51爆料

Do you have a great idea for a children鈥檚 book that keeps begging you to write it? Wonderful! But maybe you鈥檙e unsure what age it鈥檚 for. Now鈥檚 the time to zero in on who your reader is, and to get started writing that book. Maybe you鈥檙e already writing a kids鈥� book that started out for one age reader, then somehow morphed into another age category and you鈥檙e feeling a bit lost. You鈥檙e not alone! Join award-winning author Debbie Black as she outlines the basic criteria for picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult, with a little deeper dive into middle grade (ages 9-12). No matter what age you write for, at the end of the session you鈥檒l leave more inspired and focused, with a better understanding of your book鈥檚 direction, its content, its reader, and its marketability.

Have you considered writing children鈥檚 picture books but aren鈥檛 quite sure how to start? Join children鈥檚 author- educator Claire Noland as she shares her writing journey and discusses the challenges, lessons, frustrations, and joys of writing for young children. This session will inspire you to develop your storytelling voice and to keep going through the ups and downs as you work to tell unique stories that matter - in less than 600 words! Claire will talk about picture book genres, themes, ideas, and structures that authors can use to create unique stories that will cause children to say 鈥渁gain.鈥� She will share resources, as well as the top mistakes that new writers need to avoid. Come and experience the joy of picture book writing in this encouraging session which focuses on creating picture book texts.

In picture books, images do far more than accompany the text 鈥� they complete the story, often adding nuance, humor, and emotion that words alone cannot convey. Young readers, many of whom are pre-literate, are especially skilled at interpreting visual cues and uncovering deeper meaning through the artwork. In this inspiring and visually rich session, award-winning author and illustrator Stephanie Roth Sisson explores the powerful relationship between image and text in children鈥檚 literature. Drawing from her wide-ranging creative experiences, Stephanie shares how illustration becomes storytelling 鈥� and how your own life, imagination, and perspective can become part of the storytelling process, too. Whether you're a writer, illustrator, or just curious about the magic behind picture books, this session will open your eyes to the collaborative, layered, and surprising world of visual storytelling.

Bring your fictional worlds to life with vivid detail, rich history, and immersive atmosphere. In Blueprints for Worldbuilding, award-winning author Laurie Woodward will explain how to design unforgettable settings using a combination of brainstorming techniques, targeted research, visual imagery, and inspiration from literature, film, and myth. Whether you're crafting a far-off galaxy, a magical forest, or a reimagined version of Earth, this workshop will provide tools to make your world feel real. Come ready to create, share, and discover the setting that only you can build.

In this workshop, literary agent Kayla Cichello will break down the parts of a query letter, and share tips and tricks to create an effective and eye-catching query. Participants will have time to revise their own query letter as well. Kayla is an agent at Upstart Crow Literary and, although she specializes in children鈥檚 literature from picture books through young adult, her session will be valuable for anyone wanting to brush up on their query-writing skills.