Eastern PA Webinar: Professional Development Series
Jun 15, 2026 - Jun 16, 2026
Online event
This 3-webinar series is made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.
Quick Facts
HOST REGION: Eastern Pennsylvania
CONTACT: Kristen Strocchia [email protected]
COST: FREE
- The 3 FREE webinar in this series are made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.
CRITIQUES: available at an additional cost; scroll down for more information
RECORDING
The webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be available for one month following the event. Attendees will receive a link and a password by email about two days after the event.
REGISTRATION CONFIRMATIONS
Upon completion of payment, you will receive a payment confirmation by email. You will also find a registration confirmation on the website that will include event-specific details. Go to your Member Home and click on My Events under the black bar at the top of the page. All events you have registered will be displayed on this page. If there are additional meeting details (i.e. Zoom links for virtual events or materials required for the event), this information will be found under the green Meeting Info button.
REFUND POLICY
The 3 FREE webinars in this series are made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.
June 8
Picture Stories—Key Elements in Creating Narrative Art with Patricia Kreiser
In this webinar, we will examine the key elements which help to create effective visual story telling. Picture books are a marriage of words and images, each having its role, supporting each other, but not talking over one another. Are your illustrations carrying their share of the weight? Together, we will examine sample images and learn to recognize opportunities to elevate illustration to advance the story. Participants are invited to submit an image for feedback from Patricia and fellow webinar peers during the seminar. WRITTEN CRITIQUES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
June 15
Research Methods for Writing Authentic Middle Grade & YA Historical Fiction with Jennifer Robin Barr
Strong historical fiction starts with solid research. In this webinar, writers will learn practical techniques and methods to help make historical middle grade and young adult novels authentic to their time. We will look at the importance of books, journal articles, and historical newspapers of the era, and the value of primary sources, such as letters, photographs, and even government meeting minutes. Together we will explore search strategies with large collections like the Library of Congress or university archives, and highlight the value of working with local historians and historical societies. We’ll end the webinar with practical strategies, including simple techniques for organization so your research is easy to manage and access throughout the writing process. We will also discuss a tried-and-true revision method that ensures historical details are naturally woven into the story throughout the manuscript. This session is designed to help writers build a clear and manageable approach to research, enabling them to create historically grounded stories for young readers. WRITTEN CRITIQUES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
June 16
Which Way to Go?—Using Traditional Narrative Arc and Gentle Arc to Lead Readers Through a Picture Book with Jessica Whipple
There are many types of story structures in picture books, readers encounter two types most frequently: The traditional narrative arc, or Freytag's Pyramid, and what is sometimes called a "Gentle Arc" or "Quiet Book." This webinar will show how each structure works like a map to lead the reader to the end of the book. Attendees will understand the key elements of each type of book and look at examples of each.