Child Writes - A step by step guideEmma MacTaggart & Ainsley ShepardHow long have you held the dream of creating a children’s picture book? Whether you intend to give the gift of words and images in book form to your loved ones, write the next Children’s bestseller, or help others to bring their ideas to life… Child Writes is the book for you! Emma Mactaggart, picture book author, publisher and founder of the unique Child Writes program, shares her proven methodology for creating picture books. Child Writes provides comprehensive, commonsense and creative inspiration for anyone who has ever wanted to make a picture book. It’s not just for writers, not just for illustrators. It’s for anyone starting out a picture book creator, whether they wish to pursue commercial publication or self publication. From the very beginning of creating an idea, to writing it, through to publishing and marketing it, every step of the way is clearly explained. Learn how to:
The reward you will experience when you hold your published children’s picture book in your hands cannot easily be surpassed. Don’t dream bout it any longer. The time to start is right now! Chapter One: Imagine it… |

Comment (3)
Vicky Pratt
Kath Unsworth
Kasper Beaumont
I like the way Emma has used a conversational tone and humor in places to keep a child’s interest. An example is in the ‘head-high ratio’ section: “Right, I can hear you now declaring I have gone completely bonkers … bear with me!” LOL
There are some great ideas that were new to me such as doodle drawings to wake up your creativity. I’ll have to try that one.
The sections on Vanity and Subsidy Publishing where you have to pay to get your book published serve as a good warning to new writers. I have heard of several new writers who were so excited to have been taken on by a publisher, just to discovered that they have a bill of hundreds or thousands of dollars before they can even see a copy of their book.
I really enjoyed reading this informative book. I was given a free ebook copy to review, but after a few pages I realised that I NEED a copy and am heading over to Writers’ Web to get one straight away. My son has expressed an interest in co-writing my next book, so we’ll be devouring Child Writes piece by piece before we start.
I’d recommend this book to anyone with an interest in writing or illustrating a book.
Happy writing everyone.
Doreen Slinkard
This book is an inspiration to the maximum. It is an awakening to our selfish tendencies.
For Emma to give so much time and advice to our budding writers, journalists, artists, should be rewarded from the powers above. I feel ethereal pleasure in simply reading my books to children at school, which takes, maybe an hour out of my day. I cannot imagine how much pleasure and satisfaction Emma and Ainsley receive after giving so much help and encouragement to our future generations. I truly feel this book is a masterpiece of correct advice, encouragement and most of all inspiration.
Well done Ladies.
Dyan burgess
The beautiful formatting and graphic design of the book make an it an even more pleasureable read and again get those creative juices flowing.
Practical examples for sentences, particularly “show don’t tell”, were wonderful insights for me.
I always felt as though I was carefully nurtured at Emma’s side all the way through the book. She was ready to assist with my curly thoughts and wayward thinking! So many times just when I wanted to say out loud “How do you do that?” the answer was right there in the following text.
Highly recommended resource for anyone who is currently, or wanting to be, involved with book processes, from concept to marketing, it is all there (even if you are not about children’s books so many of the principles apply to other genres).
As one of the quotes in Emma’s book states “the difference between an author and someone who would like to write a story is simple – the author did!”
Dyan Burgess Creative Director, www.wordsfromdaddysmouth.com.au