Welcome… I’m New Here! Children's picture book author is a bit lost

JGTurla · Sep 4, 2025

Hi all! Newbie here... My name is Julie and I write children's picture and board books- is there a forum or area for that?

My current MS is titled Twila Twigglefitz-Witch with a Glitch!
I also have Saylor the (Almost) Unicorn! and Ollie the Octopus Learns to Listen plus a couple more in the wings.

Been doing the query quake (it's daunting and a bit scary!) and have sent out quite a few but got totally overwhelmed with some misorganization and need to step back, breathe and try again. I am looking for critiques on all my projects but would love to critique other picture book authors- is there a forum or area for that?

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and lost right on this site right now. I don't know how to get started in critiquing others.

Vagabond Heart · Sep 4, 2025

Hello Julie,
Welcome to the colony.
I’m not sure if we’ve got any active picture-book authors on the site at the moment. But we are parents and grandparents, and can test out your work on our sprogs to give you feedback.
We can also help you with query letters, submission packages, etc.
So just take your time to get to know the site and the people on it.
It’s nice to have you here.
Xxx VH

Sedayne · Sep 4, 2025

Hi Julie and welcome,

As VH says, there are lots of people here who will be able to help with feedback on your books. There are quite a few children's and YA authors here, but I haven't come across writing for very young children on Litopia so far. So this is a very welcome addition to our collective scope.

Do you do your own illustrations? I think there are a few other visual artists around Litopia.

(I'm afraid I, personally, will not be much use to you, being childless and too old to have any now. But I daresay there are other things to talk about.)

Any questions, just ask. Someone around here is bound to know the answer.

Rachel

David Newrick · Sep 4, 2025

Welcome Julie. You are getting feedback and answers already so you should do fine on here. You have also posted, so you are well underway.

Good luck with your work.

Claire G · Sep 4, 2025

Welcome, Julie. The Lab is the place to critique, maybe just read how other people have done/do it before you try it yourself? I'm a mum and happy to give feedback on picture books xx

mickleinapickle · Sep 4, 2025

Welcome to Litopia. Best place for writers this side of Utopia.

Not much experience of children's books, I'm afraid, though I've written a few children's poems, and I've occasionally been told I'm just a big kid at heart.

Hope you find what you're looking for (as Dora the Explorer's mother may once have said to her).

Lakeland Waffler · Sep 4, 2025

Hi Julie

It’s nice to meet you and hear about your picture books. Whilst I don’t have children, I’m also at the submitting stage for my first novel and I’m new here too. I’ve found it super friendly and people are really responsive.

By the way, ignore my smug looking profile picture (it was the only one where I didn’t look half goblin). I’m much friendlier than I look!

Clare

RK Wallis · Sep 5, 2025

Welcome aboard @JGTurla

What a great title!

Agent Pete used to have a Youtube channel called Pop Ups and this episode had a top children's book editor on as a guest:

Great advice from Julie!

Jonny · Thursday at 5:17 PM

Hi @JGTurla and belated welcome to Litopia.

If you're struggling to make sense of it all please don't hesitate to drop me a note and I'll be happy to help if I can.

JGTurla · Friday at 3:45 AM

Jonny said:
Hi @JGTurla and belated welcome to Litopia.

If you're struggling to make sense of it all please don't hesitate to drop me a note and I'll be happy to help if I can.

I am extremely lost...I don't know where to find people to critique.

RK Wallis · Friday at 4:01 AM

JGTurla said:
I am extremely lost...I don't know where to find people to critique.

It's here: The Lab

You click on Forums up the top of this screen, then go down until you see 'The Writing Lab.' Hope that helps

Jonny · Friday at 7:17 AM

RK Wallis said:
It's here: The Lab

You click on Forums up the top of this screen, then go down until you see 'The Writing Lab.' Hope that helps

Thanks, Rachel.

@JGTurla - @RK Wallis has beaten me to it and The Lab is indeed the area of the colony to go to for critique.

Our moderator there is @Sedayne and I'm tagging her in this post. She will be able to give you any info you need about how the forum works.

J

Sedayne · Friday at 8:05 AM

Hi Julie @JGTurla

Follow the link Rachel posted for the Lab or select it from the forums list.
There you will see the list of projects in the Lab. The threads with work to critique have the blue prefix 'need a critique'.

The ones with most recent replies are at the top, but feel free to go a bit lower down to find something that appeals to you. There will usually be a document to download to read and critique, or sometimes a piece of text in the post.

You can either return comments in the document or post your thoughts on the thread. The writer will have stated what they are asking for in their opening post, but generally it's your response to the text as a reader and a writer that we are looking for. There are no wrong answers. Have a look at other critiques to get a feel for how differently people respond.

If you see any threads that are highlighted green, these are private threads that the writer has selected their most-aligned critters to take part in. But if any of the titles have you hooked, then you can request access from the thread starter.

I hope this helps. Any other problems, feel free to send me a direct message (envelope icon at the top) or ask in this thread.

happy critting,
Rachel

Welcome… I’m New Here! Children's picture book author is a bit lost

JGTurla

Colony Member

Vagabond Heart

Sedayne

David Newrick

Colony Member

Claire G

mickleinapickle

Lakeland Waffler

RK Wallis

rk.wallis@myyahoo.com

Jonny

JGTurla

Colony Member

RK Wallis

rk.wallis@myyahoo.com

Jonny

Sedayne

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