Summer 2024, Advanced Picture Book Writing, with Sarah Stephens

May 6th, 2024 - September 13th, 2024

with Sarah Stephens

Group started

In this 3-round workshop, picture book writers will work with a literary agent and a curated group of peers to revise and polish a manuscript towards submission. At the start of the group, writers will submit two picture book manuscripts, plus two pitches for written critique. After the initial round, writers select one of their two full manuscripts for revision in rounds two and three. Each round includes a debrief call where writers get one-on-one time with the professional to discuss their questions, brainstorm trouble spots and get feedback on their revision ideas. All group members listen in.

Peer learning is a significant element in our workshop design. In all rounds, writers peer critique one another's work in addition to receiving feedback from the professional. Writers are able to see the professional critiques of their peers' work. Our debrief calls are done as a group. Many tell us that this peer learning is as valuable as the critiques and discussion of their own work. We encourage writers to dig in to help each other, much in the spirit of a critique group, for the length of a workshop. 

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: <p>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.<br></p>

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

Group size: 5 writers

Submissions: <p>There will be three rounds of submissions. Writers will begin by submitting 2 stories and 2 pitches. After the first round, writers will select a single story (from the two full manuscripts submitted) to work on for the remainder of the workshop.</p><p>Fiction stories should be under 900 words and nonfiction stories should be under 1500 words including any backmatter (submit headers only if your backmatter runs over).</p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">Changes and Withdrawals Policy:&nbsp;</span></p><ul><li>2 months or more&nbsp;ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited the full amount of the workshop, less a $15 change fee.</li><li>Under 2 months to 15 days ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited for the full workshop cost less a $15 charge if we are able to replace you. If we can't replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop cost.</li><li>Withdrawals within 2 weeks&nbsp;of a workshop start will not be credited even if you are able to be replaced. Your payment will go towards our scholarship program.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Fee

Members: $350; Non-members: $425

About Sarah Stephens

Sarah Stephens is a children’s book enthusiast in every sense. She has worked as an editor, author, and indie bookseller, and before that she was a book-loving child. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Sarah moved to Rhode Island and got her first editorial job at Houghton Mifflin in Boston. When East Coast winters grew too long for the California native, Sarah returned to the San Francisco Bay Area where she continued her editorial career at Chronicle Books and then Lucasfilm Licensing. Though she eventually left the office for the flexibility of freelance, Sarah never left children’s books. She has continued her work as a freelance editor and authored numerous original (Maiden Voyage, Bug Girl, Rescue Dogs) and licensed (Curious George, Star Wars, DC) titles. As an agent, Sarah is looking to champion books that make her laugh out loud, delight her with new wonders or quirky surprises, or speak deep truths. She is interested in elevating the voices of marginalized individuals, amplifying stories that need to be heard, and connecting children to nature. She enjoys helping authors hone their craft and tell their own unique tales with humor, heart, and integrity, and loves picture books that are entertaining and do not underestimate their audience.

Schedule:

  • Mon, May 6th - Submissions due (2 manuscripts, plus 2 pitches of different manuscripts)
  • Mon, May 27th - Critiques due 
  • Mon, June 3rd, 4-6:15pm ET - Debrief Call 
  • Wed, July 10th - Round 2 submissions due; submit a revision of one of the 2 full manuscripts submitted in round 1.
  • Wed, July 24th - Critiques due 
  • Mon, July 29th, 4-6pm ET - Debrief call
  • Wed, Aug 29th - Round 3 submissions due; writers submit a revision of their Round 2 manuscript.
  • Thurs, Sept 5th- Critiques due
  • Wed, Sept 11th, 4-6pm ET - Debrief call