Breakout Session Three

Writing Hard History: How to Confront the (Mis)Representation of the Past with Ann Bausum

How should authors approach historical topics during an era of fever-pitched debates about the narrative of our nation’s past? Two-time Golden Kite winner Ann Bausum has confronted hard history for a quarter-century. Drawing from personal writing experiences with such titles as White Lies, Stonewall, Freedom Riders, and With Courage and Cloth, she charts a path forward through the pitfalls and pinnacles of capturing the nation’s most essential stories.

12 Questions to Structure Your Novel with Francesca Lia Block

In this seminar we will examine 12 questions that Francesca has developed over decades of publishing and teaching to help students structure their novels. The questions cover aspects of character, plot, setting, voice and theme. We will look at some examples from classic novels and consider how to apply the questions to your own work!

Real Talk about Author Visits in the Age of Book Bans and Censorship with Phil Bildner

What's your favorite part of being a book creator for young people? For so many of us, that's easy -- school visits! But in this era of book bans and censorship, the business of school visits has experienced a dramatic transformation. In this session, you'll learn (almost) everything you need to know about what to expect at the various stages of the school visit experience.  

Panel to Panel - Writing for Comics 101 with Cecil Castelluci

Got a comic in your head and no clue where to start? Looking to adapt a piece of prose into a graphic novel? Comics curious? In this workshop learn the basics of comic book writing and what strengths telling a story sequentially can do. You’ll get an overview of how panels work, gain insight in both in plotting and writing a comic book script (as well the different types of script formats), and how to be a great collaborator with the artist.

The Art of Making a Dummy with Angela Kang

Creating a picture book dummy is essential for querying agents and submitting to editors, but it’s more than just a step toward publication. It can serve as a valuable part of the creative process, helping you evaluate the strength, pacing, and emotional core of a narrative. In this practical workshop, we’ll examine the fundamentals of picture book dummies, breaking down key elements such as pagination, text placement, image composition, and overall design. We’ll explore a range of strategies and technologies that support rapid ideation and help streamline the revision process, so that you leave the session with actionable steps for strengthening your picture book.

From Concept to Dummy: A Workshop for Picture Book Creators with Veronique Sweet (Description Coming Soon)