather…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle #53 Hi! When children’s book authors think about marketing, they usually think about social media, Amazon ads, or building an email list. And those are all valid strategies. But there’s one channel that doesn’t get enough attention in the children’s book world, and it’s a powerful one. Podcasts. Going on podcasts…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle #52 A little while ago, I ran a free training on self-publishing for children’s book authors. I wasn’t sure how much interest there would be, but there was loads! Many authors showed up and there were many questions that came up live and lightbulb moments. I could see this is something…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle #51 Over the years, I’ve noticed that authors tend to fall into one of two camps when it comes to their picture book idea. The first is the author who isn’t sure their idea is good enough. They have something–a feeling or a moment they can’t shake–but they keep second-guessing it….
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle #50 Here we are on edition 50 of the KidLit Creators Chronicle! 🎉 I’ve shared over 74,000 words of writing, publishing and marketing strategies with you. Thank you for reading them and all the lovely responses I get each week! Today we’ll look at idea mistakes. Sometimes, when I do feedback, I can…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #49 “Karen, how do I write a query letter?” I hear this one from time to time, usually from authors who’ve just finished their manuscript. Usually it comes from authors who have decided to go the traditional route and want to make sure their query gives them the best…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle #48 I did a quick count today, and over the last four years, I have critiqued over 200 manuscripts and encountered many more from the authors I come into contact with along the way. While it’s been a pleasure to read many wonderful stories (some made me laugh out loud, and…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle #47 There’s an exercise I do with almost every group of authors I work with. I ask them one simple question: “Why do you want to write this book?” I give them a few quiet minutes to write their answer down. And when they share in the chat, the responses are…
The Kidlit Creator’s Chronicle Issue #46 Today, let’s go over something important, and yes, a little tricky. Writing picture books about topics like grief, anxiety, or divorce isn’t simple. But it’s so needed. Stories like these can make a real difference for children who are facing tough emotions, and for you as the author, they…
The Kidlit Creator’s Chronicle Issue #44 If you’ve started researching how to print your children’s book, there’s a good chance you’ve ended up with twelve tabs open in your browser and still feeling uncertain of the route you should choose. Print-on-demand feels like the obvious option. It’s accessible, low risk, and doesn’t require you to…
The Kidlit Creator’s Chronicle Issue #43 You’ve probably seen children’s book authors launching on Kickstarter or Indiegogo and wondered, “Could I really do something like that?” Maybe you’ve got a great story, but no funds for editing, illustrations, and printing. Crowdfunding seems like a smart way to move forward… until you start looking into the…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #42 When my daughter was younger, I assumed she’d gravitate towards fiction. Stories with fantasies and adventures, things like that. She did enjoy those, but I was surprised when I started reading her nonfiction, especially biographies and books about science and space. She didn’t just enjoy them. She was…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #41 This week, I’m sharing a special excerpt from my Picture Book Manuscript Master Plan. If you’ve ever felt stuck on what to write about, or worried that your idea isn’t strong enough, this edition is for you. Whether you’ve got an idea that won’t let go or you’re still…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #40 Today we’re going to get real, and I hope this helps you in a little or a big way. For a long time, I had a solid rhythm going. I time-blocked, batched my work, tracked my time, and built systems that kept me moving forward. I planned strategically…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #39 We’ve all had this experience: you’re excited to write your story, you write your draft, you work on improving it, you read it over… and it doesn’t sound right. You work on it some more, but some sentences just don’t work. They’re bland, unclear, too flowery… and you…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #37 Welcome to part three of our series on creating relatable picture book characters. (If you haven’t read the first two, you might want to check out Part One and Part Two first. They lay the groundwork for everything we cover in this edition. Though, you can read this edition on its own.)…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #36 Hi! (This is Part 2 of a 4-part series on creating relatable picture book characters. You can catch up on Part 1 here.) If you joined me for last week’s article, you’ll remember we looked at the foundations of creating characters children truly relate to, including how flaws build connection, how…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #34 Recently, one of my CBM Coaching members (thanks, Nancy!) let me know that someone was using my company (GetYourBookIllustrations) artwork to promote their company. (They cold contacted her to try and illustrate her book, and the image they are using has her book in it! Gotta love the irony.)