Picture Books (nonfiction), with editor Ariel Richardson, Winter 2026

March 11th, 2026 - April 13th, 2026

with Ariel Richardson

Apply

You'll submit your picture book at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. The editor will submit their notes near the critique deadline. After critiques are complete, we host a live group debrief over Zoom, in which each writer gets individual time with the editor to dig into feedback, brainstorm next steps, and discuss any writing questions. In addition, the editor will lead a group discussion in the group workspace.

Our goal with this workshop is to help you strengthen the project submitted and push your storytelling craft.

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

Notes

Who this workshop is for: <p>This workshop is an advanced group. You must be an Inked Voices member, and you must meet one of the following for this advanced group: 1) picture book traditionally published or under contract; 2) agented (or previously agented in the past 3 years); or 3) querying and getting requests for additional PB manuscripts. (limited spots available for this category)</p>

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

Group size: 8 writers

Submissions: <p>Your nonfiction submission should be under 1550 words including backmatter. If your backmatter runs longer, please submit the headers for sections that are not included and omit your bibliography.&nbsp;</p>

Fee

Members: $150; Non-members: $180

About Ariel Richardson

Ariel Richardson is a Senior Editor in Children's at Chronicle Books in San Francisco. She is a versatile bookmaker, working at the intersection of art and impact. She’s had demonstrated successes, from Invisible Things debuting on the New York Times bestseller list to Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration winning the Robert F. Sibert Medal and Bologna Ragazzi Award. She has worked at three independent bookstores on two coasts, and has a masters degree in Children’s Literature from Simmons University.

Schedule:

  • Wed, Mar 11 - Submissions due
  • Wed, April 1 - Critiques due
  • Wed, April 8, 7-9:10pm ET - Debrief call 
  • Mon, April 13 - Group closes