Picture Books, with Wendy McClure

January 6th, 2022 - February 4th, 2022

with Wendy McClure

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 Wendy McClure, senior editor at Sourcebooks, plus get the opportunity to speak to Wendy 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. Wendy 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 Wendy 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/Bx1rLJtA

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 Wendy McClure

Wendy McClure is a Senior Editor at Sourcebooks, where she acquires and edits picture books for the Jabberwocky imprint. She loves readalouds with engaging text, memorable characters, and lyrical approaches (er to nonfiction. She received her MFA in poetry from the University of Iowa, and has been editing children’s books for more than twenty years and has written and published several books for children and adults as well. She lives with her husband, Chris, in Chicago, in a neighborhood near the river.

About Wendy's critique style:
“When critiquing picture books, I make the same big-picture evaluations as I do when reading submissions, in that I look at how the book can stand out in a competitive marketplace. But I also focus on craft aspects as well—story arc and pacing, visual storytelling considerations, word choice, and more.”

Schedule:

Thurs, January 6th - Submissions due
Thurs, January 27th- Critiques due
Mon, January 31st - Debrief call 8-10:15pm ET
Fri, February 4th - Group closes