Children's Book Insider, the Children's Writing Monthly

How to Tell if Your Story Idea is Good Enough An excerpt from the 90 workshop "How to Generate Amazing Story Ideas", presented by Steve Swinburne, author of more than 25+ books.

✏️ Author Stephen Swinburne shares his time-tested technique to determine if your #kidlit story idea is good enough to develop into a book. Simple but very, very wise! writeforkids.lpages.co/swinburne-we...

✏️ NEW: Here's the perfect starting point for beginning & still-struggling #kidlit writers. No fluff, just the exact info you need to get started and succeed.

Presented by CBI Publisher Laura Backes. Get it now for $30 off the regular price!

writeforkids.online/amazing-jour...

Stonewall Book Award-winning author @alexgino.bsky.social speaks about why they support Massachusetts' Freedom to Read legislation: because books gave them "language to describe who I was, and knowledge that there were other people like me." #MassFreedomToRead

The Anti-Book Ban Laws Passed in 2025 (& What They Mean): Book Censorship News, August 1, 2025 What does it mean to pass an anti-book ban law in 2025? Here are what states have done it and what these laws mean.

The good guys are fighting back. #kidlit 😀

bookriot.com/2025-anti-bo...

So much fun to really dig into writing narrative nonfiction for kids with @laurabackus25.bsky.social at @writeforkids.bsky.social 😍
Hope you'll click in for a listen 📕😀
@scbwirockymtn.bsky.social @redfoxliterary.bsky.social @kl4gm.bsky.social @edusky.bsky.social #biographies #NFkidlit

Instructor Spotlight: Beth Anderson Bringing Your Biography Subject to Life – Write For Kids Write For Kids

✏️ JUST POSTED! @bandersonwriter.bsky.social , instructor of "Writing the Modern Picture Book Biography", shares her best tips for creating an emotional connection between young readers and your biographical subject. #kidlit

writeforkids.online/instructor-s...

How to Tell if Your Story Idea is Good Enough An excerpt from the 90 workshop "How to Generate Amazing Story Ideas", presented by Steve Swinburne, author of more than 25+ books.

✏️ Author Stephen Swinburne shares his time-tested technique to determine if your #kidlit story idea is good enough to develop into a book. Simple but very, very wise! writeforkids.lpages.co/swinburne-we...

The 3 Questions You Must Answer Before Submitting Your Manuscript An excerpt from a 2.5 hour workshop presented by Emma Dryden, freelance editor and former Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers

✏️ Emma Dryden, freelance editor & former Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers, reveals the 3 Questions every #kidlit author must answer before sending that manuscript off to a publisher or agent. Very powerful!@drydenbks.bsky.social‬

writeforkids.lpages.co/dryden-webin...

The Anti-Book Ban Laws Passed in 2025 (& What They Mean): Book Censorship News, August 1, 2025 What does it mean to pass an anti-book ban law in 2025? Here are what states have done it and what these laws mean.

The good guys are fighting back. #kidlit 😀

bookriot.com/2025-anti-bo...

✏️ Skylar's got some great tips for aspiring Middle Grade & Young Adult #kidlit writers!

writeforkids.online/category/wri...

The 3 Questions You Must Answer Before Submitting Your Manuscript An excerpt from a 2.5 hour workshop presented by Emma Dryden, freelance editor and former Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers

✏️ Emma Dryden, freelance editor & former Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers, reveals the 3 Questions every #kidlit author must answer before sending that manuscript off to a publisher or agent. Very powerful!@drydenbks.bsky.social‬

writeforkids.lpages.co/dryden-webin...

Let’s Celebrate Our Members’ Success! – Write For Kids Write For Kids

✏️ These CBI members are sharing their words with the world! #kidlit

@cfreeland.bsky.social @christinevanzandt.bsky.social @arleneschenker.bsky.social @robincurrie.bsky.social
@evelynbookless.bsky.social @katieleereinert.bsky.social @ttbrown120.bsky.social

writeforkids.online/lets-celebra...

