Studio Notes

The business of books in Britain has transformed dramatically from the 1970s to today. The UK publishing industry of the 1970s would hardly recognise itself in 2025. Back then, cigarette smoke filled offices in London’s West End handled typewritten manuscripts delivered by post to a business dominated by gentlemanly agreements and a fixed book price system.

This no-nonsense guide isn’t here to sell you a dream. It’s here to help you navigate the reality of freelancing.

The UK's 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (CDPA) reflect the creative and technological working processes of the late 20th Century.

Creating, designing and writing for reluctant readers requires creativity, empathy, and a few innovative techniques.

Once upon a time, a long time ago storytelling for children was dominated by magical kingdoms, brave knights, and fire-breathing dragons.

Writing for children with special needs presents unique and fulfilling challenges. Whether you’re creating a story, an educational resource,

Muriel Rukeyser wrote, "that stories, not atoms, comprise the universe." In her 1968 poem "The Speed of Darkness".

Once your creative work is out there in the world, how do you ensure that your intellectual property (IP) is properly protected?

Young children are remarkabl visual readers. They can absorb busy scenes and bold, simple images with the same ease.

Shirley Willis Salariya has worked in a variety of art styles and always embraced experimentation.

The idea of Victor Frankenstein's notebook intrigued me and I started to think about what a student of anatomy would learn 19th Century.

Specialised jargon and acronyms have become deeply embedded in business communication, evolving as industries and technologies advance.

There are many tools out there that it can be overwhelming. I will take you through some of the best software options for designing a children's book to kickstart your creative process!

To create interactive e-books for children, start with a well structured story, and integrate audio narration, animations, games, and sound

By the time 'Trends' are spotted - they are probably over or fading - so lets take a look at trends in children's book publishing for 2024.

To get your children's book into UK schools and libraries, ensure high-quality content, gather positive reviews.

Whether you're an established writer or illustrator, or just starting out, leveraging social media platforms can boost your work.

To prepare your children's novel for publishing, edit thoroughly, seek feedback from beta readers, and hire a professional editor.

For children's book dialogue, use simple, age-appropriate language, keep sentences short, and avoid complex words.

Illustrator and Writer Carolyn Scrace chooses her Top Ten Books from her wide portfolio of published work.