Picture Books and Pitches, with editor Feather Flores, Fall 25

August 4th, 2025 - September 18th, 2025

with Feather Flores

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Workshop flow:

  • At the group start, writers will submit three pitches. Feather will give written feedback on your pitches. No peer critiques in this round.
  • Then, writers will submit one picture book for feedback from Feather and their peers. For writers who have taken our workshops in the past, it's the same as what you are used to seeing––the group critiques each other's work during the same timeframe Feather is writing her notes for you. We conclude this feedback session with a debrief call. The call is longer in this group in case you'd like to discuss pitches, too. 
  • Feather will host extended discussion boards. She'll post categories of conversation at the start of the workshop and post answers to participant questions throughout your time together.

<div>You may register for one picture book workshop in fall season. If there is extra space 1 month ahead of the workshop start (6 weeks for multi-round groups), you may register for another.</div>

Notes

Who this workshop is for: <p>The workshop is limited to agented and traditionally published children's book authors.<br></p>

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

Group size: 6 writers

Submissions: <p>Fiction stories should be under 900 words and nonfiction stories should be under 1550 words including any backmatter (you may submit partial backmatter if you hit the limit). You will also submit three pitches (in a single document) for Round 1.</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 style="line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;">2 months or more ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited the full amount of the workshop, less a $20 change fee.</li><li style="line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;">Under 2 months to 14 days ahead of a workshop start: If we are able to replace you, you will be credited for the full workshop price less a $20 change fee. If we can't replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop cost.&nbsp;</li><li style="line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;">Withdrawals within 14 days of a workshop start: If we can replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop price. If we cannot replace you, you will not receive a credit. Your fee will go towards our workshops and scholarships.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Fee

Members: $215; Non-members: $265

About Feather Flores

Feather Flores joined Atheneum in 2022 after four years at Chronicle Books. She works on smart, joyful picture books; middle grade romps with coming-of-age themes; distinctive, atmospheric graphic novels; and bold, open-hearted YA that explores everything our identities, and our world, can be. Her list encompasses fiction and nonfiction, with an emphasis on stories by, about, and for people from marginalized communities. She was named a PW Star Watch Honoree in 2023 and an inaugural recipient of the We Need Diverse Books Internship Grant in 2015.

Feather acquires upmarket books with high-concept plots, cinematic settings, and gorgeous prose. From heart-pounding heists and eerie folk horror to swoony romances and lush fantasy, she aims for every book on her list to be a source of hope and comfort in its own way. Anything that encourages young readers (especially queer readers and readers of color) to be more fully and unapologetically themselves, she wants to see it.
Feather edits from San Francisco, California. You can explore her (very) full manuscript wishlist at featherflores.com.

Schedule:

  • Mon, Aug 4 - Submissions due (submit 3 pitches)
  • Fri, Aug 8 - Pitch feedback due (only Feather!)
  • Mon, Aug 18th - Submit one full PB manuscript
  • Mon, Sept 8th - Critiques due (Feather + all participants!)
  • Mon, Sept 15th, 7-9:05pm ET - Debrief call  
  • Wed, Sept 17th - Group closes and discussion boards end