Workshops

Everything You Need to Know About Children’s Book Publishing: A Crash Course September 2015 | September 24 – September 27, 2015

We’ve added an extra day to this popular workshop for beginners! If you’ve thought about writing for children but don’t know where to start, this is the workshop for you. We’ll guide you through the processes of creating, submitting and selling a book or magazine article, provide you with a one-on-one review of your manuscript and answer all of your questions.

Click here to download the preliminary schedule.

In addition to giving you a comprehensive look at how the children’s book publishing industry works, we’ll give you some actual writing practice. Through exercises, writing prompts and instruction by our editors, you can begin to shape and revise your ideas in preparation for submitting to publishers. Our goal is to help you learn about the business and begin to practice your craft.

Our faculty of children’s book insiders has a wealth of information to share with you. We’ll begin with an overview of children’s publishing followed by insight on submission “best practices.” You’ll hear from an editor about the editorial process and educational publishing, followed by sessions on writing for magazines and working with an agent. We’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities in self-publishing as well as marketing yourself and your books. Each night after dinner we’ll hear from an author or illustrator.

Topics include:

• An overview of children’s book and magazine markets
• What publishers are publishing
• Getting help before you submit — critique groups, books, conferences
• Writing practice with exercises and prompts
• How to research and submit your manuscript
  »» Selecting a publisher
  »» Submission rules and practices
• Rights, contracts, and agents—what authors need to know
• Acquisition and the editorial process
• Selling systems, marketing, and promotion
• Opportunities in self-publishing

Faculty & Special Guests

Harold Underdown

Jo Knowles

Bobbie Combs

Lindsay Barrett George

Sneed B. Collard III

"What a marvelous group of talented professionals!"—2015 attendee

"Thank you, Bobbie and Harold, for creating a workshop that was informative and encouraging. I really feel you want each and every one of us to succeed in the children’s book business. You are inspiring!"—Janet Geeza, 2015 attendee

"Thanks sooo much Harold and Bobbie – you treated us all very kindly and were supportive of our process. Also, you made outstanding use of time and provided outstanding resources and very clear information."—2015 attendee

"I came away feeling energized and affirmed that I was on the right path. The weekend was just what I needed to feel my feet firmly planted under me as I enter this new world. You and Harold packed just the right amount of information in and around inspiring speakers and casual community building time."—Lesley Higgins, 2015 attendee