Shadra Strickland might be the most delightful writing workshop presenter on the planet. In this episode, the author/illustrator (and agent!) reveals how to get at the heart of your story by sharing some of her best writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing from your brain to the page.
This is a fun one! Enjoy!
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What do t-shirt design and writing and illustrating picture books have in common?
Quite a bit actually! They have to be eye-catching. They have to be something the wearer or reader wants to go back to again and again. And just like a picture book, a good design tells a story.
Eric and Terry Fan take us on a journey in To Imagination and Beyond. The Fan Brothers share how your next story might be waiting for you where you least expect it. And, they should know. A t-shirt design ultimately became the award-winning picture book The Night Gardener and a 30-year-old doodle grew into Lizzy and the Cloud.
We adore The Fan Brothers and after this episode we think you will too!
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Grab a big piece of paper and some brightly colored markers because today we are mind-mapping our way to great picture book ideas! Listen in to excerpts from our Summit workshop with author and educator Rob Sanders. Rob will reveal how mind mapping can lead to both story ideas and ways to present stories that engage readers.
Rob Sanders is known for his funny and fierce fiction and nonfiction picture books and is recognized as one of the pioneers in the arena of LGBTQ+ literary nonfiction picture books. Rob’s books include Two Grooms on A Cake: The Story of America’s First Gay Wedding (Little Bee Books), Stitch By Stitch: Cleve Jones And The Aids Memorial Quilt (Magination Press), Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg (Henry Holt & Co), and Rodzilla (Margaret K. McElderry Books).
After this episode, you’ll be surprised at how much your past can help you write stories that engage with kids today.
Get ready to generate ideas that are uniquely you!
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Today’s episode comes from Picture Book Summit Co-Founders Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund. Emma and Julie are also co-creators of the Complete Picture Book Submission System. In this episode, you’ll hear them share their submission expertise as they provide you with the key components of a killer query letter and break down three real query letters critiqued by Emma or Julie that resulted in agent representation or a book contract. You’ll leave this episode with actionable items you can apply immediately to your own queries. Get ready to polish those queries until they shine brighter than you thought possible.
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Today it’s time for part three of Where the Idea Are series: Developing Ideas. Listen to the first two parts of the series below:
Once you’ve generated the ideas and assessed them to see which ones are viable for a picture book, then you have to develop that idea and actually write the story.
At the core of every good picture book is a central dramatic question. What is that, anyway? Picture Book Summit co-founder Emma Walton Hamilton discusses the importance and function of the central dramatic question and how to find it while developing ideas.
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Generating ideas for lots of picture books is one key to success! That’s why we did a whole Mini Summit on Where the Ideas Are. In this three-part series, we’ll share ways to generate ideas, assess ideas, and develop ideas. While we can’t tell you exactly where to get your next great idea, Katie Davis can give you tips for harvesting the ideas that are cropping up all around you.
Today’s episode was originally part of our free yearly Mini Summit! Be sure to add yourself to our notification list to hear all about our upcoming events. Plus, you’ll receive our favorite revision strategies just for signing up. Click here.
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