ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with editor Gale Winskill about the craft of editing children’s books and picture books. Winskill discusses age-appropriate language and content, the author–illustrator collaboration, structural and developmental editing, marketing considerations, and the role of beta readers, while emphasizing the importance of challenging young readers and creating stories that appeal to both children and adults.
Listen to the Podcast: An Editor’s Perspective on Picture Books
Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?
If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.
Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center. And if you haven’t already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally.
About the Host
Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.
About the Guest
Gale Winskill is an editor at Winskill Editorial with more than thirty years of in-house and freelance experience in the UK and abroad, working across both adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction. She provides a full range of editing services, book coaching, and some ghostwriting, and she works with both traditionally published and self-published authors. Her writers have won or been shortlisted for a variety of prizes. Winskill also creates and delivers training for several publishing bodies and teaches the fiction stream of the HarperCollins Author Academy. She believes the editor’s role is to empower authors through constructive advice, collaboration, and a good sense of humor. She can be found on her website and on LinkedIn.
