Publication-Ready
Application-based enrollment. Limited to 12 participants.
You may have taken courses, attended conferences, or been part of critique groups. You understand the fundamentals of picture book craft—and yet, something still feels just out of reach.
You’re not looking for more general advice. You’re looking for professional-level feedback. That’s what this workshop is designed to provide.
The Experience
An advanced-level workshop
This is not a lecture-based course or a passive learning experience. It’s the kind of thoughtful, experienced editorial guidance that can help you take that final step—from promising manuscript to ready for the professional marketplace.
It’s a focused, small-cohort mentorship designed for writers who are serious about preparing their work for submission—and who are ready to do the deep, nuanced revision that process requires.
With just 12 participants, this workshop allows for meaningful attention, individualized feedback, and real momentum.
Details at a Glance
6 weeks
Tuesday evenings, May 12 – June 16
7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
Live via Zoom
12 writers
Small cohort, maximum attention
$1,497
Payment plan available
Application only
Deadline: May 1
The Curriculum
What we’ll do together
Over six weeks, we will meet for 90-minute sessions via Zoom to work closely on both your manuscript and your query letter—the two pieces that must work in tandem to open doors in the traditional publishing world.
Two Rounds of Manuscript Feedback
Query Letter Workshop
Your query will be workshopped with the same level of care and attention. We’ll focus on clarity, positioning, voice, and how best to present your work to agents and editors.
A Clear Path Forward
You’ll leave not just with feedback, but with a stronger manuscript, a polished query, and a deeper understanding of what makes your submission stand out.
Writers who have a complete picture book manuscript
Writers who are serious about pursuing traditional publication (not self-publishing)
Writers who have moved beyond the basics and are ready for professional-level critique
Writers who are willing to revise deeply and thoughtfully
You are still in the early drafting stage
You are new to picture books or looking for introductory instruction in picture book writing
You are not yet ready to revise your work with intention and rigor
The Approach
Why such a small group?
Because this level of work requires it.
Limiting the workshop to 12 participants ensures that every manuscript receives the time, attention, and depth of feedback it deserves—and that every writer has space to engage meaningfully in the process.
Who I Am (and How I Work)
I’m a children’s book author, editor, and educator with over three decades of experience in the field.
I’ve authored more than 35 books for children and adults, including numerous New York Times bestsellers, and have worked as an editor and mentor to hundreds of writers at all stages of their careers, both in the professional publishing world and in academia.
I ran the Julie Andrews Collection imprint at Harper Collins for a number of years and have maintained my own private editing practice for the past two decades. I am a Co-Founder of Picture Book Summit and the Complete Picture Book Submissions System, and have spent the past 17 years teaching in the MFA in Creative Writing program at Stony Brook University, where I’ve focused on helping writers develop work that is both artistically strong and market-ready.
But more importantly for the purposes of this workshop, I specialize in helping writers bridge the gap between a promising draft and a professional submission.
The truth is, books for children are among the hardest to write well. They demand brevity, clarity, emotional resonance, and a deep respect for the young reader—along with an understanding of the very specific expectations of the children’s publishing world.
My approach is both editorial and strategic. We’ll look closely at structure, pacing, language, and emotional arc, while also considering how your work will be received by agents and editors in today’s market.
I believe in rigorous, thoughtful revision. I believe in honoring the writer’s voice. And I believe that when a story is crafted with care and intention, it has the potential to truly connect—to captivate, to resonate, and, at the right moment, to matter deeply to a young reader.
A note on selectivity
Enrollment is by application and invitation only.
This is not about gatekeeping—it’s about ensuring that the group is aligned in terms of experience, readiness, and commitment, so that the workshop can serve everyone at the highest level.
Ready to take the next step?
If you feel your manuscript is close—and you’re ready for the kind of focused, professional guidance that can help you bring it across the finish line—I’d love to see your work.
Apply NowApplication deadline: May 1
Not sure if this is for you?
Interested in the next cohort?
Your Questions
Frequently Asked Questions & Considerations
If you have a complete picture book manuscript and feel you’ve taken it as far as you can on your own—or through critique groups or prior courses—you’re likely in the right place. This workshop is designed for writers who are ready for professional-level feedback and deep revision, not early drafting.
Please submit a complete draft of a picture book manuscript that you feel is close to its final form. It does not need to be perfect—but it should represent your strongest, most thoughtful work to date.
A draft is helpful, but not required to be polished. We will workshop your query as part of the course, so even a rough version is enough to begin.
In addition to our weekly 90-minute sessions, you should plan time for reading peer manuscripts, participating in discussion, and revising your own work between sessions. This is an active, engaged experience—not a passive course.
Yes. Each participant will have their manuscript workshopped live and will also receive individual written feedback on their revision, as well as feedback on their query letter.
Because the group is small and the work is intensive, participants are selected based on readiness, level of craft, and alignment with the goals of the workshop. The aim is to create a cohort of writers who will benefit from—and contribute to—a high-level conversation.
You’ll leave with a significantly strengthened manuscript, a polished query letter, and a clear understanding of your next steps. For writers who are ready to move forward beyond the manuscript stage, additional resources and opportunities will be shared.
This workshop is intentionally small and highly focused. With just 12 participants, each manuscript is workshopped in depth, and each writer receives individualized written feedback on their revision. It’s designed as a high-touch, professional-level experience—the kind of sustained editorial attention that is rarely available in larger courses or group settings.
Because of the level of attention and feedback involved. Each participant receives two rounds of manuscript critique, query workshop, and individualized written feedback, along with direct access to me and a cohort of equally committed writers. To make that possible—and to ensure the depth and quality of the experience—the group is intentionally limited in size.
Yes. A limited payment plan option is available. Details will be provided upon acceptance into the workshop.
Absolutely. This workshop is designed specifically for writers who are working toward publication and feel their manuscript is close—but not quite there yet. The focus is on helping you bring your work to a professional standard and understand what will make it stand out in today’s publishing landscape.
If this workshop isn’t the right fit at this time, you’ll receive guidance on other resources that may better support your current stage of development.
Apply
Application Process
Enrollment is by application and invitation only.
To apply, please submit:
Application deadline: May 1
Selected applicants will be notified shortly thereafter.
Emma Walton Hamilton
Author, editor, and educator with over three decades of experience helping writers bring their picture book manuscripts to the professional level.