Breakout Sessions

There are 15 different breakout sessions that you can choose from to attend live. But do not fret, all sessions will be recorded. A recording link will be available so you can view the programs at leisure for 30-days after the conference.

The Pep, the Prod, and the Pause: Managing the Emotional Roller Coaster of the Creative Process - Presented by Ariel Richardson, editor | CHRONICLE BOOKS

Publishing is a loooong journey. Let’s talk about how to pack your bag so you make it to your destination. Building mechanisms like the pep, the prod, and the pause in to our daily life can ensure inspiration, creativity, and the finished product manifests.

Breakout title: What’s Sellable in Today’s Market [ALL]

Presented by: Presented by Natascha Morris, Agent | THE TOBIAS AGENCY

Description: The market shift of 2025 caught many in publishing off guard—and because deal announcements often lag behind the trends, it can be hard to know what editors are truly hungry for right now. Join literary agent Natacha Morris for an inside look at what’s currently selling across picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction. Drawing on conversations with more than 100 editors over the past year, Natacha will share a clear, distilled view of today’s marketplace, emerging themes, and the kinds of stories gaining traction. The session will also feature mentor text examples to help illustrate what’s working—and why.

Breakout title: Giving Characters Life and Voice [PB]

Presented by: Presented by Charlotte Wenger, Agent | THE PROSPECT AGENCY

Description: What makes a story character-driven? How can you get your characters to jump off the page? What elements create a successful character with a distinct voice? Utilizing techniques and examples from both theatre acting and children’s literature, this interactive workshop explores these questions and unpack tools to build rich characters with standout voices and unique personalities.

Breakout title: How to Start Writing and Keep Writing [ALL]

Presented by: Presented by Gianna Lakenauth, Editor | KNOPF (PRH)

Description: In this session, we will explore different methods on brainstorming for a new project and how to start writing and keep writing. We will also touch on tools to navigate creative blocks and stumbles. There will be a 20-minute working session to either brainstorm or work through a creative block.

Breakout title: The Signal and the Noise [ILLO, PB]

Presented by: Presented by Adam Rex, Author/Illustrator

Description: What I Learned Reading 300 Unpublished Picture Books.

Breakout title: Picture This… Can You See Yourself Self-Publishing a Picture Book? [ILLO, PB]

Presented by: Presented by Michael Hale, Author/Illustrator

Description: If you are considering self-publishing a picture book, there are more options available to you now than ever before. Which self-publishing options are right for you and the book you want to create?

 The most important part of your self-publishing journey begins with self-evaluation and careful planning.

Breakout title: Hacking the MSWL [ALL]

Presented by: Presented by Natascha Morris, Agent | THE TOBIAS AGENCY

Description: Hacking the MSWL: Come learn how agent Natascha Morris reverse-engineers a story. From inspiration and MSWL, she will walk you through the outline steps to creating a new manuscript. Whether you are working on new idea or have no idea where to even start, this proven method will help you crack the code on how to give editors and agents exactly what they might be looking for. Handouts will be provided, and her breakout session #1 is recommended.

Breakout title: What Is Editing? [PB, ILLO]

Presented by: Presented by Ariel Richardson, editor | CHRONICLE BOOKS

Description: So often editors are seen as the ones with the red pen, the one who knows all the right answers. But for me, editing is first and foremost about relationships, about listening, about advocacy. It’s also about vision, understanding your audience, art direction, format development, and more. One case study: we’ll talk about the power of storyboarding, and making a dummy, as a tool for editing and revision.

Breakout title: Finding the Emotional Heart of Your Story [ALL]

Presented by: Presented by Gianna Lakenauth, Editor | KNOPF (PRH)

Description: A deep dive on writing the story you want to tell, with a focus on delivering emotional impact.

Breakout title: How Character and Action Work Together in Novels [NOVEL]

Presented by: Presented by Andrea Cascardi, Agent | TRANSATLANTIC AGENCY

Description: Character drives action; action reveals character. A great story unfolds on several fronts: a character readers care about, a plot that gives them a reason to take action, and an emotional arc that resolves their inner journey. Through examples in published books, we will look at how these important elements move a plot forward and develop a character deeply. 

Breakout title: Your Novel Needs a Plot [NOVEL]

Presented by: Presented by G.F. Miller, Author

Description: Do you have an idea for a story, and wonder if it’s big enough to fill 50,000+ words? Have you started a novel only to get mired in the middle? Perhaps an agent or editor has said your MS has pacing problems. Or maybe your finished draft just isn’t quite “working”. In this breakout, we’ll talk about plot—how to find yours, how to fix a broken one, and what to do when you’re stuck.

Breakout title: Developing Your Career in Children’s Books [PB, ILLO]

Presented by: Presented by Ariel Richardson, editor | CHRONICLE BOOKS

Description: In this tough publishing climate where debut authors are having a harder time breaking out, and consumers tend to gravitate toward the familiar, it’s more important than ever for authors to find out-of-the-box opportunities to build their name recognition and brand, and bring in income. I love helping to grow my authors’ careers! Let’s talk about some of the best ways to do so, from how to write your author bio and manage your online presence to publication in magazines and where to find grants/retreats, etc.

Breakout title: Pacing Out Your Picture Book [PB]

Presented by: Charlotte Wenger, Agent | THE PROSPECT AGENCY

Description: Most picture books are limited to 32 or 40 pages, so the pace at which a story unfolds is important. How do you effectively build to a climax? What makes a satisfying conclusion? Whether you’re a picture book author or illustrator, being conscious of how your story breaks down across pages can help strengthen the story's arc. We'll take a look at a few examples that really get the pacing right and, with the help of picture book maps, explore how being aware of visual aspects of storytelling can influence pacing by building tension and highlighting key moments in the text.

Breakout title: The Agent-Author Relationship [ALL]

Presented by: Presented by Andrea Cascardi, Agent | TRANSATLANTIC AGENCY & Karen S. Chow, Author

Description: Ever wonder what attracts an agent to an author's work? Ever wonder what happens after "the call"? What is the agent-author relationship like after signing together? How do they handle submissions and working with an editor? Find out all this and more as Andrea and her client Karen S. Chow discuss their publishing journey together.

Breakout title: The Coin-Op Illustrator [ILLO]

Presented by: Presented Adam Rex, Author/Illustrator

Description: Adam will try to make the best image he can in the time allotted, based on audience prompts. See how he thinks—or doesn’t think—his way through an illustration. Could be a bad idea! Come find out. Attendees will be encouraged to draw along with Adam. Contact Michael at [email protected], if you would like to include your prompted artwork during this session.

Breakout title: Picture Books to the Point: The Right Perspective [ILLO, PB]

Presented by: Presented by Cynthia Harmony, Author/Translator

Description: Discover how to select and craft the most effective point of view for your story, elevating your narrative from simple plot to emotional experience.

By exploring mentor texts that pull readers into the immediate moment, we’ll identify the right perspective that can transform a good picture book into an unforgettable one.

Participants are encouraged to bring a picture book MS to workshop.

DISSECTING THE FROG: God Help Us, We’re Going to Try to Analyze Humor - Adam Rex, Author/Illustrator

Writing humor, and what it can tell us about storytelling as a whole.