Join master-instructor Phyllis Root for a six-week deep dive into picture book writing.

Whether you're an experienced picture book writer or whether you're at the beginning of your picture book writing journey, this six-week survey workshop will examine multiple mentor texts per week and use those texts as a springboard for inspiration. Writers will participate in on-the-spot writing prompts and discussions and will have a weekly assignment to draft a picture book.

Class will focus on deconstructing picture books and examining the elements that make a manuscript successful from plot to language and syntax to emotional resonance, including investigating the hearts of our stories.

Post-workshop students may select one of their six manuscript drafts to submit to Phyllis, who will provide editorial feedback.

Come prepared to read lots of picture books. Come prepared to write. Come prepared to discuss. Come prepared to take your stories to a deeper level.

Topics covered in our six weeks together:

Plot and structure
Narrative voice
Character and point of view
Setting and story
Tools of language
Creating a dummy: the drama of the turning page

You will complete the workshop with:

A community of fellow picture book authors
New ways to tell your picture book stories
Six picture book drafts
One picture book dummy
One manuscript with editorial feedback

This workshop is for you if:

You’re a published picture book author looking to improve your craft
You’re a published picture book author aiming for that starred review
You’re a published picture book author who is feeling stumped and uninspired
You’re an aspiring picture book author looking to hone your skills
You’ve almost been signed by an agent but keep getting sent back for revisions
You’re getting good feedback on your books but haven’t sold one yet

Classes will run approximately 60-to-75.minutes, and workshop sessions will be recorded if you are unable to attend a session.

Dive into Picture Books