Picture Book Basics: How to Start Your Writing Journey

Thinking about writing a picture book but not sure where to begin? Join publishing industry veteran Frances Gilbert, an editorial director at Random House Children’s Books, as she breaks down the fundamentals of picture book writing.

From pacing and word count to themes and audience, Frances will guide you through the essentials — and highlight common pitfalls to avoid.

What You’ll Learn:
– How to pace and structure a picture book
– Ideal word count and style choices
– What themes resonate with young readers (and their parents)
– How pagination works in practice
– Common pitfalls new authors face — and how to avoid them

Whether you’re bursting with ideas or simply curious about the genre, this session will give you the foundation you need to start your picture book journey with confidence.