The Ins and Outs of a Picture Book and Its Many Forms 2019

What You’ll Learn

Learn about crafting your story:

• Scene and structure in picture books
• Creating characters readers care about
• How to tell your story in a way that will compel and connect to your audience
• Revising: If you love the work, it will love you back
• Writing begins with visualizing: a new way to draft a story
• The picture book biography toolbox
• Free writing time to practice what you’re learning

Learn about the business of publishing:

• How to keep “I Think I Can” alive on the path to publication
• Learn to be an advocate for your stories in the marketplace and beyond
• SOS: crafting Stand-Out Submissions
• From submission to school visits, and everything in between
• Booking speaking engagements: Oh, The Places You Will Go

Network and be mentored:

• One-to-one critiques
• Opportunities for multiple perspectivess of faculty feedback
• Q/A with author faculty
• Casual mentor connections at mealtimes
• S’mores! And more! Around the Fireplace

Who Should Attend

• This course is designed for both the beginner and advanced picture book writer.
• For beginners who don’t yet have a finished manuscript, come with an open mind to learn new ways to shape and develop a story. There will be hands-on activities to demonstrate this process and spark your creativity.
• Anyone who has a finished picture book manuscript can bring it ready to be critiqued. The faculty will give you tips, tools, and feedback to strengthen your manuscript.

How do you know if this workshop is right for you?
Carmen says: Nobody can make that decision for you. It’s a deeply personal one. There are many factors that go into that decision from financial to family and self-reflection. I can tell you this. Salina’s strengths are in art and writing and sparking creative ideas. Bethany brings a plethora of experience in honing nonfiction picture books to deepening your craft of writing. As the creative director at The Writing Barn, she’s mentored many students who’ve gone on to sell multiple books and find literary agents under her directorship. My strengths are in language and structure and revision. Between the three of us, we have something for everyone!

Agenda

Day 1
Afternoon
Arrival and check in

Evening
Appetizers and dinner
After dinner: Welcome, introductions
Creating Characters Readers Care About, Short Lecture/Writing Exercise, Carmen Oliver

Day 2
Morning
Breakfast
From Fabulously Funny to Deeply Dark and Sensitive: Analyzing the Scene & Structure and Applying it to Our Own Work, Bethany Hegedus
Writing Begins with Visualizing: A New Way to Draft a Story, Salina Yoon

Afternoon
Lunch
One-to-one critiques plus writing time

Evening
Appetizers and dinner
After dinner: S’mores! And more! Around the Fireplace

Day 3
Morning
Breakfast
The Picture Book Biography Toolbox: What You Need to Know When You Dig Into Someone Else’s Story, Bethany Hegedus
Revising: If You Love the Work it Will Love You Back, Carmen Oliver
Generative writing time

Afternoon
Lunch
SOS: Stand Out Submissions, Salina Yoon
Optional informal meetings & writing time

Evening
Appetizers and dinner
After dinner: I Think I Can: The Path To Publication (Round table with Bethany, Salina, Carmen)

Day 4
Morning
Breakfast
Booking Speaking Engagements: Oh, The Places You Will Go, Carmen Oliver
Q/A with authors, goal setting, and final remarks

Afternoon
Lunch and farewells

Resources

About This Workshop & the Faculty
Carmen Oliver–Is This the Right Workshop for Me?
Meet the Faculty: Bethany Hegedus, Carmen Oliver & Salina Yoon
Faculty Interview: Carmen Oliver
Carmen Oliver: Believing After 10+ Rejections
Faculty Spotlight: Carmen Oliver: Be open to all possibilities

About Writing Picture Books
9 Picture Book Topics to Avoid
How Do You Know If You’ve Written a Picture Book?
Writing Picture Books That Soar
Short and Easy, Right? How Hard Can It Be to Write a Picture Book?
3 Tips for Writing Funny Picture Books
Pointers for Writing Powerful Picture Books
Nonfiction Picture Books: Get it Right with Research

Testimonials

“This was an amazing tag team of instructors who kept the information flowing. The instructors were funny but serious about the work, which made the presentations fly. They were also generous with their ‘down time’ by making themselves available to review post-critique revisions. I would take this course again (and might)!”

“Three authors, three varying perspectives, perfectly complementary.”