WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING
FOR THE CHILDREN’S LITERATURE MARKETS

Presenting a 6-part workshop on the subject of
writing, illustrating and publishing for the children’s book market.

It is strongly suggested that participants purchase the book titled:
“CHILDREN’S WRITER’S & ILLUSTRATOR’S MARKET”

Prior to the beginning of this workshop participants are asked to read at least two books currently in print that were written for the age group they wish to write for.
An outline of this workshop is as follows:

Part One:

• Identifying the children’s book market. This will breakout the various ages that are being written for, and requirements for writing to each age.
• Going in depth into the genre of each level of writing as identified above.
• Lets talk about writing. Where do ideas come from? What works, and what does not. Begin the discussion of plot development, character, and other requirements of good children’s’ literature.
• Examples of good published children’s books.
• Writing assignment.

Part Two:

• The mechanics of the trade. This will touch on the aspects of preparing your work for submission to a publishing house.
• Where do you find the markets for your creations?
• Researching.
• Reviewing and critiquing your writing assignment
• More on plot development.
• More on character development.
• How and when to use dialogue.
• Writing the beginning, middle and end.
• Themes and Variations.
• Should you rhyme?
• How to lay out dialogue in a manuscript.
• How to set up a manuscript.
• Writing assignment.

Part Three:

• Creating a thumbnail.
  This will become a valuable tool for laying out your text and illustrations prior to creating a “dummy” for submission.
• Directions for making a “dummy” book.
  A “dummy” is what you’ll send to the publishing house for consideration.
• Reviewing writing assignment.
• All about rewriting.
• Sending for guidelines and publisher’s catalogs.
• Beginning the process of putting text and illustration together. We’ll use the thumbnail and begin thinking about how we’ll translate this to our “dummy”.
• What are the requirements of the artwork? What size? What medium? This will delve a bit into the world of printers and bookmakers.
• Assignment: Complete your thumbnail – begin your “dummy”. Meanwhile, if you plan to illustrate you should be preparing your finished artwork.
• Dealing with rejections and “cool off” files.
• Part Four:
• More critiquing of your on-going work – both text and illustrations.
• Query letters and cover letters.
• Review of layout in thumbnail.
• Completion and review of the dummy book.
• What’s available on the Internet?
• The Do’s & Don’ts of submission.
• Open discussion – questions and answers and support.
• More on the business of publishing and how to break into it.
• More book reviews.

Part Five:

• More review and critiquing of your manuscript.
• More on the importance of research.
• The market for plays.
• Magazine markets.
• On-line Publishers.
• Copyright laws.
• More about layout of the artwork.

Part Six:

• Now what? Readying it for submission.
• Who do you send it to?
• What happens when it gets to the publishing house?
• What to expect next? How long before you hear from a publisher.
• Do you want or need an agent?
• Contracts
• What about your publishing right?
• Be ready for rejection. What to do next.
• If you hit the jackpot? Will you get rich?

Six-week sessions are held throughout the year. Ask about the next scheduled class. The cost of this workshop series will be $30.00 per session, or $180.00 for the full course. A deposit of $30.00 is required prior to the first workshop. All material will be supplied.

For more information call 740-1805 or stop by
STUDIO 308
136 N. Woodland Blvd.
DeLand, Florida 32720

DOWNLOAD FLYER (.pdf)