Resources for children's authors and illustrators
All the links you could ever need
We thought it would be helpful to compile a list of some of the resources that are available for writers and illustrators.
RESOURCES:
Writers & Artists Yearbook 2025
We recommend this to every aspiring author and illustrator. It provides a fantastic overview of everything you need to know about publishing. They have a specific edition for children’s books which gets updated every year.
SCBWI - The Global Community for Children’s Book Makers
Although we’ve never been members, we’ve only heard good things from people who have been.
Society of Authors - Trade Union for writers and illustrators
Emerging writers can join as associates.
This is worth knowing about and signing up to if you do have a book that’s being published in the UK.
The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society. It’s worth signing up and adding your work when it’s published in a book, collection of poetry or magazine.
The industry publishing magazine based in the UK.You can sign up for free briefing highlights or pay to read the full weekly magazine.
An international publishing magazine.
A magazine for women who write. They host regular submission slots and competitions including one for children’s fiction. They also publish a book listing all the smaller indie presses who accept unsolicited manuscripts.
A free database listing what is on agent’s wish lists. USA focused.
This has a huge database of agents and allows you to query and track responses too.
A free mentorship and outreach programme for underrepresented children’s book writers
The Federation of Children’s Book Groups - a voluntary organisation whose aim is to promote interest and enjoyment of children’s books.
Children’s Book North - a network that supports children’s writers, illustrators and professionals living in the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Scotland.
PODCASTS:
The Island of Brilliant! by Frank Cottrel Boyce and Nadia Shireen - each month a different children’s author/illustrator is interviewed by this award winning pair.
Studiomate by Steven Lenton - illustrator Steven Lenton chats to fellow illustrators about their work and careers
Cover Meeting by Steve Leard - focuses on book cover design (not specific to children’s books)
The Good Ship Illustration Podcast - no nonsense advice for illustrators
Books Unpacked - They talk to people from across the publishing industry about the lifecycle of a book
OTHER PUBLISHING SUBSTACKS:
Write Mentor Newsletter - focused on children’s publishing and includes upcoming competitions and submission opportunities
Agent Antics with Cathie & Vicky - behind the scenes in a US literary agency.
Agents and Books by Kate McKean - written by a US literary agent and writer.
Fair Share by Authors Equity - helps explain the world of publishing.
Freelance Writing Jobs - posts once a week listing writing opportunities in the UK.
Receipt from the Bookshop by Katie Clapham - Katie is an author and indie bookshop owner. Her weekly posts are both funny and offer a fascinating insight into life in a bookshop.
Everything is Material by Jojo Moyes - more focused on adult publishing but still worth a read for her insights into writing.
Kesia Lupo - an agent and author.
BookBairn by Kim Duffy - children’s book reviews
The Primary Book Box - written by a teacher who is passionate about promoting books in the classroom
Jenna Satterthwaite - another agent and author.
The Shit No One Tells You About Writing - a spin off substack from the podcast of the same name
The Hyphen by Emma Gannon - a newsletter for curious readers from a bestselling author
Unmapped Storylands by Elif Shafak - thought provoking musings about writing from a bestselling author
The Debut Writers’ Academy Diaries - contains interesting insights from publishing professionals
People of Publishing - full of information about publishing. This post on PLR is well worth a read
Book Bairn by Kim Duffy - children’s book reviews
Louise Buckley - an adult literary agent
Katiedraws (and writes) The Illustrator Jobs Board - has a great selection of jobs for illustrators
Katy Loftus from the Margins - written by an ex corporate publisher
Introvert Drawing Club by Beth Spencer
Moonbow - a newsletter about children’s literature
My Agent Secret - insights from Mulcahy Sweeney Literary Agency
Portobello Literary - insights from agent Caro Clarke
The Honest Editor by Publishing Director and author Phoebe Morgan
Can We Read - a weekly guide to children’s books and raising readers
My Bookshop Backstory by Tom Rowley - about a bookshop in London
CHILDREN‘S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS ON SUBSTACK:
Katie Draws (and writes) by Katie Chappell
News from a Messy Desk by Charlotte Durance
Looking at picture books by Jon Klassen and Mac Barnet
Story Street by Jane Porter
Gather Filter Make by Ella Beech
Pen Powell Posts by Claire Powell
Pencil Pals by Helen Stephens
Authorly Honest by Simon Philip
The Tudor Times by Karl Tudor
The Art of Being Real by Rachael Dean
Ten Minute Artist by Adam Ming
Picture Practice by Jennifer M Potter
Drawing a Blank by Jacob Sousa
Kafka in the sauna by Anna Wilson (author)
A bottle full of rain by Anna Wilson (illustrator)
The Ancients by Joe Berger
Illustration Matters by Dave Bain
Inkspiration Corner by Emily MacKenzie
We hope you found this helpful, please do feel free to share with friends and if there is anything or anyone we’ve missed, drop us a message in the comments and let us know so we can add them!
Thanks,
Naomi and James x
Last updated June 2025
Ooh, great resource! Can I add the Federation of Children's Book Groups please? They're a UK charity i'm involved with. The volunteers are made up of librarians, teachers, publishing folk, authors, illustrators and kids books fanatics. At a national level the Federation runs reading initiatives and awards, the groups work at a local level with communities, families and schools, to get children reading a wide range of books and encourage reading for pleasure.
They're a great charity and i'm always hyping them up! 😆
Find out more here https://fcbg.org.uk and follow here:
https://www.instagram.com/fcbg_news/
https://x.com/fcbgnews
https://www.facebook.com/fcbgnews
Lovely resource! I'm here too.