Picture Books, with Carrie Hannigan
May 2nd, 2022 - May 31st, 2022
with Carrie Hannigan
In this intimate workshop, you'll receive a written critique of a picture book manuscript from Literary Agent, Carrie Hannigan from HG Literary, plus get the opportunity to speak to Carrie individually in the live group call that follows critiques. You'll also exchange critiques within your group of up to 9 writers.
How it works
You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Carrie will submit her notes near the critique deadline. After critiques are complete, we host a 2-hour group debrief, in which each writer gets individual time with Carrie to dig into feedback, brainstorm next steps, and discuss any writing questions.
Our goal with these events is to help writers become stronger storytellers. That said, each opening pages event we offer also comes with a submission opportunity.
About the group workshop format
Participants should be sure they have at least 1 hour to give for critiquing each person's manuscript (plus reading time). Because this is a group of 9, this means you should have at least 8 hours available for your peers' stories.
This makes for an intense workload for the few weeks of peer critique. However, we've also found that this format accelerates learning because you are able to read a professional's feedback on each story you have read and critiqued, and you will listen to each one-on-one in the debrief. Many writers have told us that listening and learning from the professional's notes to others has been just as beneficial to their learning as the feedback on their own work.
Notes
Who this workshop is for: This workshop is best suited for writers querying, preparing to query, or who have an agent but are looking for a high level educational opportunity.
Focus: Children's - Picture Books - Fiction - Children's - Picture…
Group size: 9 writers
Submissions: Submit one picture book. Fiction submissions should be under 900 words; nonfiction should be under 1500 words.
Fee
Members: $96; Non-members: $115
We are pleased to offer a spot free of charge to a writer from a historically marginalized group. Applications for this scholarship have closed.
About Carrie Hannigan
Carrie was lucky enough to find her way to agenting quickly after moving to New York City. After 16 years working at Russell & Volkening with the esteemed Timothy Seldes, she and her colleagues opened HG Literary in 2011 (then called HSG). Carrie specializes in children’s books but also represents a select, limited list of adult books.
Some of her children’s book clients include: #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Vashti Harrison (LITTLE LEADERS: BOLD WOMEN IN BLACK HISTORY – Little, Brown, 2017; SULWE by Lupita Nyong’o, winner of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award – Simon & Schuster, 2019). The #1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein (The LEMONCELLO Series – Penguin Random House; The MAX EINSTEIN Series with James Patterson; THE ISLAND OF DR. LIBRIS – Penguin Random House, 2015; THE SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE – Penguin Random House, 2020). Picture book and middle grade author Erica Perl (THE NINTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH – Sterling, 2020; WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU OJ – Knopf Books for Young Readers; ALL THREE STOOGES, a Sydnee Taylor Book Award Honoree and winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature – Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2018). Author/illustrator and Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor winner Jonathan Fenske (BARNACLE IS BORED – Scholastic, 2016; I'M FUN, TOO! the first-ever LEGO® picture book – Scholastic, 2018). And author/illustrator and Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor winner Jennifer Morris (MAY I PLEASE HAVE A COOKIE? – Scholastic; FLUBBY IS NOT A GOOD PET – Penguin Workshop, 2019).
In the kidlit world, from picture books to MG to YA, Carrie is looking for humorous books with warmth, heart, and a great voice in both contemporary and fantasy. She is also open to illustrators and always on the lookout for author-illustrators.
Schedule:
Monday, May 2nd - Writers Submit
Saturday, May 21st - Critiques Due
Wednesday, May 25th, 8-10:15pm ET- Debrief Call
May 31st - Group closes