The next #PBPitch Event is February 17, 2022, and I thought that this would be a good time to remind picture book writers that Miracles DO happen via Twitter and #PBPitch. On February 20, 2020, I pitched several manuscripts through a #PBpitch Twitter event, and although my overall success was minimal that day, I am…
Category: Jacki Kellum Picture Books
Writers Must Learn to Promote Themselves – The Importance of SEO or Search Engine Optimization
Perhaps it was different even 10 years ago, but in today’s market, writers must learn to promote themselves. And to that, I add that in the process, they must also learn how to harness Google. When I first began writing, I made the good decision to launch several blog sites. I have known for years…
My Intuition Actually Wrote My Debut Picture Book, The Donkey’s Song, I Just Typed
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free” – Michelangelo – My intuition is the author of my most successful writing. In fact, my intuition wrote my debut picture book, The Donkey’s Song, which is ready for pre-order now at Amazon. The Donkey’s Song is not like anything that…
A Free Chart to Track Your Progress for #21DaysPB – A Picture Book Writing Challenge
On January 31, 2022, I launched a new Picture Book Writing Challenge #21DaysPB. I want to start this post by sharing my first writing tip: Create Lots of Lists. Picture Book Writing Tip #1: Create Lots of Lists I create lists for everything — 1 Lists of Books that I have submitted for publication 2….
Who Is Jacki Kellum? Jacki Kellum Acknowledges That Her Picture Book Character, Mrs. Cow, Is In Many Ways, Herself
Jacki Kellum Jacki Kellum’s Garden I am an avid gardener, and I like to paint flowers in my garden. The Last Rose of Summer – Jacki Kellum WatercolorPainting When I have time, I also do fabric art, and invariably, I create a fabric rose for all of my textile art pieces. \ Handmade Fabric Basket…
Jacki Kellum Illustrations – A Cast of Characters
Mrs. Cow Down on the Farm – Traditional Watercolor The Lamb Needs a Haircut One Proud Rooster – Jacki Kellum Illustration – Traditional Watercolor One Tired Rooster – Jacki Kellum Illustration – Traditional Watercolor Piglet Doing Cannon Balls into the Pond – Jacki Kellum Illustration – Traditional Watercolor Gypsy Rose Lee – Jacki Kellum Digital…
Create to Be More Creative – A Zen-Like Thought about the Importance of Getting Things Out
A year ago, my first picture book was acquired by Doubleday for Young Readers. And while it would seem that this miracle would have opened my floodgates and would have called forth every book that might ever lie deep within myself, the opposite was actually true. Regardless of what I tried to write, a voice…
6 Tips to Help You Get Ready for Your Picture Book Manuscript to Be Discovered on Twitter through PBPitch
Almost two years ago, I pitched several manuscripts through #PBpitch, and although my overall success was minimal that day, I landed a once-in-a-lifetime contract offer from Frances Gilbert, who is the Editor-in-Chief for Doubleday for Young Readers, which is a division of Penguin Random House. She purchased world rights for a manuscript that I almost…
A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words: Why Images Are Important in Social Media
I essentially have 3 master’s degrees – English [writing], art, and information technology, and while I use the skills from both my writing and art study daily, I can honestly say that when it comes to getting attention on social media, it is how I present my art and writing that grabs the most effective….
Wacom Cintiq 16 – Pushing My Traditional Watercolor Illustrations to Another Level
Boy with Curls Jacki Kellum Traditional Watercolor Sketch Painted in 2018 I have always liked the wispy, fresh and almost tentative look of watercolor, but I originally trained as an oil painter. In fact, I trained as an abstract expressionist. When I began writing picture books, I switched to watercolor. At that time, traditional watercolor…