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How to Write a Children's Picture Book

And sell it, too

Course is closed.
How to Write a Children's Picture Book

WHEN
6 weeks
Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m.
Sept. 27-Nov. 1

WHERE
classrooms of mediabistro.com
Upper Market
San Francisco, Calif.

MORE INFO
Email us, or call (310) 659-5668.

PRICE
$425 ($400 for )
more info

Course Details

You have a great idea, and you've even imagined how the book will look when it's illustrated. But how do you actually go about writing a picture book? Part lecture, part workshop, this six-week course will take you through the process of outlining, writing, editing, and submitting a picture book. There will be weekly writing assignments, and we will workshop students' work in class.

In this class you can expect to learn:

  • How to write in pictures
  • How to develop a premise into a plot
  • Techniques for hooking readers—and editors
  • The science of making language sing
  • The cruel but crucial art of revision
  • Why editors like to choose their own illustrators
  • The nuts and bolts of marketing a manuscript
By the end of this class you can expect to have:
A completed picture-book manuscript, along with a cover letter for sending it out.

Instructor Bio

Dashka Slater's Courses

Children's Picture Book Writing – (Class starts January 13)

Dashka Slater
Dashka Slater is the author of two picture books: Baby Shoes and Firefighters in the Dark. A third, The Sea Serpent and Me, will be released by Houghton Mifflin in 2008. Baby Shoes was named one of the best children's books of 2006 by both Booklist and Nick Jr. magazine. Slater's novel, The Wishing Box, was named one of the best books of the year by the Los Angeles Times, which called it "an impish novel, hopeful and full of humor." She is the recipient of a 2004 Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and has won many awards for her journalism, which appears in magazines ranging from More to Mother Jones. Her book about Hollywood's portrayal of Alcatraz Island, Lights, Camera, Alcatraz!, was released in October 2005.

Testimonials


Dashka changed my writing life! I could not have gotten this helpful information from any textbook. I am so grateful to have had her concise viewpoints as well as the support of peers. -- Natalie Hansen

"Dashka is unpretentious, refined, encouraging, and exacting. She understands the mechanisms of writing." -- Mona Kanin

"I really enjoyed this class. The assignments were thought-provoking and challenging, and the lectures offered practical tips on how to get started and build on what we were creating." -- Sara Kruger

"Dashka's class is fabulous. She has a way of pushing you to the next level week after week, to the point that you are flabbergasted by what you have accomplished!" -- Christina Doremus

"This class touched on all the information I needed to get started writing my book.The chat sessions were excellent. The hour just flew by each week and I didn't want it to end." -- Janet Martin

"If you have always wondered if you could write a picture book, this is the class for you. The class will teach you the basics without being condescending in a very creative and supportive environment." -- Kristen Giang

"Dashka was great. She was very encouraging while still being realistic." -- Carrie Yamato

"Dashka was very willing to share specific advice about strategies and industry tips, and she took a lot of time and thought critiquing our assignments. She was excellent!" -- Diane Debrovner

"Daska is a skilled expert with a lot of practical advice to give her students. This was just what I needed to energize my writing." -- Lynne Lepley

"Dashka was fantastic. She gave everyone equal attention and seemed to sincerely care about our progress. Her feedback was constructive but also very inspiring. I highly recommend this course to anyone." -- Katie Brophy

"Dashka is a wonderful instructor who provides solid feedback on your writing as well as advice on how to become published." -- Susan Brady

"Dashka has a wealth of experience in this area and was very professional." -- Joanne Denekamp

"Dashka is amazing! She is completely supportive of what you are doing while encouraging you to try new approaches and styles. This class makes writing a child's book a real possibility." -- Alexa Fitzpatrick

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