Pitch Your Picture Book!
How to Write Pitches Agents and Editors Will Love
You have 2 seconds (and 1 chance) to make an impression with an agent or editor with your picture book submission. Fail to catch their eye and you've lost your opportunity with that particular manuscript with that agent or editor.
The pitch or hook (terms used interchangeably) is the heart of your submission. To be successful, a pitch must:
- Capture the spirit and style of your story without giving the whole thing away
- Pique the agent or editor's interest and make them want to read more
- Demonstrate that you write well (and succinctly)
- Show where your story fits in today's children's book market
That is a lot of work for a 1-3 sentence pitch to do, which is why they are so difficult to write. Luckily, the Pitch Your Picture Book course will teach you how to write a compelling pitch AND to troubleshoot common problems.
The course is comprised of two of Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund's most popular webinars, given in their roles as co-founders of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System.
Part One - Get Your Picture Book Hook - includes:
- Definition and purpose of the hook (pitch)
- A foolproof formula for writing hooks
- How to use comp titles in your hooks
- THREE templates for writing hooks
- Comprehensive examples for each template
- Dos and Don'ts of writing hooks
Part Two - Punch Up Your Pitches - includes:
- The 6 most common problems with pitches
- Detailed examples of each problem
- Tips for fixing problems with your pitches
Whether used for queries, Twitter pitch parties, in-person pitches, pitch sheets for your agent, or jacket copy for books you've already sold, writing great pitches is an essential, ongoing skill all authors and illustrators must master.
The tips and templates we provide in Pitch Your Picture Book take all the fear, guesswork, and mystery out of writing pitches. From now on, for every book, you will have the tools you need to write compelling pitches.
BONUS CONTENT - How Writers Can Win With Twitter Pitch Parties
The replay of Julie Hedlund's webinar on Twitter Pitch Parties, along with the slides, is also included in this course. It covers:
- What is a Twitter Pitch Party
- Twitter basics
- How to participate in a Pitch Party
- Pros and Cons of participating
- Pitch Party Planning
- Dos and Don'ts of Pitch Parties
- Pitch Primer
Your Instructor
Authors Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund are recognized industry thought leaders on picture book submissions. Together, they have accumulated thousands of hours reading, critiquing, and helping authors improve their submissions. They both speak to dozens of agents and editors every year in their roles as founders of the Stonybrook Children’s Book Fellows and the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, respectively. With more than 50 years of collective experience, Emma and Julie now share what they know about picture book submissions in one place — The Complete Picture Book Submissions System.
EMMA WALTON HAMILTON is a best-selling and award-winning author, editor, stage and television writer/producer, performer and arts educator.
Together with her mother, Julie Andrews, she has co-authored over thirty books for children and adults, nine of which have been on the New York Times best-seller list, including The Very Fairy Princess series (#1 NY Times Bestseller), Julie Andrews’ Collection Of Poems, Songs And Lullabies; Julie Andrews’ Treasury: Poems and Songs to Celebrate the Seasons; the Dumpy The Dump Truck series; Simeon’s Gift; The Great American Mousical; THANKS TO YOU – Wisdom From Mother And Child (#1 New York Times Bestseller), and most recently, Andrews’ second memoir, Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years. Her own book for parents and caregivers, Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment, premiered as a #1 best-seller on Amazon.com in the literacy category and won a Parent’s Choice Gold Medal.
Emma was a two-time Emmy Award nominee for her role as Executive Producer and Writer for Julie’s Greenroom, a children’s television program about the arts created for Netflix, starring Julie Andrews and co-produced by the Jim Henson Company. Currently, she and her mother are developing and co-hosting a new story-time podcast for families, Julie’s Library, produced by American Public Media.
A faculty member for Stony Brook University’s MFA in Creative Writing and Literature, Emma teaches all forms of children’s book writing and serves as Director of their Children’s Literature Fellows program and the annual Children’s Literature Conference.
Emma offers home-study courses and other online products and resources for writers. She is also the co-creator of Picture Book Summit, the world-class, annual online conference for picture book writers, and The Complete Picture Book Submissions System. An accomplished public speaker, she regularly addresses conferences, schools, universities and other groups.
JULIE HEDLUND is an award-winning children’s book author from Boulder, Colorado. Her titles include: Over, Bear! Under, Where? (Philomel, 2021), My Love For You is the Sun (Little Bahalia Publishing, 2014), and A Troop is a Group of Monkeys (Little Bahalia Publishing, 2013).
Julie the founder of the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, which boasts more than 1,200 members. She is a co-founder of Picture Book Summit, a world-class, annual online conference for picture book writers, and the co-creator of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System.
Julie created two online courses for picture book authors: The Heart of Picture Books, and To Art Note or Not to Art Note: Every Question You've Ever Had About Art Notes in Picture Books: ANSWERED! She is a sought-after speaker at writing industry events, schools and libraries, bookstores, and book festivals.
"I can't wait to go back and re-write my hooks!"
- Marcia Berneger, Author
"Absolutely so much more than I thought I would learn!"
- Johannah Luza, Author
"This (course) is invaluable! All the examples really help make things sink in."
- Cindy Schumerth, Author
"Thank you for an insightful (Twitter Pitch Party) webinar today! I took so many notes and you were so delightful. Thank you for being so generous with your advice."
- Natasha Khan Kazi, Author
Frequently Asked Questions
Pitch Your Picture Book provides everything you need to craft compelling pitches for every book you write. Take the stress out of this difficult process. Use our templates, our tips, and our troubleshooting techniques to make your pitches stand out from the crowd.