Many of us were taught that to be a serious you need to write every single day. That’s nonsense even when life is going smoothly. And every writer goes through phases when it’s difficult or impossible to write. Here are a few ways to take a pause with intention and peace of mind. (Note: Putting pressure on yourself is not on the list.)

Eager to learn, grow, and connect with the kidlit community, but have doubts about SCBWI? New and experienced writers will find these resources helpful.

Interested in Making Magic: How to Write a Picture Book that Shines but aren’t sure if it’s right for you? Use this handy-dandy flow chart to learn if it’s a good fit.

It’s helpful to be able to articulate what genre you’re writing, even if you’re blurring the lines. It will guide your creative decisions, as you’re working on the book, and it will make it easier for your agent to position the book when it’s time to share it with editors. Categorizing a book is definitely an art not a science, but knowing the genre or age range, will help an editor understand what to expect. It helps a bookseller know where to shelve your book in the store. And it helps reader discover your book at just the right moment, when they’re looking for something wonderful, but they don’t know what it is yet! Read on to figure out what genre your book is…

It’s hard to believe, I’ve lived in Massachusetts almost 10 years now. As a children’s book writer and editor, I’ve always loved visiting children’s bookstores. Now as a mother, I’m seeing these wonderful shops with new eyes. Of course, I care about what books each store has. That matters a lot. But parking, snacks, and fun surprises are all part of the experience, especially when you’re with kids, so I’ve taken those details into account too. These are my favorite places to buy children’s books in Massachusetts.

How do you write a rough draft without getting caught up in polishing the language, editing, and refining? How do you make it really creative when it’s just the first draft?