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Coaching KidLit

Coaching KidLit

By: Sharon Skinner
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About this listen

A podcast about writing and publishing good KidLit, hosted by Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach Sharon Skinner.

Talking about the craft of writing children‘s books.

A NOTE TO OUR LISTENERS:

Christy Yaros, co-founder of the Coaching KidLit podcast, has stepped away to focus her time and energy on other exciting opportunities. I’m deeply grateful for the insight, heart, and dedication she brought to building this podcast and supporting the KidLit community.

As we move forward, I’ll be continuing the podcast solo—welcoming a range of guests to share their expertise and inspiration for writers creating stories for kids and teens. I’m excited to carry on the mission we started together and to keep supporting you on your KidLit journey.

—Sharon Skinner

Sharon Skinner is a book coach, editor, and author who helps writers craft stories that connect deeply with readers. With a passion for both story structure and heart, she brings decades of experience to coaching writers across genres and age categories, from picture books to adult. As the host of the Coaching KidLit podcast, Sharon continues its mission to inform, inspire, and support KidLit creators at every stage of the journey.

At Coaching KidLit, we’re committed to inclusion.
We believe stories are richer and more resonant when they reflect a wide range of lived experiences. That includes voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, Native and Indigenous peoples, people of color, people with disabilities, neurodivergent creators, and those from diverse cultural, religious, and gender backgrounds.

We also understand disability through a broad lens, and we align with the social model of disability, which focuses on removing barriers—not "fixing" individuals.

Bottom line? Everyone deserves to be seen and heard. And we're here to support stories that make that happen.

Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Episode 51: Owning Your Truth and Superpowers with Guest Meredith Davis

    Episode 51: Owning Your Truth and Superpowers with Guest Meredith Davis
    Mar 4 2026

    Host Sharon Skinner chats with author Meredith Davis about her writing journey, the power of connections in publishing, and the importance of discovering and owning your unique superpowers as a writer. They discuss Meredith’s books, including The Minor Miracle and Her Own Two Feet, and explore how truth and personal history inform fiction. The episode offers practical advice for writers on finding their strengths, building writing community, and using personal experiences to create layered, authentic stories for young readers, and delves into the importance of owning one’s creative gifts, while offering actionable exercises for writers to discover and lean into their individual superpowers.

    Connect with Meredith Online:

    Website: https://meredithldavis.com Substack: Author with a Kidlit Crush Instagram FaceBook
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Episode 50: Growing as a Writer with Guest Anne Broyles

    Episode 50: Growing as a Writer with Guest Anne Broyles
    Feb 4 2026

    In this episode of Coaching KidLit, host Sharon Skinner chats with acclaimed children’s author Anne Broyles about her writing journey, growing as a writer, and the importance of perseverance. Anne shares insights on writing across genres, working with editors, and her latest nonfiction book, "Eating to Save the Planet." They discuss the lifelong process of improving craft, finding community, and why patience and resilience are essential for kid lit writers. Actionable advice encourages writers to keep learning and never give up on their publishing dreams.

    Connect with Anne on Social Media:

    IG: annebroylesauthor

    Bluesky: @annebroyles.bsky.social
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Episode 49: Vivid Voice Techniques with Guest Heather Preusser

    Episode 49: Vivid Voice Techniques with Guest Heather Preusser
    Jan 7 2026

    Sharon Skinner and Heather Preusser explore the art of voice in kid lit, sharing practical strategies for creating distinct character voices, teaching voice techniques, and the importance of reading and analyzing mentor texts. Learn tips for revision, humor, and actionable exercises to enhance your writing craft.

    Visit Heather online at:

    Website: HeatherPreusser.com or Instagram: @heather_ preusser

    Key Topics Covered:

    • Defining and teaching "voice" in writing
    • Strategies for distinct character voices
    • Differences in voice across genre and age categories
    • Revision and highlighting voice in manuscripts
    • Influences from mentor texts and media

    #KidLit #WritingCommunity #BookCoach #VoiceInWriting #ChapterBooks #CraftOfWriting #ChildrensBooks
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
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