kidlit.com

What It Is

Kidlit.com is a long-running content site run by Mary Kole for children’s literature writers, with a focus on picture books, children’s literature, YA/MG, novel writing, and querying/publishing. Based on the site content, it has expanded into Good Story Company, Good Story Learning, Good Story Podcast, Story Mastermind, and Mary Kole Editorial consulting services. Overall, it is positioned more as a combination of writing education content, community, and editorial services.

Core Courses and Teaching Format

Good Story Learning is a membership community that brings together in-depth educational content, video courses, workshops, and webinars, with on-demand access. The text mentions more than 100 hours of content and 50 downloadable handout resources, covering topics such as querying, first pages, picture books, novels, self-editing, marketing, and more. The community component is based on Discord and includes daily questions, AMAs, topic-based chat rooms, and writing companionship. Story Mastermind is a six-month online group writing workshop conducted via Zoom. It sits somewhere between a short writing conference and a two-year MFA, with separate tracks for novels and picture books.

Instructors, Pricing, and Outcomes

The central instructor is Mary Kole. She previously worked as a literary agent for five years, is the author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and has long been active in blogging, teaching, and freelance editing. The outcomes for Story Mastermind are described fairly clearly: students in the novel track can complete a novel draft and submission materials tested through peer workshops, while picture book students produce at least six submission-ready drafts. Pricing information is limited. The text only states that a Good Story Learning membership costs “less than a Netflix subscription,” without providing a specific amount, refund policy, or payment methods.

Pros and Cons

Its main strength is its strong vertical focus, especially for writers interested in English-language children’s literature and the traditional publishing submission path. Free blog posts, podcasts, templates, and submission checklists help lower the barrier to entry. The courses also emphasize community support, peer feedback, and editorial attention, rather than being limited to one-way recorded lessons. The limitations are that information transparency is relatively limited, some programs require applications and have date restrictions, and the content is heavily tied to the U.S./English-language publishing context, making it less useful for the Chinese publishing market.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is best suited to serious writers with a foundation in English writing who want to enter the children’s literature or novel publishing process. It is also suitable for those who need help with submission packages, query letters, and manuscript feedback. Users in mainland China should note that access to Zoom, Discord, Google Drive, YouTube, podcast platforms, and similar services may be unstable, so the overall experience should be considered “partially restricted.” Payment methods are not disclosed. If your focus is Chinese-language writing or domestic publishing, local writing workshops, publisher-run courses, or Chinese-language editorial services may be better options. If you are committed to English-language children’s literature, SCBWI, Children’s Book Insider, and Reedsy Learning can serve as alternatives or supplements.