Class Description
Are you a writer who loves picture books? In this six-week online course, we will explore the art of writing for the picture book format. The main goal of this generative course will be to produce six new picture book manuscripts (up to 800 words). We will review the essentials of picture book writing—format and storyboarding; language, rhythm and sound; writing for page turns; and 32-page structure. Each week will include a short lecture on a particular aspect of picture book writing, with a close look at selected books in which we focus on writing elements and the interplay of text and pictures. Each week you will complete exercises, tackle writing assignments in response to prompts, engage in craft discussions, and offer feedback on classmate stories. Students should expect to devote 4-5 hours/week to this class. Note: Prior to the start of the course, students will receive an email with titles of instructor-selected books to be discussed in each lesson. Students are encouraged to access and read those picture books before that lesson. Students should also aim to borrow many picture books (published within the last ten years) to have on hand during the course.
Picture books by these and many other authors will be shared: Bao Phi, Miranda Paul, Andrea Wang, Kyle Lukoff, Minh Lê, Laurie Wallmark, Margarita Engle, Katie Yamasaki, Kao Kalia Yang, Carole Boston Weatherford, Jen Bryant, Traci Sorrell, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Kevin Noble Maillard, and Nikki Grimes.
Class Format
This is an Online: On-Demand class that will take place on our asynchronous online learning platform, Wet.Ink. Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink before 5pm on the first day of class!
*NOTE that while our handy dandy "Schedule" tab states a 6-7pm class time, there are actually no live meetings for this class! Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink, our online class platform, before 5pm on the first day of class.
Scholarship Information
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This is an Online: On-Demand class that will take place on our asynchronous online learning platform, Wet.Ink. Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink before 5pm on the first day of class! All video lectures for Online: On-Demand courses have closed captioning available. To enable, click "cc" on the toolbar of each video lecture.