Lynne Garner

I wonder how many authors this has happened to. It happened to me once. I sent in a completed manuscript. My editor replied "sorry, but I've just accepted another on the same theme."

Has someone written your idea first? Moira Butterfield It happens to me on a regular basis. I think up an idea – an approach to a subject that might be turned into a book (in my case it’s gen...

In praise of the pencil - do have a read very - very interesting.

A brief history of the humble Pencil - by Garry Parsons W hen I'm talking to children about my work as an illustrator I tell them about my pencil. Virtually everything I do starts with a drawing...

Love poetry and picture book writing. So found this an interesting read.

SIX THINGS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT RHYMING PICTURE BOOKS by Clare Helen Welsh This post has been a long time in the making. Over ten years in fact! When I first embarked on my picture book journey, my first stories w...

Feels like this was written just for me.

Your procrastination shield - What is it actually protecting you from and how do you lay it down so you can get on with writing? by Juliet Clare Bell A re you ever put off writing? Can you find really plausible excuses not to sit down and get on with it? I suspect if we pooled all our e...

Interesting post by Garry Parsons on the Picture Book Den.

Hide and reveal - The irresistible joy of lift-the-flap books - Garry Parsons It's the Easter weekend and there's nothing more exciting for young children than searching for eggs on an Easter egg hunt. What treasures ...

Ever wondered if you should use a pseudonym when writing. Writer Neil McGowan discussing in his post

To Be (Me) or Not To Be (Me) by Neil McGowan Pseudonyms. That’s the question I’ve been wrestling with over the past few weeks. I’ve been writing crime fiction for many ye...

An interesting post exploring the question what makes success written by fellow picture book writer Natascha Biebow

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESS? • By Natascha Biebow Are You Successful? How can you tell? Who is to say what SUCCESS looks like – your audience? Your family or your friend...

So, my quest begins. Looking for a picture book publisher to publish some new stories. http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2023/02/starting-from-scratch-by-lynne-garner.html

So, my quest begins. Looking for a picture book publisher to publish some new stories.

Starting From Scratch by Lynne Garner When I submitted my first picture book story, I wasn’t surprised when it was rejected. What I was surprised by was it was a handwritten reje...

Stuck for an idea? Pop along to the Picture Book Den and read the latest blog written by fellow writer Garry Parsons.

Drawing games to spark a narrative - Garry Parsons V isual drawing games can be a great way to spark new ideas and unleash unexpected narratives. Best done in groups of four or more, here a...

Interesting post by fellow author Moira Butterfield, about the process of checking what's written and what appears in the picture match. http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2022/06/checking-roughs-vital-picture-book.html

Great post on the Picture Book Den written by fellow picture book writer Chitra Soundar, where she shares her five tops tips for a successful author school visit.

Five Tips for an Amazing Author Visit by Chitra Soundar As a children’s author, I’m often invited into schools, libraries and festivals to tell stories and share my book with children and often pa...

Totally off topic but dear to my heart.

This old lady is looking for a retirement home local to me. She is fit and well but totally blind. She is looking for an escape proof garden (if fenced then no holes and deep gravel board or brick wall). Nothing that can harm her e.g. netting, a pond and poison and chemical free for last 12 months. Lots of things for her to sniff e.g. long grass area, bushes etc. A home to live in, a feeding station to feed in and someone to keep an eye on her and take to the vets if needed (all vets bills will be covered). If your garden fits the bill please email me at [email protected] If your garden doesn't tick all the boxes on her wish list then may a family member or friend would like to new lodger. Thanks

Great post on the Picture Book Den this week all about plot v character. Well worth a read.

Character Driven versus Plot Driven, by Cath Jones When you’re writing a picture book, have you ever considered whether your story is ‘plot driven’ or ‘character driven’? It’s quite possible ...

Ever wondered how to write a successful query letter to a publisher? This blog by Clare Helen Welsh and friends
is sell worth a read.

SUCCESSFUL QUERY LETTERS AND ROUTES TO PUBLICATION by Clare Helen Welsh and friends Following a recent Twitter thread, I decided to dedicate this post to successful query letters, in order to help aspiring creatives craft su...

Fellow picture book writer Moira Butterfield shares her expereinces and knowledge of making mini movies based on her books. Well worth a read. http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2022/04/my-picture-book-publicity-movies-by.html

My picture book publicity movies By Moira Butterfield A couple of years ago I started making mini publicity movies for my books. I post them on Youtube (I haven’t ventured onto Tiktok). I did po...

I did a short poetry course today on SkillShare and as I was watching it I remembered this Haiku I wrote a couple of years ago. Really must find some time to create a few more.

A great post by fellow picture book writer Mini Grey. Well worth a read.

No use crying over smashed eggs…Egg Drop 20 years on - Mini Grey Time flies, and eggs don’t. It’s 20 years since my very first picture book, Egg Drop , crashed into the world. So in this post I’m goi...

