Writing Picture Book Biographies 2019

October 2 - 5, 2019

Overview

Engage children in the lives of others through captivating events and compelling narrative threads.

A good biography fuels a story with research. It brings subjects to life through accuracy and authenticity. A well-told true story can inspire, delight, teach, and enthrall: kids are realizing that nonfiction can read with the same page-turning momentum as great fiction. In this workshop, you’ll explore the fundamentals of writing biographies for children.

What You’ll Learn

In this workshop, you will learn answers to these questions:

How do you select a biographical subject?
How do you tell a true story that is calling to you?
What makes this particular life worth writing about?
Will this person’s life make a good story for children?
What can be accomplished within the short form of a picture book biography?
What are some tips and tools for researching your subject?
How do you take a mountain of research and carve a storyline through it?
How do you create tension and keep readers turning the page?
How can fiction writing techniques enrich a picture book biography?
What are the publishers and markets for picture book biographies?

Who Should Attend

Beginning or intermediate authors or author/illustrators who want to learn, or strengthen, techniques for writing compelling picture book biographies.
Anyone who is fascinated with a potential biographical subject, feels that children would be interested in their story, and would like to discover the best way to tell that story.
Storytellers who would benefit from one-to-one critique sessions with mentors working in the field of picture book biography.

Agenda

This workshop features:
Day 1
Afternoon
Arrival & check in

Evening
Appetizers & dinner
After dinner: Introductions and welcome

Day 2
Morning
Breakfast
Faculty lecture
Writing exercise

Afternoon
Lunch
One-to-ones consultations or free writing time
Faculty lecture

Evening
Appetizers & dinner
After dinner: Author talk

Day 3
Morning
Breakfast
Faculty lecture
Breakout sessions: craft and markets

Afternoon
Lunch
Small group workshopping
Q&A with editor

Evening
Appetizers & dinner
After dinner: Author talk

Day 4
Morning
Breakfast
Small group workshopping
Closing comments and goal setting

Afternoon
Lunch and departures

Resources

True Storytelling: Tod Olson and Leda Schubert in Conversation
Birthdayographies, where Donna Janell Bowman celebrates over 700 (so far!) picture book biographies
Past Present: Giving Past Stories New Life with Lesa Cline-Ransome
Get It Right With Research
Donna Janell Bowman’s website

Testimonials

This is a new workshop, so we have no testimonials yet.

Faculty

Donna Janell Bowman

Donna Janell Bowman is the author of the picture book biography Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught…
Learn more

Lesa Cline-Ransome

Lesa Cline-Ransome’s first book was the biography Satchel Paige, an ALA Notable Book and a Bank Street College “Best Children’s…
Learn more

All-Inclusive Event Cost: $1,099.00

All-inclusive means we provide transportation to and from the airport, lodging and all meals.

workshop information

Begins Wednesday, October 2, with dinner, and ends on Saturday, October 5, with lunch.

PRINT INFO

Programs