Trade Secrets: Ways to Make Your Picture Book Idea More Commercial
with Miranda Paul
This 90-minute video focuses on helping you develop your ideas into manuscripts publishers are looking for in today's market, including:
- Why you should write a pitch before you even start drafting or before revising
- How to take a manuscript that's not gaining traction and rework it for broader audiences or more commercial appeal
- What it means to have multiple entry points and how they can make your project intriguing or giftable
- Tips for market and comp research to evaluate your list of ideas or WIPs and select the most salable projects
This webinar is not about writing to trends, but it IS about giving your work the best chance of being published by weaving in commercial elements and hooks.
It's a don't-miss webinar from a successful author AND agent who understands today's children's publishing marketplace. Hosted by Julie Hedlund.
Your Instructor
Miranda Paul joined EMLA in 2019, and Aevitas in 2025. Miranda represents a range of projects in fiction and nonfiction, with a heavy focus on writing and illustration for childrens and teens, and gravitates towards books that include science, nature, or global themes. She is actively seeking to represent more adult projects as well as new illustrator clients. In addition to agenting, Miranda is the award-winning author of more than two dozen books for children including One Plastic Bag (illus. Elizabeth Zunon), Speak Up (ill. Ebony Glenn), and Water is Water (illus. Jason Chin).
Course Curriculum
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a recording of a previous live event. The live event included a submissions opportunity that is NOT available when purchasing the replay after June 2026.