Apply: The Stories We Tell: A Picture Book Program for Jewish Storytellers

Online Course Info:

An introduction to writing picture books for Los Angeles-based creatives from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. (In partnership with PJ Library, NuRoots, and the Highlights Foundation) 
PJ Library seeks to represent the diversity of North American Jewish communities through books that share Jewish narratives, values, holidays, and life events. This month-long introduction to picture book writing features lectures, assignments, and LIVE Zoom sessions and is for creatives who have stories that help broaden the canon of Jewish children’s literature.

This four-week online experience will include sessions on:

• The craft of writing picture books
• Adapting your story
• One-to-one manuscript critiques
• Meetings with PJ Library editors

This program, created for NuRoots, an initiative of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, that mobilizes and inspires people in their 20s and 30s to create meaningful Jewish community across LA, is fully funded by PJ Library for 5-10 participants interested in learning the basics of picture book structure for telling stories. The Highlights Foundation will provide administration support as well as share offerings for further courses.

Applications deadline: Midnight PTD December 14, 2020

Participant Grants Announced: December 24, 2020

Class Begins: January 12, 2021

Who Should Apply?

PJ Library is looking forward to meeting creatives who will help us expand the canon of Jewish literature, including but not limited to:

• Greater racial representation of families and individuals, particularly Black, Latinx, and Jews of Color.
• Representation of LGBTQIA+ creatives and families.
• Broader ethnic and cultural communities, particularly Mizrahi and Sephardic Jews.
• Representation of all Jewish families, including interfaith, adoptive, and a full spectrum of family structures and compositions.
• Inclusion of disabilities, including physical and mental disabilities of creatives and communities.
• Celebrations of lived experiences and #ownvoices stories.
• Contemporary immigration stories.

Creatives whose stories help us expand the canon of Jewish literature in more inclusive ways are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be asked to submit a paragraph about themselves, their connection to the call for applications, and a family story or personal idea that could be developed during the workshop.

Apply If (Deadline Monday, December 14, 2020 at midnight pacific):

• You have a story to tell but you just aren’t sure how to get started.
• You have started a picture book, but aren’t sure what the next steps are.
• You’ve never thought of writing a picture book, but feel you have a story that will positively impact children.

What You’ll Learn & Experience

Heidi Stemple, author of more than 20 children’s books and Highlights Foundation mentor, will facilitate three sessions providing the structure and craft of writing picture books. Throughout the course special guests will bring their personal, familial, and favorite stories to share and celebrate the diversity of Jewish experience. Included in the course are one-to-one critique opportunities, and the chance to meet with publishing guests to discuss the business of publishing.

Preliminary Agenda

Please note: all times are Pacific time.

Week 1
Tuesday, January 12, 5pm
LIVE Zoom session: What is a Picture Book?, Heidi Stemple
Story vs. book; structure; template; page turns, Q&A
Assignment #1

Week 2
Tuesday, January 19, 5pm
LIVE Zoom session: Writing Your Idea, Heidi Stemple
Mentor texts; active language; rhyming; first steps
Assignment #2

Throughout the week:
Optional 1:1 meetings with Heidi

Week 3
Tuesday, January 26, 5pm
LIVE Zoom session:

Query letters, Alison Green Myers
Submission guidelines, PJ Library

Week 4
Tuesday, February 2, 5pm
LIVE Zoom session: Next steps & revision strategies, Heidi Stemple