This is something I cover in my Social Media for Business course great to see if being discussed this week on The Picture Book Den http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2022/02/how-to-promote-and-celebrate-your-book.html

How to Promote and Celebrate Your Book with a Global Theme Day! Last week on Thursday, 11 February it was National Inventors' Day . Who knew? The reason I found out is because Eileen, an Emmy Award-winne...

A great blog post by a writing friend .

Ask yourself a question: Why would I buy this book? By Moira Butterfield It’s daunting, isn’t it, looking at all the picture books out there. How is it possible to get any success in such a crowded market? Well, i...

Interesting post by fellow picture book writer Juliet Clare Bell.

Extra income stream -and so much more. The value of RLF Fellowships for picture book writers by Juliet Clare Bell I don’t know about you but I feel really uncomfortable about the money side of writing, and writing-related events (author visits, etc.). ...

Over the festive period the Picture Book Den team explore picture books based around the family. Please so pop along for a read. You may just find your next favourite picture book. http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2021/12/family-time-by-denners.html

Family Time! by the Denners This time of year, everyone is thinking of family. With this in mind, the Picture Book Denners have each chosen a favourite picture book fea...

When I teach creative writing I always warn my students about vanity publishing and companies like this. Pleasse don't get caught. If a 'publisher' asks you for money then walk away.

Austin Macauley, Vanity Publishing, and Advice on Both | Jericho Writers Vanity publishers take money from unwary writers and deliver very little in return. Keep hold of your cash! We also recommend against working with Austin Macauley.

I didn't see much of the summer last year. I commissioned as consultant to work on a revamp of a book, this book. It was finally published last month. The team at Dynamo have done a fantastic job.

Interesting blog post by picture book illustrator Garry Parsons - well worth a read.

Why empathy is a force for social justice - Garry Parsons Last week my first collaboration with author Simon James Green Llama Glamarama was published. This is a picture book about a llama calle...

Lynne Garner updated their business hours.

Fellow picture book writer Gareth P Jones shares his thoughts about writing etc. during these hard times. Do pop along for a read. http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2020/04/how-to-write-through-this.html

My latest blog post over on The Picture Book Den

Ten Top Picture Book Writing Tips • Lynne Garner I don't list the colours in the jumper, the illustration shows us. I look back at my career and ask myself "how did I manage to get ...

Great post by fellow picture book writer Mini Grey.

Lost in Picture Book Maps with Mini Grey Lost in Picture Book Maps My First Maps My first map-love as a child was my grandfather’s Reader’s Digest Atlas o...

My latest post on Authors Electric.

Found Poetry • Lynne Garner Over the last 18 months I've been studying poetry. I've learnt a lot of 'stuff' including that sonnets and I really don't get on. I've also...

My latest blog post - and as you can see nothing to do with writing.

Hedgehog Awareness Week 2019 • Lynne Garner If you've read some of my previous posts you'll know I have a bit of a passion for hedgehogs. Well, some would say it was more of an obsess...

Brilliant post by fellow picture book writer Mini Grey all about insects - which I just love, they're fascinating.

Meet the Relatives, by Mini Grey Today’s post is about all things insect. So: grit your mandibles, flex your feelers and close your compound eyes, we’re going in… ...

How do writers build characters? Find out how fellow writer Chitra Soundar creates hers in latest post on the Picture Book Den.

Behind the Scenes of a Picture Book Character by Chitra Soundar A typical conversation I have with teachers at schools: Teacher: How do you choose an illustrator? Me: I don’t. Publis...

My latest post over on Authors Electric.

Seeking Inspirational Ideas • Lynne Garner The diary I'd received as a gift For the last three years I’ve been working as a tutor for my local council. Part of my departments rem...

A great post by fellow writer Sandra Horn - well worth a read.

Random thoughts about dreams and writers by Sandra Horn The poet M R peacock has talked about the creative process as arising from that part of the brain where dreams are made, and she sugge...

A lovely post by fellow writer Paeony Lewis looking at how water is illustrated in picture books.

Illustrating Water in Children's Picture Books • Paeony Lewis I adore staring out at the sea, but at this time of year in Norfolk (England) it's too cold to look for long at a grey North Sea (the lumps ...

Treat yourself and test your knowledge of picture book characters.

Gift-Wrapped Characters Christmas Quiz When I was a child, part of the excitement of the run-up to Christmas was shaking, squeezing and even sniffing the gift-wrapped presents ben...

Fellow picture book writer Pippa Goodhart takes a look at Christmas themed picture books.

Christmas Mash-Up! by Pippa Goodhart Bookshops are currently bright with selections of wonderful children’s Christmas books. Many of those books are picture...

Proof for latest collection of short stories has turned up. I have feeling they want me to sell it.