Picture Books, with Luana Horry

January 10th, 2022 - February 7th, 2022

with Brooke McIntyre

Group started
UPDATE: Group selected. Do not register unless you have received an email asking you to do so. 

Details

Preparing your work for submission? In this intimate workshop, you'll receive a written critique of a picture book manuscript from Luana Horry, editor at HarperCollins, plus get the opportunity to speak to Luana 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. Luana 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 Luana 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.

Workload

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.

We are pleased to offer a workshop spot free of charge to a writer of color or from a traditionally marginalized background. Apply by 12/16. https://inkedvoices.typeform.com/to/aAq81dBS

Notes

Who this workshop is for: This workshop is an advanced group best suited for agented, published, and querying writers and writers.

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

Group size: 8 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

About Brooke McIntyre

Luana Horry is a Senior Editor of board books, picture books, and young graphic novels at Harper Collins Children’s Publishers. She has been a member of Harper Children’s flagship imprint for over five years and worked on titles such as Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union; Blob by Anne Appert; the #1 New York Times bestseller I Promise by LeBron James; Fresh Princess written by Denene Millner; Not Quite Snow White written by Ashley Franklin; Balloons for Papa written by Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia; and more. Luana is looking for character-driven, inspirational, and clever commercial projects, and has a strong interest in stories that center Black and brown women and girls.

When critiquing, Luana always looks at the big picture and asks herself one question: how will the compete in the children’s book market? Once market conditions are addressed, we can then assess the story you are trying to tell by looking at plot holes, characterization, voice, tone, and rhythm.

Schedule:

Mon, Jan 10th - Submissions due
Sun, Jan 30th - Critiques due
Wed, Feb 2nd, 8-10:15pm ET - Debrief Call
Mon, Feb 7th - Group closes