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
10 Things to Consider When Writing a Picture Book Biography

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…
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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…
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$1,099.00

All-inclusive registration includes workshop tuition, lodging, meals, beverages, and snacks. Free shuttle service is available from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AVP) International Airport.

We offer payment plans as low as $75/month. We'll be in touch with details after you register.

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workshop information

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

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