…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #32 For this week’s TKCC, we’re looking at plotting. Having a strong plot is essential for a successful children’s book, and how to plot a children’s book is one of the first skills to learn if you want to write a book. Too many authors don’t realise that there…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #31 Whether you’re a new author or you’ve been trying to grow your sales for a while, school visits are one of the most effective ways to sell books, build credibility, and gain long-term success. There are a few broad ways to promote your books: Online marketing: This includes…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #30 You’ve probably heard the advice: “Write high-concept books. That’s what sells.” It’s true! High-concept picture books are attention-grabbing, easy to pitch, and can stand out in a crowded market. But, and it’s a big but… … you don’t have to write high-concept picture books to succeed. Some authors…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #29 I recently saw a study, and it made such an impact on me, I wanted to share it with you. Image credit: The Brain Maze Imagine trying to run a marathon after spending a year using crutches, not because you were injured, but because they made walking easier. At…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #28 This isn’t the article I originally planned, and I guess it isn’t strictly a KidLit Creator’s Chronicle, at least not the way you’ve gotten to know them! I had a more typical KidLit Creator’s Chronicle edition lined up to support you in your author journey… … but life…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #27 Definitely one of the subjects I get asked the most questions about is picture book creation. “What are all the steps involved?”“What are the costs?”“How long does it take?” Obviously, if you’ve never created or published a book, these are things you’d wonder about, and they are good…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #26 I’ve spoken to several authors who were working on their author brands. They were putting in effort choosing colours, testing out different fonts, even designing logos in Canva. But when I asked them the key questions—their why for writing, what their books were really about, who they were for, and…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #25 With our Children’s Book Mastery Summit coming up in two weeks, I’ve been putting a lot of thought into the final question I ask all speakers (and myself!): “What is your top tip to help children’s book authors succeed?” After much deliberation, I settled on “Don’t just learn. Apply.” Over…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #24 Hi, When my daughter was younger, we read The Mill Valley, a stunning picture book by Noelia Blanco, illustrated by Valeria Docampo. I know this book isn’t so well-known, so here is the book description: “One day, the Perfect Machines appeared in the Mill Valley. The machines do everything…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #23 On my side of the world, we’ve just passed the winter solstice. Yay! We’re back on our way to summer. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, enjoy your last half of summer and send some toasty weather this way, please! I’ve been researching the effects of AI on…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #22 Hi, Imagine this: you’ve just finished reading your book to a room full of primary students. You’ve talked about how you made it, answered their questions, maybe shown them your sketches or notes. Then a hand goes up with the question, “Could I write a book too?” These…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #21 Four years. That’s how long one of my coaching clients spent almost finishing her manuscript. (And we’re talking about a 500-word picture book manuscript!) She had the idea, she’d done her research, and she even had a roughly drafted story she’d revisit every few months. But she couldn’t quite bring…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #20 Welcome to the 20th edition of The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle! Today, we’ll explore humour in children’s books. Humour can be one of the most powerful tools in a children’s book, but also one of the trickiest to get right. What makes a toddler giggle might leave a eight-year-old…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #19 Hi, We’ve all seen those exciting launch posts, the “I hit #1!” screenshots and the cheering emojis. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. Hitting a bestseller list is an amazing accomplishment, and if you’ve done it (or hope to), you should absolutely celebrate it. But the thing…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #18 Hi, I hope May and the change of season is treating you well. Here we are, at edition 18 of the KidLit Creator’s Chronicle already! Authors often ask me, “Should I create printables or extras to go with my book?” And it’s a smart question, because companion materials…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #17 Hi, This week’s KidLit Creator’s Chronicle is a bit different! I am sharing an oldie but goodie—part of an article I wrote for GetYourBookIllustrations five years ago. It’s still as relevant now as it was then. (Feel free to read the full article here.) Enjoy! When researching types…
