Workshops

When faced with creative block, strong characters can shape and drive your story. In this hands-on workshop, participants will take a character concept and design a visual reference sheet, exploring shape, silhouette, emotion, and personality, while uncovering their character’s backstory. Attendees will leave equipped to use their developed character ideas to spark their next story. Please come to this workshop with an idea for a character.

Supplies will be provided.

AUTHOR     AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR.  BEGINNER. INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED    PUBLISHED PRE-PUBLISHED

Subtext, the true meaning simmering underneath the surface, adds depth and layers of meaning to our scenes. Often what’s missing in the text is the most important part—the motives, thoughts, emotions, and human truths that resonate with multiple meanings. Using examples from multiple popular works of fiction, we’ll look at the many ways to use subtext to add meaning beneath the words.

AUTHOR     AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED    

Join this workshop to learn about creating engaging school visits that work across large assemblies and small classrooms. Discover tools to help authors grab students' attention (hint: a participatory activity) and build in educational elements. We will discuss adapting presentations from larger groups to smaller groups (and even virtual settings) and vice versa. Participants should bring their books or manuscripts to ideate presentation subjects, techniques, activities, and organization. We will also go over different methods to cultivate opportunities at schools and libraries. Please check out my website for an example of how to solicit school visit requests online: https://www.emelinelee.com/visits  

AUTHOR     AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE    PUBLISHED PRE-PUBLISHED

In this workshop, the author will read both her picture books, TRICKY CHOPSTICKS and SPARKLES FOR SUNNY. She will share secret writing tricks she used in both books including fun and meaningful character names, literary devices like alliteration / assonance / consonance, and even Chinese-derived onomatopoeia and also the Mandalorian (!) to help inspire fellow #Kidlit creators for their writing. We'll use fun worksheets with creative prompts to practice these secret writing tricks, along with a group collaboration to collectively craft a super scene too. Attendees are also welcome to bring a draft of one or more of their stories to apply these writing techniques directly.

Suggested materials: a pen or pencil, and 3 different-colored highlighters.

AUTHOR     AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED    PUBLISHED PRE-PUBLISHED

Let's Chat About Swag: Recommended Practices for Picture Book Promo from Launch to Beyond with Picture Book Author Sylvia Chen Are you looking for ideas or guidance for how to use swag in your picture book promotion, along with resources to create and order said swag? Join author Sylvia Chen in this session where she'll talk about how she leverages swag, including examples from her debut launch party and other events at bookstores, schools, libraries, book festivals, conferences, and more. She'll also share what worked (and what didn't), and how she planned her swag similarly and differently for her picture books TRICKY CHOPSTICKS and SPARKLES FOR SUNNY: A Lunar New Year Story. She'll bring physical examples of her swag for attendees to view in-person, and will give out select swag for attendees to take home to reference for their own swag creation. She will also provide brainstorming prompts so attendees can jot down ideas to create their personal swag plan. Attendees are also welcome to bring one or more of their published books to help identify practical swag opportunities.

Suggested materials: a pen or pencil to jot down notes

AUTHOR     AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED    PUBLISHED PRE-PUBLISHED

A hands on activity where participants will learn how to use daily creative journal prompts that help to jump start and keep the creativity flowing as well as re-affirm the importance of play in our artistic endeavors.. All materials provided by the instructor including colored pencils, poscas, acrylic paint, cardboard, and watercolor. Participants will be guided through several creation and art making exercises and given a list of other ideas and inspiration prompts to use at home.

Supplies: Sketchbooks/Journals are helpful and some will be available

AUTHOR     ILLUSTRATOR AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR TRANSLATOR BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED    PUBLISHED PRE-PUBLISHED For 1st workshop

Honest advice on portfolios, promotion and progress for staying visible and active in this changing market. Learn tips on elevating your work to the next level as we create a new narrative art piece together using techniques that apply to digital or traditional media.

Bring your sketchbook or iPad. (Paper, pencils and a few traditional materials will be available)    

ILLUSTRATOR. AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED    PUBLISHED PRE-PUBLISHED

MAKE YOUR RHYME SHINE! How to get your rhyming manuscript from “good” to “acquired”!

 As an author who has sold 16 rhyming picture books and board books (so far!) to 11 different editors at 10 publishing houses, Rebecca Gardyn Levington KNOWS the rumor that “editors don’t like rhyme” is NOT true. But as someone who has critiqued many hundreds of rhyming manuscripts, she also understands why this rumor persists. Many writers are submitting rhyming stories that just aren’t ready for publication. In this interactive workshop, Rebecca will lead you through examples of the most common mistakes she sees and will offer tools for fixing them so that YOUR stories become the ones that editors WILL acquire! Please bring a pencil and 2 hard copies of a rhyming picture book draft to the session. Rebecca will provide time during the workshop for you to apply her revision techniques to your work-in-progress. She will leave plenty of time for questions and, depending on time, may be available to assist with any story-specific challenges.

While beginners are absolutely welcome, the bulk of this workshop will be for those who already have at least a basic understanding of rhyme and meter and are looking for tips to elevate their work. 

Please bring: A pencil and 2 hard copies of a rhyming picture book draft to the session.

In the real world, we use our five senses to experience our environment, whether it's a cozy bedroom, a windy day at the beach, or a hospital waiting room. How we interpret those senses can tell a lot about what someone is experiencing, both internally and externally. In this hands-on workshop, middle-grade author and freelance editor Laura Parnum will discuss how including sensory details using all five senses can pull the reader in and create emotion on the page. Laura will bring real-world examples that participants can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste and share samples of written passages from contemporary works of children's fiction that invoke the senses and help readers experience the same emotions the characters are feeling. We will explore each of the senses individually and then weave them together for a full emotional journey that touches on character, setting, plot, and theme.

What to bring: Participants will bring something to write with (tablet, laptop, or paper and pen) and work on adding sensory details to a current work in progress or creating something new.

Author. Beginner Intermediate Published Pre- Published