Picture Book Submissions Podcast

Maybe you like research. Maybe you don't. One thing is for certain: researching agents and editors is essential to having a published picture book.  Today, Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund discuss the importance of researching agents and editors before you hit send on your submissions. Listen in to discover: Why research is critical (no spray and pray) What agents do for you The wrong agent is worse than no agent A pass from one agent or editor is a pass from all at that agency or publishing house Why YOU need to do your own research (no outsourcing) Where to search for agent and publisher information How to do a deeper dive once you have candidates Why you want to triple-check your information before submitting   Books mentioned in this episode: Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market Literary Marketplace SCBWI's Essential Guide to Publishing for Children IFW's Book Markets for Children's Writers   Resources mentioned in this episode: Manuscript Wishlist QueryTracker   If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit creators can find us! Thank you for listening!

Today's topic flummoxes many writers in their submission journey. What's the difference between a picture book pitch and a synopsis? Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund answer that and share the best ways to use them when you're querying.   Listen in to discover: •    The difference between a pitch and a synopsis •    The length of a pitch vs. synopsis •    The purpose of the synopsis vs. the pitch •    What the focus of each should be •    Tone and style of the pitch vs. the synopsis •    When and why you might be asked for a synopsis •    Which is harder to write? Books mentioned in this episode •    Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Listeners who want more on pitches and submissions can grab our free training at picturebooksubmissions.com/free-training. If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit creators can find us! Thank you for listening!  

In today's episode, Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund tackle the bio paragraph of your query letter—including what to say if you don't have any writing credits. Learn to write a professional and effective bio paragraph as we discover: The purpose of the bio paragraph How long the bio paragraph should be What to include and what to leave out What constitutes legit and/or relevant credits, education, experience, etc. What to include if you are a newbie Why padding your bio hurts more than helps How to keep your bio paragraph professional   Listeners who want more on pitches and submissions can grab our free training at picturebooksubmissions.com/free-training. If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit creators can find us! If you have a question about submissions you'd like us to answer on the podcast or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes, leave us a (anonymous if you wish) voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/pbsubmissions Thank you for listening!

What's a comp title? Do you really need one (or more)? How do you use comp titles in your query letter? Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie have the answers! Listen in to discover: The purpose and importance of comp titles The difference between comp titles and mentor texts Qualifications for comp titles How many comp titles to use in your query letters How to choose comp titles that showcase different aspects of your manuscript How to distinguish your manuscript from your comp titles Books mentioned in this episode: Waiting in The Wings by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton & E.G. Keller Broadway Bird by Alex Timbers and Alisa Coburn Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri Attack of The Underwear Dragon by Scott Rothman and Listeners who want more on pitches and submissions can grab our free training at picturebooksubmissions.com/free-training. If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit creators can find us! If you have a question about submissions you'd like us to answer on the podcast or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes, leave us a (anonymous if you wish) voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/pbsubmissions Thank you for listening!

In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund get into the nitty-gritty of writing and using a pitch in your query letter.   Listen in to discover: The purpose and importance of the pitch Basic components of the pitch A simple pitch formula for narrative fiction and nonfiction picture books The importance of using the voice of your manuscript in your pitches How to incorporate a theme or takeaway in your pitch vs. giving away the ending What to avoid including in your pitch When to consider leading with your pitch (vs. an intro paragraph) Our 7 pitch templates (and so much more!) can be found in The Complete Picture Book Submissions System Books mentioned in this episode: Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak The First Notes: The Story of Do, Re, Mi by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton & Chiara Fedele   Listeners who want more on pitches and submissions can grab our free training at picturebooksubmissions.com/free-training. If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit creators can find us! If you have a question about submissions you'd like us to answer on the podcast or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes, leave us a (anonymous if you wish) voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/pbsubmissions Thank you for listening!  

You've heard you need a query letter when submitting your picture book, but what is a query letter exactly? What should it include? What should be left out? Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund, published picture book authors and co-founders of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System, share the basics of what to include in your query letter to agents or editors, including:  The purpose of the query letter All about salutations What to include in your introductory paragraph How to craft your pitch paragraph Narrative Pitch formula and examples Basics of the Comp Title Paragraph What to include (and not to include) in your bio paragraph Concluding your query letters   Books mentioned in this episode: After The Fall by Dan Santat Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak I Don't Want To Be a Frog by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt   Want to know more about picture book submissions? Grab our free training at picturebooksubmissions.com/free-training. If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit creators can find us! If you have a question about submissions you'd like us to answer on the podcast or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes, leave us a (anonymous if you wish) voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/pbsubmissions Thank you for listening!

In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund, published picture book authors and co-founders of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System, give an overview of what a submission is and how to be submission-ready. Listen in to discover: What we mean by a picture book submission Submitting to literary agents vs. publishers/editors Whether you can or should submit to both agents and publishers simultaneously Components of a submission package Definition of unsolicited submission Why researching who you want to submit to is critical   Listeners who want more on picture book submissions can grab our free training at picturebooksubmissions.com/free-training. If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit creators can find us! If you have a question about submissions you'd like us to answer on the podcast or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes, leave us a (anonymous if you wish) voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/pbsubmissions Thank you for listening!    

Join Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund, published picture book authors and co-founders of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System for the very first episode of The Picture Book Submissions Podcast. They created this podcast as a way to advance their goal of demystifying the process of submitting picture book manuscripts to agents and editors.   Listen in to discover: •    Why we started the podcast •    Why should you listen to us? •    Emma's writing journey, including the reality of rejections •    Julie's writing journey – from banking to book deals •    Why the picture book market is different from adult •    Quick overview of what's in The Complete Picture Book Submissions System •    What we'll cover in future episodes of the podcast Books mentioned in this episode: •    A Troop is a Group of Monkeys •    My Love For You is the Sun Listeners who want more on picture book submissions can grab our free training at picturebooksubmissions.com/free-training. If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit creators can find us! If you have a question about submissions you'd like us to answer on the podcast or topics you'd like us to address in future episodes, leave us a (anonymous if you wish) voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/pbsubmissions Thank you for listening!