Write Your Picture Book!
with Kelly Bingham
Picture this…
Picture books have changed greatly over the last few decades, and the market is wide open for fresh ideas. Picture books can be about anything and everything, from concepts to emotions to fantasy to non-fiction. Join us in this six-week intensive, where we’ll take that idea of yours and turn it into a manuscript!
Along the way, we’ll touch on some of the fundamentals of creating picture books—such as building unique characters, creating pages that read out loud beautifully, trimming to a small word count, and making use of illustrations to share in the storytelling process.
Fear not: no artistic ability is required to write a picture book. This class will focus on the writing end of the project, and there is no need to worry about “finding” an illustrator on your own to complete your manuscript!
Kelly Bingham is the best teacher I have worked with. She is specific in her critiques. She is kind and patient. Young writers will learn a tremendous amount from Kelly. I feel very blessed to have found her.
—Wendy Carbo
Please note: the course will not meet the week of December 18-25. The course’s 6 lectures are spread out over 7 weeks.
How It Works
Each Wednesday, I will post a lecture on a topic pertaining to writing a picture book manuscript. There will be homework assignments each week that will help you build your picture book from the ground up.
Each week, you will have a one-on-one critique with me. We will also have a group classroom area to share our homework, give each other feedback, and share tips, questions, thoughts, and book recommendations each week!
By the time our six weeks is up, you’ll have had multiple opportunities to have your work read and critiqued, go back and revise, and share your work again. (Or start a new manuscript if you like.) You will leave class with at least one manuscript that you can continue revising all the way to submission-ready!
What We’ll Cover
- What picture books are… and what they aren’t
- Why picture books are usually 32 pages
- Topics of picture books
- Thinking visually!
- How to use a storyboard
- Opening lines–hook your young reader
- Revising, cutting, and trimming
- Tension and pacing
- Character “desire”
- Page turns
- Writing a query letter
Course Outline
Week One: Analyzing Story Structure in Picture Books
We’ll learn how to create a solid story structure, which is essential to writing a story with an emotional payoff and lots of page-turning tension.
Assignment: Using a template from class, analyze the story structure of two of your favorite picture books.
Week Two: Creating Story Structure for Your Picture Book
We’ll take what we learned from analyzing story structure and apply that to our own stories, giving you room to draft a simplified (but critical) structure you can build upon as you write.
Assignment: Using the story template, break your idea down into concrete building blocks that will make up your story structure.
Week Three: Write Your First Draft!
We use what we’ve learned from the last two classes and draft our entire books. You’ll receive one-on-one feedback from the instructor.
Assignment: Draft your picture book! Maximum word count: 1000 words
Week Four: Storyboard Magic!
We’ll create a storyboard to help you space out your story and discover weak spots, page turns, and rising tension.
Assignment: Create your own storyboard. Also: Continue drafting your manuscript—or work on revisions. You’ll also have the option to share work with classmates. Maximum word count: 1000 words
Week Five: The Power of Revision
Your picture book will rise to the next level once you apply the process of revision. We’ll learn about several ways to go about revising your draft, and then use those tips and tricks to make further revisions in your manuscript. There will be one-on-one critiquing as well as the option of classmate-sharing.
Assignment: Work on revisions of your original draft OR send in an all-new draft of a new story. Maximum word count: 1000 words
Week Six: Would You Like to See My Story?
Once you’re done writing, how do you get an agent or editor to read your work? It begins with a crisp, professional query letter. This week, we will touch briefly upon the need to write a query letter (when searching for an editor or agent,) and then we’ll draft our own. You’ll receive feedback on your letter, and one last round of feedback on your story.
Assignment: Draft a query letter. Revise your manuscript OR send in a new draft of a new idea. Maximum word count 1000 words.
Why Take a Children’s Book Writing Course with Writers.com?
- We welcome writers of all backgrounds and experience levels, and we are here for one reason: to support you on your writing journey.
- Small groups keep our online writing classes lively and intimate.
- Work through your weekly written lectures, course materials, and writing assignments at your own pace.
- Share and discuss your work with classmates in a supportive class environment.
- Award-winning instructor Kelly Bingham will offer you direct, personal feedback and suggestions on every assignment you submit.
Want to hear more from Kelly on the young adult poetry novel? See her writers.com interview.
Learn how to create a children’s picture book. Reserve your spot today!
$445.00Enroll Now
Student Feedback for Kelly Bingham:
Kelly Bingham is the best teacher I have worked with. She is specific in her critiques. She is kind and patient. Young writers will learn a tremendous amount from Kelly. I feel very blessed to have found her. Wendy Carbo
This course FAR exceeded my expectations. It was my first time taking a writing class and the content of the course helped me to move forward on a project that has been sitting in the back of my mind for years. Kelly was quite simply PHENOMENAL—she was open, responsive, encouraging, and peppered her lively sense of humor through the critiques and lessons. Gwendolyn Robles
This course exceeded my expectations! I'm so glad I found it. Kelly was very generous with her feedback, offering many thoughtful suggestions and comments. Over 6 weeks, I completely restructured my manuscript with Kelly's help, and it is now a much stronger story. I've taken other picture book writing courses, but this course was by far the most helpful. Heather OConnor
I truly appreciated Kelly as a teacher. Her comments and suggestions were extremely helpful. The lessons were very informative and helpful as well. I am so glad I took this course. Ksenia Winnicki
This course was a great step-by-step instruction for someone like me who has never written a book. Kelly was great to work with, very knowledgeable and helpful. Jodi Tormey
Kelly is an excellent teacher. She is encouraging, thoughtful and so inspirational. I felt that she really worked with me on a close personal level, and her feedback was very helpful. The tutorials were very good, with lots of examples and clear key points. Joining this course with Kelly has given me much more confidence as a writer. Kathleen de Mengel
The teacher was very good. Kelly is patient and gave many excellent suggestions. She was also very responsive and thorough. Tobias Vogelstein
The course was well laid out and challenging. Kelly's lecture were well-crafted and packed with useful information. I had a great experience! Michele Noble
Really positive experience. Kelly was a wonderful teacher, with lots of guidance and positivity. Paula McEvenue
Kelly Bingham gave great editing advice, her lessons were chock full of information, and she was very pleasant and encouraging. I know my story is so much better because of this class and Kelly! Joan Jensen
An interesting class. Exceptionally organized. Lots of information and a caring knowledgeable teacher. Kelly ran a class that offered a wealth of knowledge, and was always supportive and willing to offer insights. I enjoyed the class immensely. Ariela Zucker
Kelly Bingham is very encouraging and positive. My writing improved and I received great comments, insight, and feel more confident about my story. Genevieve Bardwell
Great course, great experience–and all for a great price. Highly recommended. Meg Eden
Kelly was terrific as a teacher. Available, open, honest and also caring with her comments and feedback. Kelly was extremely helpful and willing and open to discuss her comments and lessons as well as the books on the reading list. The lessons were presented on time and her feedback by email and in the forums was terrific and timely. The course material was well-organized with many wonderful examples provided for each lesson. And a great reading list. Suzanne Purvis
Kelly is an excellent teacher. Her lectures were fabulous, and her approach was both professional and generous. I felt encouraged and challenged every week, and I have a much better understanding of this genre because of her guidance. Barbara Santucci
Kelly is so obviously an expert in her area. I loved her personable and positive approach to critique and feedback. This is a rigorous writing class. However, that’s what I wanted. I really feel that I gained a lot of insight and skill during this time. I already have recommended these classes to friends. : ) Heather Woodward
