Breakout Session One

Description: There are many elements to take into account as you’re working on a picture book, but one sometimes silent-seeming piece is pacing. What is it? How do you do it well? How do page-turns come into play? What are some practical tools to use as you’re working on a text or dummy to figure it out? We’ll talk together to answer these questions, look at some examples, try out pacing on someone else’s already published text, and then dive into your own works. You should leave the workshop with a better understanding of the cadence of a picture book, and how to set up your works—whether text only or text and art—for opportunities that will delight and satisfy your reader.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

This workshop is beneficial for: Authors or author-illustrators looking to refine their work and understand some of the undergirding of the picture book form.

Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation: To make the most of this enriching experience, please come prepared with 1 or 2 manuscript texts you’re working on, preferably formatted as such: in Word, go to the Layout section and select 3 Columns, then make all the text point 8 or point 9 size. If you can avoid breaking sentences between columns, that would be great. Single sided!

Description: Revision can be the most fun and the most revealing part of story creation. In this two-part session, we will explore a wide and varied range of revision techniques and tools, some of which may be familiar, some of which may be new, all of which will be useful in guiding authors through the revision process at both the big- picture level and at a more detailed level. Our discussions will include such topics as how to evaluate scenes, why sentence structure matters, the difference between a manuscript’s action plot and emotional plot, how to enrich voice, and ways we can ensure we’re establishing the richest possible characters and the richest possible worlds in our stories. Participants will be asked to do some writing exercises, a drawing exercise, and will be provided with numerous worksheets. This workshop will span two sessions, so make sure you register for both Part One and Part Two.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This workshop is best for participants…

who have written complete manuscripts (one or many), who have a grasp of their story’s beginning, middle, and end, who are open to exploring new ways of seeing their manuscripts, and who have been revising their work, but are looking for more specific tools and guidance for how to revise their work more effectively and deeply, beyond just basic word and punctuation adjustments. It is best for those who write fiction or nonfiction picture books, middle grade, and YA (narrative or verse).

Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation:  Prepare and bring (either on your laptop or hard copy) a sentence that begins with the words “I am writing this story because I ___________________” for the manuscript (or one for each of the manuscripts) on which you’ll be focusing during the session. Bring your laptop or tablet, as well as pens or pencils and a notebook or loose 8-1/2 x 11 paper. While it’s not required you have access to your manuscripts, it could be helpful should you want to refer to something in them during the exercises.

Description: In this two-part session, illustrator London Ladd will guide participants through an experimental image-making process that combines various materials including acrylic paint, pastel, and cut paper collage. The goal is to create personalized, dynamic, and expressive artwork. After a demonstration, participants will receive a prompt and photo reference. They will then have time to work on their projects. A sharing session, feedback, and clean-up will follow this. All necessary supplies will be provided. Participants are also welcome to bring their own materials. The workshop will span two full breakout sessions so participants must register for both Part One and Part Two.

Materials List:

• Bristol board Pad or any paper thick enough to hold mixed media (11x14 or 14x17 are okay)
• Paper – white and colored copy paper
• Patterned paper – anything with patterns, designs, etc.
• Magazines and newspapers
• Tissue paper – cheap dollar store brand is okay.
• Acrylic paints  (5-7 variety of colors)
• Paint brushes - various sizes
• Bucket – for washing brushes
• Paper towels
• Palette paper or some surface for mixing paint
• Colored pencils
• Pen with waterproof ink (Micron brand is okay).
• Pastel or pastel pencils
• Scissors
• Low adhesive tape (White artist tape is preferred but any color is fine)
• Glue sticks or other adhesive available

Optional:

• Palette knifes
• Brayer
• Hair dryers
• Extension cords
• Fabric
• All-Purpose Tacky Glue

Description: To make a great graphic novel, you need to master the mechanics of the comics page. This workshop breaks the graphic novel up into its basic components (panel, tier, and page) and explains how these elements, along with captions and word balloons, can be manipulated to affect pacing and storytelling. We will also cover how to thumbnail your comic, format a script, and create a pitch packet. First Second’s senior editor, Robyn Chapman, will show you how to turn your story ideas into comic pages and help you avoid rookie mistakes on your first graphic novel.

Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate

This workshop is best for participants…

who would like to learn about how to write or draw a graphic novel (or both), or those early in the development of their first graphic novel who want to learn how to refine their project or prepare a pitch packet.

Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation:  No expertise is required. Please come with questions about the craft of comics and publishing basics, although we won’t be delving into the fine details of the industry.

Description: Ever felt the familiar knot of anxiety any time you get a new project? You're not alone. Many illustrators find themselves dealing with self-doubt, questioning their abilities, especially their artistic voice. In this workshop, we'll discuss how the sketchbook can be a tool for self-reassurance, a creative pep talk, as well as be an important companion in your creative journey. Through different techniques, you’ll discover how the sketchbook can be another way to play, a low-risk way to try new techniques, and other hands-on exercises. By the end of our session, you'll walk away with a fresh perspective and an invaluable tool in your artistic toolbox to quiet self-doubt and reignite your confidence.

Skill Level: Beginner

This workshop is beneficial for: All artists, whether you work primarily in traditional media or digital.

Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation: Please come prepared with a sketchbook. Also bring your medium of choice to draw with.

Description: Discover how you authentically capture kids' voices in your writing! Drawing from his experiences as a teacher for nearly thirty years and as a celebrated writer, Torrey Maldonado will share strategies and storytelling secrets to craft stories that resonate with young readers. In this workshop, Maldonado will highlight timeless storytelling secrets that went into his debut picture book, Just Right, which the School Library Journal praises as “groundbreaking." The strategies also helped craft his many award-winning, popular middle grade novels. Through this exclusive first public sharing of Just Right, we’ll explore how to write unputdownable stories where kids’ feel it’s their story.

Skill Level: Beginning to intermediate

This workshop is beneficial for: All storytellers writing for young readers of picture books.

Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation: To get the most of the session, you don’t have to bring anything physical other than something to write with; however, please come prepared to discuss your spark-ideas whose flames you want to fan into a story. This will be an entertaining, educating, and empowering time together!

Description: In this practical and inspiring workshop, we’ll discuss how creators can grow recognition within the publishing arena by developing marketing skills alongside their creative ones. We’ll dive into both in-person and online strategies—from volunteering and attending events to making lasting connections and meaningful collaborations. We’ll also break down stigmas and myths around self-promotion in social media and explore ways to build an online presence that feels truly natural and sustainable. Through hands-on activities, you’ll learn the tools to build a short marketing plan with actionable steps across key areas such as events, community engagement, and social media. We will examine self-promotion strategies that can be adapted to your own creative skills, personality, routine, and career goals. Because self-promotion isn’t about being loud—it’s about being seen in a way that reflects your creative identity.

Skill Level: Published (both traditionally and self-published) writers and illustrators.

This workshop is beneficial for: Anyone looking to develop marketing skills that establish or strengthen their visibility in the children’s book market.

Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation: To make the most of this insightful workshop, please come prepared with a few personal reflections. Write down where you are in your creative journey and what you’d like to achieve next—both in the short term and the long term. Also take note of the things you genuinely enjoy—whether they’re habits or creative practices—and some things you are confident you are good at. We’ll also cover simple tips for sharing your work on social media, so bring your phone with a few photos ready to share – images of your book, workspace, or recent work.