Breakout Session #2

Permission to Play: The Illustrator’s Path to Publication with Brian Pinkney

Two-time Caldecott Honor-winning artist Brian Pinkney peels back the curtain on his creative process and gives an insider’s look at how the joy and power of bookmaking is expressed through wandering, pondering, and having fun. This program also provides practical strategies and real-world examples for paginating and illustrating a manuscript, taking an idea from concept to completion, and the essential steps needed to position your work so that you can land an agent and secure publication opportunities. 

Approach Illustrating Each New Book as Your Authentic Self with Cherise Harris

Do you like to work using different media? Do you worry about not having one identifiable style, or feel anxious when you receive a new manuscript because you’re not sure which style to illustrate it in? In this session, author and illustrator Cherise Harris will discuss her process for deciding which media and method is the best expression of her vision for a story. Cherise will share from her own experiences using a variety of media, and offer tips for how you can successfully do the same. 

One Topic, Many Styles: A Picture Book Workshop with Lesléa Newman

It is sometimes said that everything has already been written about. And at the same time, every story is unique. In this webinar, Lesléa Newman will discuss many picture books that touch on the same topic so that participants are exposed to a wide variety of story-writing styles. We will look at rhymed and unrhymed manuscripts, silly and serious manuscripts, manuscripts from different points of view, manuscripts from different cultures, etc. Participants will come away with a myriad of options when it comes to writing their story.

Crafting Engaging School Visits: A Beginner's Guide to Connecting with Young Readers with Aram Kim

School visits offer authors and illustrators a wonderful opportunity to connect with young readers, promote books, and encourage literacy and creativity, all while supplementing income. Yet creating these visits can feel daunting when you're starting out. Join award-winning author/illustrator Aram Kim for a practical workshop on designing engaging presentations for different age groups by emphasizing your unique strengths and creative process. Whether you're preparing for your first school visit or looking to refresh your approach, this workshop will equip you with the confidence and materials to create memorable experiences for both you and your readers.

Unlocking Empathy Through Story with Torrey Maldonado

Celebrated for his middle-grade novels that upper elementary and young adult readers also love, Torrey Maldonado draws inspiration from his Brooklyn Red Hook upbringing and nearly 30 years of teaching in NYC public schools. His work, including anthology contributions, has won awards for building empathy. In this session, Torrey shares storytelling strategies to nurture empathy. Whether you're seeking inspiration or looking to engage reluctant or avid readers, this session is your gateway to better empathetic storytelling.

Plots, Bots, and Knots: How to Fix Your YA Novel with Stacey Lee

Whether you're looking into the abyss, wondering how to start your novel, or in the thick of battle with story revision, this might be the class for you. Plot is the engine that drives your story and a well-crafted plot will keep your readers engaged and reading to the end. This course will guide you through the essential elements of plotting your novel, providing strategies that will help you captivate your readers from your first page to your last. Stacey will also share common mistakes and how to fix them. 

Scripting a Graphic Novel with Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale has written more than a dozen graphic novels over the past twenty years. Speaking from an author's point of view, she walks us through her process of writing a graphic novel, offering tips and tools for working in this challenging medium.

Creating Winning Picture Book Biographies with Don Tate

As an illustrator, words frightened Don Tate. After all, artists create pictures, they don’t write stories. So how did a non-word person go about writing award-winning picture books (one that he did not illustrate)? In his breakout session, Don will reveal all of that, discussing both sides of the bookmaking process. How do creators of picture book biographies find and then zero in on the right information? How can illustrators find their writing voice? And what about research—how do you know what to include and leave out? Don’s breakout will include his process of planning a story from initial inspiration through creating thumbnail sketches and dummy books.

The 5 Places You'll Make Money During a Kickstarter Campaign with Russell Nohelty

Kickstarter is a platform on everyone's lips these days after one author made headlines for using it to raise $41 million dollars! In this webinar, you'll learn the math of doing a Kickstarter campaign, come to understand the things you must do before you launch your campaign, and explore the most important (and surprising!) ways to make money from Kickstarter after your campaign is over. Join USA Today bestselling author Russell Nohelty as he walks you through how he has helped authors raised over $1 million on Kickstarter.