Thanks for the kind words, Violet. And for making me look like the handsomest of hounds. (Violet created all the great characters on our site, including Laura and I in our profile pic 😀)

A freebie today for all kidlit writers! 😀

$1 Trial Subscription to Children's Book Insider! Get started writing children's book today with a $1 trial subscription and bundle of goodies celebrating Children's Book Insider's 35th anniversary.

✏️ Children's Book Insider has been the most trusted source in #kidlit writing instruction for more than 35 years.

Now you can see the power of CBI for yourself, with a three month subscription for just $1! 🤩

writeforkids.online/trial-member...

✏️ New to writing children's books? Mitty has some great tips for beginning #kidlit writers!

writeforkids.online/meet-mitty-t...

Write Picture Books – Write For Kids Write For Kids

✏️ Want to write Picture Books? Here are some tips to get you started....

writeforkids.online/category/wri... #kidlit

Tonight at 9PM Eastern/6PM Pacific, we are having #kidlitchat right here on Bluesky. Some of you already know this, of course, since it is a weekly #kidlit thang. But new folks find us all the time, too. So if it’s your first chat or 783rd, I hope to see you then!

It's heartening to see a leader that truly gets it. Libraries are an essential ingredient for a functioning democracy.

Children's Book Insider August 2025 issue.

Hey #kidlit folks, August's Children's Book Insider is now online!

✏️ How to Get Out of the Slushpile
✏️ The Art of Description
✏️ Hi-Lo Books
✏️ Above the Slushpile Submission Opportunity: Fuse Literary
✏️ Market News, Contests & much more

Members: Get it here writeforkids.online/childrens-bo...

A freebie today for all kidlit writers! 😀

Here's my write-up of this year's Newbery/Caldecott/Legacy Banquet:
sonderbooks.com/blog/?p=45521
#alaac25

This is very bad news and will damage public education across the country even if it is eventually overturned--which seems unlikely considering what it sets off.

Free Mini-Blueprint: How to Title Your Book – Write For Kids Write For Kids / Children's Book Insider

🥴 Struggling to find the right title for your #kidlit book? Here's our free Mini-Blueprint to help you name like a pro!

Free Mini-Blueprint: How to Title Your Book – Write For Kids Write For Kids / Children's Book Insider

🥴 Struggling to find the right title for your #kidlit book? Here's our free Mini-Blueprint to help you name like a pro!

Thank you for all this specific information on what you're looking for! Can you tell me if you're still open to submissions as of May 27? I see one place on the Free Spirit guidelines that says the company is closed to submissions, but the Submittable link is still active. Thank you!

Last chance to save $20 on tonight's workshop!

NEW WORKSHOP: Ten Things Editors Wish Writers Knew A Top Agent Reveals What Editors REALLY Want.

✏️ TOMORROW: If you're submitting your work to publishers, but don't understand how editors really think, you're in for a struggle. Here's how to get that knowledge - fast! #writingcommunity #kidlitchat #kidlit

writeforkids.lpages.co/10-things-ed...

Authors Guild Denounces Removal of National Archivist Dr. Colleen Shogan - The Authors Guild The Authors Guild has joined a bipartisan coalition of civil society groups in opposing the reported removal of Dr. Colleen Shogan as Archivist of the United States. For authors, journalists, and researchers, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is […]

The Authors Guild has joined a bipartisan coalition of civil society groups in opposing the reported removal of Dr. Colleen Shogan as Archivist of the United States. The (NARA) is an irreplaceable resource for authors and more.

Our full statement: authorsguild.org/news/ag-deno...

NEW WORKSHOP: Ten Things Editors Wish Writers Knew A Top Agent Reveals What Editors REALLY Want.

Happening next week, with Adria Goetz of KT Literary. A must-attend for #kidlit writers! writeforkids.lpages.co/10-things-ed...