How Picture Books Work

Do you remember the first book you ever loved? It was probably a picture book, right? The world of picture books is rich with possibilities for creative storytellers. If you have ever wanted to learn the nuts and bolts of children’s publishing, this workshop is for you. Whether you are a writer, an illustrator, or both—this workshop will cover both the art and the business of picture books and connect you with colleagues as you work on your own projects. You’ll hear from industry experts and gain a clear understanding of each step along the process to publication. Come prepared to capture the magic of storytelling through picture books!

Because this will be a highly interactive, sharing environment, space is limited to 20 creators.

Carter Higgins is the author of many books for young readers, including Everything You Need for a Treehouse, Some of These Are Snails, and the chapter book series, Audrey L & Audrey W. Her first book as both author and illustrator, Circle Under Berry, was named a Best Book of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly, Smithsonian Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. She is also an Emmy-winning visual effects and motion graphics artist and spent a decade as an elementary school librarian. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @carterhiggins. She lives in Las Vegas.

How Picture Books Work consists of FOUR, weekly, two-hour ONLINE sessions where attendees dive deep into picture books and children’s publishing. Sessions include lectures, breakout discussions and Q&As with special guest industry experts! Attendees will have access to the virtual classroom with (optional) assignments to deepen your learning.

Session 1 – November 27, 2023 – 7 to 9 pm ET

How Picture Books Work (and How They Don’t) – this workshop will cover the specifics of the picture book anatomy and form, the expanse of genres and categories, beginning to think about the structure of your picture book project, and what to expect from both your creative process and path to publication.

Session 2 – December 4, 2023 – 7 to 9 pm ET

Writing Picture Books (While Thinking Like an Illustrator) – this workshop will cover the craft elements that make picture books so special, how to implement them into your storytelling, and a special guest speaker who will talk about their experiences as both author and illustrator.

Session 3 – December 11, 2023 – 7 to 9 pm ET

Continuing Your Craft and Finding an Agent – this workshop will expand on the craft of picture book writing and then look at what happens when you are ready for what’s next: do you need an agent? How do you find one? What are they looking for? We will have a special guest speaker who will help demystify this process.

Session 4 – December 18, 2023 – 7 to 9 pm ET

Continuing Your Craft and Collaborating with an Editor – this workshop will continue to expand on the craft of picture book writing and then look at the current landscape of children’s publishing and what you can expect. We will have a special guest speaker who will shed insight on bringing a picture book to market.