How to Choose a Publishable Children’s Story Idea

The Idea Incubator

How can you tell if your book idea is the right one? The one you are happy to spend time with? The one that will sell?

Every published children's book began with one tiny idea. 

The difference between that book and all the others wasn't luck...it was knowing which idea to trust and knowing how to turn that into a story worth finishing.

With Idea Incubator, you'll learn how to assess a winning children’s story idea — even if you’ve never been published.


Start Writing Now! — Only $13

What if the story you've been carrying around for months...or even years...is the one children have been waiting for?

Idea Incubator is right for you if:

  • You have story ideas but are uncertain whether they will sell
  • You are just starting out writing for children
  • You have been writing for a while but feel like your story isn't ready to market
  • You wish to write and publish picture books, or middle grade or young adult novels

You’ve always wanted to write for children.

You've got story ideas, and maybe you've picked one. But how can you be sure that your idea is publishable? 

Or whether, once you’ve started writing, you’ll have enough momentum to carry you through? Because it takes time to write a good book, so you need to believe in that idea.

  • My simple 5-step formula, demonstrated in a video lesson with a handout and examples, will take you from a story spark to a solid book template.
  • Complete this course in an hour or two and you’ll be confident that you have a winning story idea for today's publishing market.

Start Writing Your Children's Book Today!

You don't need:

  • A batch of fleshed-out ideas
  • A degree in creative writing
  • To have written a story before
  • To pay a fortune at workshops and conferences

"All the stories I've thought up in my head over the years, and even sketched out vaguely on notepads have a chance now. I spent a few minutes yesterday writing loglines for 5 different stories. What an amazing thing! They are now ALIVE."

— Deborah

Aspiring Picture Book Author

Brooke

Aspiring Author

I support your work because you support mine! Thanks for sharing your expertise with writers.

Susan

Published middle grade author

Janet changed the way I feel about my writing, giving me a whole new level of confidence, enjoyment, and hope for my work in progress.

Bing

Writer and Artist

I enjoy your views on children's books, the state of the publishing industry, and the reality of the creator's life. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience, and insights. I appreciate what you do!

Kelsi

Aspiring Author

Thank you for jolting me out of my tired rut!


What You’ll Find Inside
the Idea Incubator:

  • A clear path to defining the Five Key Story Elements that will help you clarify your story’s heart

  • A simple way to create a story logline using those story elements, with my proprietary “Logline Test” method

  • The importance of the logline for assessing your story’s viability for you and for the market with Clear Story Examples whether you write picture books or novels

  • The confidence that you’ll have the momentum through your Story Heart to write and revise your story

  • End with a Solid Story Pitch and the basis for an editor-grabbing Story Summary.
MEET YOUR TEACHER

Janet Fox

Hi! 

I'm Janet, a multi-published award-winning author and creative writing teacher with over 25 years of writing and publishing experience, and 7 years helping writers to publishing success through both courses and hands-on coaching.

I'm the author of 13 books for young readers, from picture book through YA novels, fiction and nonfiction. 

My courses are designed for all kidlit writers, from beginners to advanced.

"What if I don’t have a clear story idea?"

You don’t need a firm idea to get started — that’s what this course will help you find.

 

Right away, you’ll see what you may be missing — 
and there are only 5 key things I’ll help you identify to start you on your path to story success.

 

The logline you create with my simple Logline Test method will give you a complete story roadmap.

I'm ready to start writing my book right now!

If you’ve been trying to write a picture book or novel for children for a long time, you know how hard it is to complete a full manuscript.

 

And if you are just starting out, you’re probably feeling confused about how to approach good storytelling.

 

The trick here is to identify some very easy to overlook but important elements that every story needs, and that’s what this course is designed to teach you.

 

I’ve been where you are — and I use this Logline Test every time I begin to write something new.

 

This test of a story idea is simple but profound. So if you’re ready to open the door to your story idea — with every new story — this course will give you the key.


Start Writing Now — Only $13!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the course take to complete?

The course is designed to be completed in about 1–2 hours. You can go through the lesson and handout in one sitting and immediately apply what you learn to your own story idea.

Is this course really enough to help me choose a strong story idea?

Yes. This course focuses on one specific outcome: helping you evaluate and shape your idea using a clear 5-step framework so you can move forward with confidence.

What if I already have a story idea?

Perfect—you’ll use your existing idea throughout the course to test, refine, and strengthen it so you know whether it’s worth pursuing.

What if I have too many ideas and feel overwhelmed?

This course is especially helpful for that. You’ll learn how to quickly assess your ideas and identify which one has the strongest potential.

Is this only for picture book writers?

No. The method works for picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels. The principles of a strong, marketable idea apply across all categories.

Is this for beginners or people who have been writing for a while?

Both! For beginners and early-stage writers, there are clear examples and a simple step-by-step approach. And even more experienced writers can struggle with weak or unclear story concepts. This course helps you diagnose and fix that problem quickly.

Will this help me know if my idea is publishable?

It will give you a strong, practical framework to evaluate your idea against industry expectations—so you can make smarter, more informed decisions before you invest time writing.

What if this course isn’t right for me?

No problem. This course comes with a refund policy—if it’s not a good fit, you can request your money back.

Janet here!

I believe in happy endings.

I believe that children need our books more than ever.

The Idea Incubator will give you the confidence to write the story of your heart.



Yes, I want to write the story of my heart!