Picture Book Winter Warmer 2024 at the Writers’ Loft with Karen Boss (2)

Picture Book Winter Warmer 2024 at the Writers' Loft with Karen Boss

Make winter warmer with three picture-book workshops in January and three in February. Come to one or two or treat yourself to all six! With examples, exercises, and fresh ways to look at creating picture books, you'll head into spring with renewed energy and ready to create even more. Appropriate for both fiction and nonfiction writers.

Schedule:

Thursday, January 18:Tone & Voice for the Win.Virtually, 6:30 - 8 pm ET. ($40/ members; $50/non-members) Replay included.

What's the difference between tone and voice in writing? Do you think about these before you start writing or do you hope for the best as the words flow? Consider what these are, why they matter, and how to figure out if one or the other needs tweaking to find the sweet spots that make your story sing.

Tuesday, January 23:Why Do You Create? Virtually, 6:30 - 8 pm ET. ($40/members; $50/non-members) Replay included.

Have you stepped back lately to look at why you write, make art, and pursue creativity? In our busyness, we sometimes don't take time to breathe, consider, and contemplate. Come spend time thinking about questions such as: Why do you create the type of books you do? What's a creating ritual that you love? What's a creating challenge that plagues you? Leave with new goals in place and new energy.

Monday, January 29:ThePoetry & Prose Pickle. Virtually, 6:30 - 8 pm ET. ($40/members; $50/non-members) Replay included.

Many people talk about lyrical text and poetic writing. Is that what editors and the market want? Perhaps. Not always. Could one of your languishing projects use an injection of poeticism to give it new legs? Do you have a story written lyrically that might work better if it were prose? Let's look at form and content and some ways to decide what might work best.

Monday, February 5:Resounding Research. Virtually, 6:30 - 8 pm ET. ($40/members; $50/non-members) Replay included.

Every picture-book writer has to do research. This seems obvious for nonfiction writers, but sometimes what needs sourcing and what type of research to do can be daunting. Watch out for rabbit holes! And fiction stories—research, really? Yes, really. Let's open up the card catalog of our brains and consider how research makes a real difference.

Tuesday, February 13:Three Steps to Stronger Writing. Virtually, 6:30 - 8 pm ET. ($40/members; $50/non-members) Replay included.

Let's look at three areas that, with attention, can raise up your manuscript and strengthen your writing. First: verbs. Second: transitions. Third: beats. These seem worlds apart, but together they become a superpower for success. Come find out how and why to assess your work with an eye toward these three tricks.

Thursday, February 22: Kid-Friendly Know-How. Virtually, 6:30 - 8 pm ET. ($40/members; $50/non-members) Replay included.

Picture books are for kids. And gatekeepers (parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians) often choose the books. But kids know what they like and what resonates. Your goal: To make your manuscript as kid-friendly as possible while also appealing to adults. A tall order! How can you become even more successful at this necessary part of writing picture books?

Take all six workshops: Get a discount when you buy all six! Replays included. ($225/members; $285/non-members)

ADD ON: Karen Boss critique! Picture Book Conceptual Edits. You must be enrolled in at least one workshop. (There are only 20 spots available and if you sign up for this, Karen will let you know how to submit these to her.) ($70/members; $90/non-members)