Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing: An Online Course
With Harold Underdown
February 28 - May 2, 2023
Faculty: Harold Underdown
Guest Faculty: Daria Peoples (recording only), Leah Henderson(2 recordings and 1 live session), Linda Epstein (1 recording and 1 live session)
OVERVIEW:
Join lead faculty Harold Underdown and special guests for a Crash Course in Children’s Publishing. At the end of the course, you will understand how the children’s book publishing industry works, including submitting, publishing, marketing a book for children, teens, or young adults, and beginning ideas about craft and critique.
Multi-Week Online Course
10 weeks of programming (with a blend of live and pre-recorded sessions)Live Lectures Tuesdays, 8pm – 9pm Eastern (February 28, March 14, 28, April 4, 18, May 2 )Recorded programming released on weeks when live sessions aren’t heldOptional Live “Drop-In” Hours beginning on Friday, March 3 at 11amOngoing discussion threads with engaged faculty responsesPost-course 1:1 mentorship session included to discuss a work-in-progress and/or publishing related questionClosed captions available at all live sessions, and in recordings50 participants max
FEEDBACK EXPECTED:
Informal Q & A sessions held at all live programming.Post-course consultation/mentorship session with a publishing mentor to discuss work-in-progress and/or publishing-related questions.
WHY THIS WORKSHOP?
This ten-week online course covers all aspects of children’s book publishing, from genres and types of books to working with a publisher (and everything in between). Material will be covered via six live Zoom sessions, and pre-recorded content in our online learning platform. You’ll also have access to weekly live “drop-in” hours with Harold Underdown.
You’ll also learn details about the editorial development process, including what to do once you have a finished book. The goal of the course is to demystify children’s publishing and answer ALL of your questions about the process.
You will:
Explore genres of books, types of publishers, types of markets; fiction vs. nonfiction, flat fee vs. royalties, schools and libraries, etc.Find out how to get help before you submit from books, conferences, critique groups, beta readers and children.Find out how to get started as a professional and find your community.Use writing exercises to get to know your characters and develop your stories.Understand submissions rules and practices, including which mistakes to avoid.Learn about how publishers sign up manuscripts and how to make sense of contracts.Discover the publishing process: developmental editing, line editing, copyediting and proofreading, design, illustration, production, marketing and distribution.
You can watch course previews here:
Ta-DAA! Acquisition!
Design & Illustration
More Kinds of Picture Books
IT’S A GREAT FIT FOR:
Serious beginners to the field of children’s books who are ready to devote some time to learn and practice. If you’re tired of exhaustive online searches, hard-to-sift-through information, or lack of practical advice when it comes to writing for children, this course offers answers in one, thorough program. You get long-term support over 10 weeks, and can learn at your own pace.Those who have written a story for children but have no idea how to submit it to publishers. This course will give you best practices for revising and submitting your work.You have sold some stories to children’s magazines and would now like to learn more about the book publishing process. We’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at all that goes on, from submission to publication.Those who have written for audiences outside the children’s book industry and want to learn more about how your past writing experience can transfer into this new field.
What to Expect from the Crash Course: Watch the video
Who Should Attend the Crash Course: Watch the video
DETAILED AGENDA:
This course runs for 10 weeks and is a mix of pre-recorded content and live Zoom sessions. Live sessions are Tuesdays at 8pm Eastern. Dates are noted in the agenda below. There are also weekly live Zoom “drop-in” hours with Harold Underdown on Fridays at 11am Eastern; these are optional but encouraged.
*Note: Your 1:1 consultation with a carefully selected mentor is scheduled after the final session of the course, at a mutually convenient time to you and your mentor.
Week One
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 8pm – 9pm Eastern: Crash Course Overview and Introductions (Live)
Welcome with introductionsOverview of course syllabus, including how to access online materials and engage in the discussion board with fellow writers.*Please note this week may run slightly longer with introductions of fellow writers.
Friday, March 3, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Two
Pre-Recorded Content: Books, Publishers, Markets, and More
Types of books and genres in the children’s book industryTypes of publishers and who’s whoToday’s children’s book marketAdditional resources, including book talks from the Highlights Foundation team
Friday, March 10, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Three
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 8pm – 9pm Eastern: Getting Started with Your Story (Live)
Reading current books, and how to do itBuilding your industry knowledgeGetting feedback and revisingAdditional resources, including review sources, how-to books, and more!
Additional content will also be released.
Friday, March 17, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Four
Pre-Recorded Content: Getting Started as a Professional
Getting started as a writerFinding community, caring for yourself as a creative, and dedicating time to your craft with special guestEssential conversations in children’s publishing: responsible representation, anti-racism and anti-bias booksAdditional resources, including “You’re Never Too Old to Write” and more!
