Writing Tips & Insights
Brain Burps Blog
Thoughts on picture book writing, publishing advice, behind-the-scenes stories, and inspiration for writers and readers of all ages.
Writing Tips
January 15, 2026
The Art of Revision: How to Know When Your Picture Book Is Ready
Revision is where the magic happens. After twenty years of writing picture books, I've learned that knowing when to stop revising is just as important as knowing how to revise. Here are my tried-and-true strategies for taking your manuscript from good to great...
Read Article
Publishing
January 10, 2026
Navigating the Query Process: A Guide for Picture Book Authors
Sending your manuscript out into the world can feel overwhelming. Here's what I've learned about finding the right agent and crafting the perfect query letter...
Read More
Behind the Scenes
January 5, 2026
The Story Behind "Who Hops?" - From Idea to Bookshelf
Every book has a origin story. Today I'm sharing how a simple game with my kids turned into one of my most beloved picture books...
Read More
Writing Tips
December 28, 2025
Rhythm and Read-Aloud: Making Your Picture Book Sing
The best picture books are meant to be read aloud. Here's how to craft prose that flows, rhymes that work, and stories that beg to be shared...
Read More
Inspiration
December 20, 2025
Finding Ideas in Everyday Moments
Inspiration is everywhere if you know where to look. Here are five exercises to help you uncover story ideas hiding in plain sight...
Read More
About the Blog
Welcome! I'm Katie Davis, a children's book author with a passion for helping writers bring their stories to life. Here you'll find tips, tricks, and tales from my twenty years in publishing.
Learn more about me →
Recent Posts
Newsletter
Get writing tips delivered to your inbox weekly.