Children's Picture Book Writing

Complete a first draft with the help of a published author

WHEN Materials available starting June 18
Discussions start Tuesday, June 25, 8-9 pm ET - Full Schedule

WHERE Online

PRICE
$470 (or $445 for AvantGuild members - details)

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ALSO STARTS: New York - 6/5/2013

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Details

Part lecture, part workshop, this course will take you through the process of outlining, writing, editing, and submitting a children's picture book. Through weekly writing assignments, you'll master essential craft elements including plotting, outlining, and crafting a narrative arc.

In this class, you will learn how to:

Write in pictures
Use techniques for hooking readers and editors
Practice the science of making language sing
Understand why editors like to choose their own illustrators
Apply the nuts and bolts of marketing a manuscript

By the end of class, you will have:
A completed picture book manuscript, along with a cover letter for sending it out.

The online classroom has several components:

Lessons: Learn new skills through video-based lessons
Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

Course Syllabus

Children's Picture Book Writing (PDF)

View a sample syllabus for the class here.

Instructor

Dashka Slater is the author of the picture books Baby Shoes, Firefighters in the Dark, and The Sea Serpent and Me. Baby Shoes was named one of the best children's books of 2006 by both Booklist and Nick Jr. magazine, while The Sea Serpent and Me was a 2008 Junior Library Guild Selection and a 2009 Cybil Award finalist. Her novel The Wishing Box was named one of the best books of the year by the Los Angeles Times.

Dashka is the recipient of a 2004 Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her fourth picture book, Dangerously Ever After, was released in September 2012 and called "a sophisticated romp" by Publishers Weekly. Learn more at dashkaslater.com or by reading her children's book blog.

Dashka Slater's Courses
Children's Picture Book Writing – (Starts June 18)

Testimonials

Dashka's class opened a creative outlet for me. The comments and feedback throughout the class helped me more than you know! -- Heidi Boeckmann

"Sharing thoughts and ideas with other writers, as well with our instructor, made me really feel like part of a community." -- Tara Gannon

"Dashka showed support to each student and made suggestions on how to make improvements. I was amazed with her insight into our manuscripts. As though she were doing a puzzle, she would fill in the missing pieces." -- Barbara Gold

"Dashka is fabulous and insightful. Her lessons are very well scaffolded and her comments and feedback guide us to a remarkable finished product." -- Hamu Yaropa

"Dashka delivers invaluable instruction, coaching, and critique for first-time and published writers alike!" -- Lisa Bowie

"This class was like having your character in a video game eat a magic star that boosts you to the end of the game. Dashka got me to the end faster and knocked off major mistakes along the way." -- Nicole Lataif