Friday, March 24, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Five
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 8pm – 9pm Eastern: Digging Into Character with Special Guest Leah Henderson (Live)
Knowing your characters: creative exercisesCharacter backstoryLittle known factsCharacter voiceCharacter interviewPlace as character
Friday, March 31, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Six
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 8pm – 9pm Eastern: Researching Agents, Editors, Publishers & the Submission Process (Live)
Publishers and editorsAgents and what they doSubmissionsAdditional resources on crafting a query letter
Additional content will also be released.
Friday, April 7, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Seven
Pre-Recorded Content: Getting the Deal
AcquisitionsThe contractUnderstanding terms and royaltiesWhat to watch out forAdditional resources including “Believing After 10 Rejections” and more!
Friday, April 14, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Eight
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 8pm – 9pm Eastern: What Comes After: The Editing and Publishing Process (LIVE)
Developmental editing, line-editing, copyediting, and proofreading.Design and illustrationProductionMarketingDistributionThe “end”Additional resources including a video highlighting self-publishing in today’s market, and more!
Friday, April 21, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Nine
Pre-Recorded Content: Digging Into the Illustration Process
SketchesApproval of sketchesArt samplesFinal artThe book designand more with Daria Peoples
Friday, April 28, 2023 at 11am- 12pm Eastern: Optional Live “Drop-In” Hour facilitated by Harold Underdown
Bring your questions for open discussion
Week Ten
Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 8pm – 9pm Eastern: Where Do We Go From Here? (Live)
Questions you still haveDetails about mentor pairingEvaluating your goals and next steps of action
Post-Course Mentorship Session: You will be asked to complete a survey assessing your publishing goals and needs (you may complete this survey between weeks six and ten.) Your mentor will be able to review your survey 1-2 weeks following the course. You will then work with your mentor to select a time to meet and materials to exchange. You’ll meet for a 1:1 session with your mentor at the chosen time. Mentors will be thoughtfully matched with writers based on survey needs and goals.
A note about workshop agendas and how they change and evolve.
COMMITMENT REQUIRED FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE:
If your schedule does not allow you to attend live sessions, that’s OK! You’ll have access to the recordings. They’re posted the day after the session, and they’ll be available through June 30, 2023. Closed captions will be available on all live sessions, and recordings from live sessions. The course also includes writing exercises, community interaction, and goal setting. To maximize your investment in the course, take advantage of these.
HOW THIS WORKSHOP IMPACTS KIDS:
Stories help kids develop language, build the power of imagination, understand their world and value their lives as they see themselves reflected within. This course educates and encourages creators as they bring their voices to this important work.
Why do we mention this? Learn about the Highlights Foundation mission.
RELATED RESOURCES:
Who should attend? Watch the video.Podcast: Talks with Harold Underdown About the Online Crash Course7 Quick Tips for Beginning WritersHow to Start Revising That First DraftGetting Out of the Slush PileCourse booklist on Bookshop.org
FROM OUR COMMUNITY:
“The experience was terrific. I learned a great deal. When I enrolled, I had been concerned about being able to get the full “workshop feeling” since the course was offered online rather than in person. My concerns were for naught. I felt that we made a good community even though we were not in the same room together! The presentations were thoughtful and thought-provoking. I appreciated the mix of craft and the nuts and bolts of publishing that instructors (special shout out to the fabulous Alison Green Myers and Harold Underdown!!!!), and guests shared with us. Discussions were substantive and fruitful. We did some powerful writing exercises together. The critiques of the writing samples we submitted were productive, direct, and kind. It is an art to give honest feedback without taking the air out of a writer! It was done so very well. I even met some nice people, remotely of course, but we set up a writing group that carried on long after the workshop was done. I recommend this workshop with enthusiasm!”
“I was able to confidently complete my draft and query letter. It was the highlight (no pun intended) of my year! Thank you. I am looking forward to working with my mentor, as well.”
“I loved getting deep insight into the children’s book world today and also a better understanding of the business of the publishing world and how to navigate it. It was a comprehensive overview – and the instructors were positive and supportive.”
“I can’t say enough about the instructors. The knowledge they shared was incredible and very non-threatening to one who is just trying to get started. I found encouragement in the midst of the reality of the hard work and time requirements.”
“I am thrilled with this experience. So many of my questions have been answered and I learned a great deal. Harold is wonderful and I enjoyed listening to him. Allison did a great job, too, especially about query letters.”
Faculty: Harold Underdown
More faculty to come.
About the Leader
Categories : All genres, Donations, Online, The Business of Publishing