![You’ve got an idea, but do you have a story? (Why your brilliant idea might not be working [yet])](https://childrensbookmastery.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/image-2-1-768x512.jpg)
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #16 Hi, I hope you’re enjoying these KidLit Creator’s Chronicles! I can’t believe we’re already 4 months into these! Without any further ado… I’ve seen it happen many times in training sessions and emails: a writer has a great idea, but when they try to turn it into a…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #15 Hi, I’ll never forget the journey of one of my coaching members. She had just completed her “picture book” draft and was excited to refine and publish it. At that point, I hadn’t seen the manuscript, but the concept was quite unique and heartfelt. But as she worked…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #13 This week, we’ll cover something I’ve been deep in recently: Instagram. I just wrapped a 3-day Social Media Mastery Bootcamp, where we spent hours each day focused on how children’s book authors can use Instagram more intentionally, more simply, and more effectively. Whether you love Instagram or feel…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #12 Amazon A+ Content gave 100,000 books a boost in sales of approximately 5.7%. If that sounds good, keep reading! Imagine walking into a bookshop. You spot a colourful picture book on display. The cover grabs your attention, so you pick it up. You flip it over to read the…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #11 Hi! (In case you’re not going to read to the end, check out the end of this article for a free training. 😉 ) More than once, I’ve found myself deep into a project, getting exhausted or feeling stuck in a rut, struggling to come up with new…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #10 For many aspiring authors, writing for children’s magazines has been a valuable stepping stone toward building a successful publishing career. I’ve met several authors who found that contributing short stories, nonfiction articles, or poetry to magazines allowed them to hone their craft, gain publication credits, and build relationships…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #09 Picture book word count! This is a hot topic among many authors. Whether you love writing your story in just a few words, or hate it, it’s essential to writing a good picture book. I’ve worked with many authors who started with picture book manuscripts that were 2,000 words…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #08 I’ve seen authors struggle to sell their books at certain venues or online platforms. They often think it’s because of their book or their marketing skill, but sometimes that’s not the case at all. Sometimes they’re simply in the wrong place, in front of the wrong audience. When…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #07 When my daughter was little, I quickly realized she had a very specific taste in picture books—the sillier, the better. If a book was over-the-top and ridiculous, she was all in. It started with the Pig the Pug series by Aaron Blabey and Who Flung Dung? by Ben Redlich (which I’m pretty…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #06 Hi authors! Imagine this: You’ve poured your heart into your story, and now it’s time to turn it into a real book with beautiful illustrations. But the process of finding an illustrator can feel overwhelming—and sometimes risky. I see too many authors get burnt when they choose the…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #05 The quality of your book’s illustrations can make or break its success. I often get questions from authors about illustrations. It’s one of the biggest challenges for self-publishing authors for several reasons. Some are overwhelmed by the cost, and many don’t know where to start. How do you…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #04 Here’s your fourth edition of the KidLit Creator’s Chronicle! It’s a long one, but I encourage you to read all of it. It’s such an important topic. Lately, I’ve noticed a significant increase in children’s picture books being published with AI. It’s very easy to recognize the AI-generated…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #03 Hi, Creating a writing schedule that works for you can feel really tough, I know! I’ve certainly had my struggles with this. You may recall my word for 2025 (from KidLit Creator’s Chronicle #1: Reflect, Reset, and Reignite Your Year) is CONSISTENCY. What I’ve discovered for myself, again and again…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #02 Hi, Here is your second edition of The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle. This past week has been a bittersweet one for me. A few days ago, in the early hours of the morning, I woke to find that my dog—who has shared so many seasons of life with me—had…
The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #01 Hi, At the end of each year, I take time out to reflect on the year just passed. I look over the goals I set for the year—which ones I achieved, which ones I didn’t, why I didn’t achieve them, what I could have done better, and also…
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