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The Research Habit I Never Skip (Plus Summer Favorites)
Published 29 days ago • 3 min read
Hello friends!
From left to right: At the Pantages theater for Alicia Keyes's Hell's Kitchen; seeing Snoop Dogg; a tour of the Page Museum before it closes for refurbishment ahead of the Olympics.
Happy Summer!
I'm soaking it up, and I hope you are too. We've been enjoying outdoor concerts and summer nights at cultural venues across Los Angeles thanks to our public radio station, KCRW. The latest was a tour of the La Brea Tar Pits's Page Museum before it closes July 7 for upgrades before the 2028 Olympics.
On the picture book front…
The sketch dummy for my next picture book with Lauren Tamaki, Shape of Our Stories, has gone through fact checking. This is always the point in the process where I am so happy I footnoted every fact and figure for my own reference. This is easy to do in Scrivener using the footnoting function, but most word processing programs have a similar feature.
As the fact checker raises issues, I can easily go back to my sources and double check things. I always recommend footnoting your facts as soon as you have your first draft down, even if no one but you ever sees those footnotes.
Things I'm loving right now
Heartstopper on Netflix:One of the best shows I've ever watched, Heartstopper is a tender coming-of-age story following teens Charlie and Nick as they fall into friendship, then love at a boys' grammar school. This is such a celebration of queer joy. And the cinematography is exquisite. Based on Alice Oseman's YA web comic/graphic novels.
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune:The Canadian tourism bureau should just hire Fortune. After reading this moving friends-to-lovers romance, I am obsessed with visiting Tofino, Vancouver Island, BC. I was disappointed in the Amazon Prime adaptation of her book Every Summer After, called Every Year After. If you haven't read Fortune's books, her latest is a great place to start.
Teleprompter:If you're shooting video for TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube shorts on your phone, I highly recommend Teleprompter (IOS). You can import your scripts, which overlay your video (so you know what you look like). It's easy to adjust the scroll speed, and stop and start recording. The video saves to your Photos app so you can easily import the into Canva, social media apps, or editing software. I use the free version.
Read on for podcast updates and more.
Kirsten
Join me for the Engaging Stories Conference (October 8-10)
Whether you're drawn to biographies, STEM books, or even magazine articles, this 3-hour, intensive masterclass will give you the essential tools to craft compelling nonfiction that kids can't put down. Based on my comprehensive guide, Telling It True, you’ll learn how to transform facts into page-turning stories, conduct efficient research, and structure your work so young readers stay hooked from beginning to end.
Materials Needed: Bring a current work-in-progress or story idea you're excited to develop, plus your laptop or notebook for hands-on exercises.
Hope to see you there in person!
Podcast: Writing the Woman Behind Children's Books: Researching Ursula Nordstrom with Nancy Hudgins
What can a legendary children’s book editor teach us about writing, research, and trusting young readers?
In this episode of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations, I interview Nancy Hudgins, author of Books Good Enough for You: The Storied Life of Ursula Nordstrom, to uncover the hidden story behind one of the most influential figures in children’s publishing. Ursula Nordstrom helped shape classics like Charlotte’s Web, Goodnight Moon, and Where the Wild Things Are, but her own story has remained largely untold for older readers until now.
Nancy shares how primary source research—including letters, archival documents, and even surprising legal records—revealed new insights into Nordstrom’s life, including details never before published. You’ll hear how these discoveries shaped the book, why middle grade was the perfect format, and what today’s writers can learn from Nordstrom’s fearless approach to storytelling.
Whether you’re a children’s writer, educator, librarian, or book lover, this conversation offers powerful insights into:
How to use primary sources to deepen nonfiction storytelling
The art of revision and editorial feedback
Why respecting young readers leads to better books
The ongoing importance of freedom to read
Plus: behind-the-scenes stories of beloved classics like Goodnight Moon and the creative risks that changed children’s literature forever.
Think nonfiction kids' books are boring? Think again! I'm a writer, teacher, and writing coach dedicated to helping students reimagine their true stories, turning them into captivating reads. Subscribe to my newsletter for tips, new releases, and more.
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