Winter/Spring 2023 - Advanced Picture Book Writing, with Stephanie Fretwell-Hill

January 10th, 2023 - May 22nd, 2023

with Brooke McIntyre

Group started

APPLY TO THIS GROUP THROUGH END OF DAY NOV 3rd (disregard "group full" message)

In this workshop, picture book writers will work with literary agent Stephanie Fretwell-Hill and a curated group of peers to revise and polish a manuscript for submission. At the start of the group, writers will submit three stories to determine which story to focus on for the remainder of the workshop. Writers will do a broad revision of the selected story for their second submission, and will polish their work for their third submission. Writers will peer critique one another's work in addition to receiving feedback from Stephanie.

While the workshop allows significant time for revision and critique, the time tends to pass quickly, and participants should be mindful of their schedules when considering this group.

Notes

Who this workshop is for: The workshop is geared towards picture book writers who are farther along in their journey. This includes writers who are in the query trenches (and practiced writers preparing to do so), as well as agented and/or published writers.

Focus: Children's - Picture Books - Fiction - Children's - Picture…

Group size: 5 writers

Submissions: There will be three rounds of submissions. Writers will begin by submitting 3 stories. After the first round, writers will select a single story to work on for the remainder of the workshop.

Fee

Members: $350; Non-members: $410

About Brooke McIntyre

Stephanie Fretwell-Hill is a literary agent with a sales and editorial background. After starting her career in foreign rights at Walker Books in the UK, Stephanie moved home to Atlanta as an acquiring editor at Peachtree Publishers. Most recently, she joined Red Fox Literary where she represents authors and illustrators of picture books, middle grade, and YA fiction and non-fiction. During her ten + years in the publishing industry, she has had the privilege of working with respected colleagues and award-winning authors and artists from around the world.

Critique Style: For picture book critiques, I always start by thinking about the topic itself and its potential in the current children’s market. Does it have strong hooks? Is the idea fresh and original? Does it have a strong emotional core? Next, I look at developmental issues like structure, pacing, characterization, and voice before finally turning attention to more detailed technical edits on a line by line basis.

Schedule:

Tues, January 10th- Round 1 Submissions due (3 manuscripts)
Tues, January 31st - Critiques due
Mon, Feb 6th, 3:30-6pm ET - Debrief Call
Mon, Mar 13th - Round 2 Submissions due
Wed, Mar 24th -Critiques due
Tues, Mar 28th, 3:30-5:30pm ET- Debrief Call
Mon, May 1st - Round 3 Submissions due
Thurs, May 11th- Critiques due
Wed, May 17th, 3:30-5:30pm ET - Debrief call