Blog
Meet the Teaching Artist: Writing and Publishing Picture Books Successfully with Rosie J. Pova
by Writing Workshops Staff
A week ago
In the enchanting world of picture books, where every page sparkles with imagination, Rosie J. Pova reigns as a guiding star. As an award-winning author and writing coach, Rosie’s knack for storytelling has inspired countless readers and aspiring writers alike. Her picture book Sunday Rain earned a coveted spot in The New York Times and Parents Magazine, and her upcoming work, Sally’s Musical Tale, promises to delight audiences in 2025. With accolades like the Readers’ Favorite silver medal for The School of Failure: A Story About Success, Rosie knows how to turn dreams into tangible, beautifully bound realities.
In our Meet the Teaching Artist interview, Rosie shares insights into her transformative class, Writing and Publishing Picture Books Successfully, a must-attend workshop for anyone longing to craft stories that resonate with children and publishers alike. Designed to empower emerging picture book authors, this class offers not just the tools to write and polish manuscripts, but also insider secrets to navigating the publishing world with confidence.
Picture books are a delicate art form—a balance of whimsical prose, memorable characters, and themes that linger long after the last page. Rosie’s workshop dives into the heart of this craft, revealing how to create narratives that leap off the slush pile and into young readers' hands. From perfecting your manuscript with actionable revision checklists to decoding what publishers truly want, this course is a game-changer for writers ready to take the next step in their journey.
Whether you’re an aspiring author dreaming of publication or a seasoned writer looking to refine your craft, Rosie’s expertise and passion make this workshop an unmissable opportunity. In our conversation, Rosie offers a glimpse into her teaching philosophy, shares tips on standing out in today’s competitive market, and delivers encouragement for those wondering if their dream is within reach.
Hi Rosie, please introduce yourself to our audience.
Hi! I'm a children's book author, speaker, mentor as well as writing and marketing coach for both aspiring picture book authors and published authors. I'm also the founder of Top Shelf Picture Books and host monthly agent and editor workshops with exclusive submission opportunities for the kidlit community. In addition, I'm the creator of Picture Book Mastery course, which is a comprehensive step-by-step system on writing, structuring, revising, crafting query letters, and getting picture book projects ready for submission to agents and traditional publishers.
What made you want to teach this specific class? Is it something you are focusing on in your own writing practice? Have you noticed a need to focus on this element of craft?
Great question! I'm teaching this class, because one, I see the need for providing clarity that a lot of aspiring authors are in search for, and two, because many writers (and I've been guilty of that myself) rush to submit picture book projects before they are submission-ready and end up wasting their chance at capturing the attention of an agent or an editor. I think many writers don't pay enough attention to honing their craft first and foremost and don't realize how important of a step that is because without the presence of excellent craft, everything else is pretty much pointless. So, I wanted to offer this class to shed some light on blind spots that I see a lot of writers are having that block them from advancing.
Many writers I work with are struggling to get to the next level and aren't sure what's not working since in theory, they've been doing all the "right things." But over and over, I discover the same issues - and 98% of those have to do with craft and the level of storytelling. And sometimes it's lack of strategy, consistency, and a plan of action or some confusion surrounding submissions and the business side of traditional publishing. So, the class will offer clarity on both the craft and navigating traditional publishing.
Finally, it's a training on building a solid foundation on writing picture books for the modern market, focusing on the important aspects of breaking though traditional publishing, avoiding tricky mistakes that hold you back, and solidifying a vision for yourself as an author. I'm excited to work with writers who feel called to join me!
Give us a breakdown of how the course is going to go. What can the students expect? What is your favorite part about this class you've dreamed up?
In this class we'll cover craft elements that are crucial for creating strong, marketable picture books. I'll share practical tips on improving your stories, character, and marketability as well as a guide with an example of proper manuscript formatting. In addition, I'll go over tricky mistakes to avoid, blind spots that may be keeping you stuck, how to set and reach your goals, how to prepare to market after publication and more. We'll have Q&A at the end so that all questions get addressed and answered. My favorite part is bringing clarity on the overall process, journey, and big picture of what being an author looks like, but more importantly, what being an author looks like and means to YOU.
What was your first literary crush?
Growing up in Bulgaria with a limited access to children's books (at least in my case), I'd say Cinderella and The Little Prince.
What are you currently reading?
For a few years now, I've only been reading nonfiction, how-to books, and biographies on the adult side. Currently, I'm rereading a couple of those until I find my next read. On the kidlit side, I love finding new favorites in recently published picture books.
How do you choose what you're working on? When do you know it is the next thing you want to write all the way to THE END?
If the idea sounds exciting and the premise feels fresh and promising, I'm eager to explore the story and see where it takes me. Some projects develop over months or years - even though picture books are pretty short - and might go through quite a few iterations before becoming a strong, potentially publishable story.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere.
What is the best piece of writing wisdom you've received that you can pass along to our readers? How did it impact your work? Why has this advice stuck with you?
The best piece of writing wisdom I've received was don't get stuck on one story. Write more stories, develop new projects all the time, and also read a lot. It stuck with me because it helped me get unstuck in many ways, it helped me changed my perspective that there's always a next project, and that some stories are "practice stories" and they do serve a purpose but don't necessarily have to see the light of day. It was also valuable to me in practicing to let go when something isn't working and moving on, instead of being too attached to a dead-end project.
What is your favorite book to recommend on the craft of writing? Why this book?
Well, I'm currently writing one myself, specifically for picture books, and if that were completed, I'd recommend that one because it covers all three aspects of being an author and building a career as one: the craft, the mindset, and the business, including marketing and promotions. :) But in the meantime, I think the one that has been the most popular among the kidlit community is Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands-On Guide From Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul.
Bonus question: What’s your teaching vibe?
Respectfully-honest, supportive, and inspiring, and hopefully, transformational.
Learn more about working with
Here is Rosie's upcoming seminar, Writing and Publishing Picture Books Successfully. You can sign up now to avoid the waitlist!
Rosie J. Pova is an award-winning children's book author, poet, writing coach, and speaker. Her picture book Sunday Rain was featured in The New York Times and Parents magazine and has been translated into Arabic. She received a silver medal from the Readers' Favorite Awards for The School of Failure: A Story About Success, and her next book, Sally's Musical Tale, is set for release in spring 2025. Rosie enjoys visiting schools to inspire children to read, write, and pursue their big dreams. As a writing coach, she has guided many aspiring picture book authors toward publishing success.
