Description:
You just completed the first draft of your picture book…now what? This Creative Lab will focus on revising early drafts of picture books, paying special attention to characterization, voice, arc reshaping, and diving back into a draft after months of neglecting it.
Skill Level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced):
Beginner-Intermediate
This lab is best for participants…
Who have a completed draft of a PICTURE BOOK manuscript or dummy they wish to revise. *While dummies are welcome, please note that we will not discuss illustration technique; this lab is focused on manuscripts and texts.
Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation:
Please bring a completed first draft or dummy of a picture book, as well as a mentor text for your manuscript. You should email your manuscript as a Microsoft Word or Google Document to the instructor and be prepared to have it projected on screen. (Instructions on where to email your manuscript will be sent closer to the event.) PLEASE NOTE: Luana will be able to use only SOME of the manuscripts sent in ahead of time. Attendees will be completing a worksheet so bring a writing utensil (printouts will be provided) or laptop to fill it out.
Schedule:
- Introduction of instructor and course objective (5 minutes)
- One-sentence story statements (15 minutes)
- Overview of important elements of a picture book: Character; Visual storytelling; Meaning/message (or lack thereof); Pacing; Arc/structure; Setting; Voice (25 minutes)
- Deep dive into a mentor text (15 minutes)
- Break (10 minutes)
- Live revision of select first draft manuscript(s) performed by instructor (25 minutes)
- Workshop/revision time: Use best practices to explore the picture book elements in your first draft, and identify opportunities for revision (25 minutes)
- Break (5-10 minutes)
- Small group: In pairs, attendees will read one another’s manuscript and revision worksheet, and critique one another. (25 minutes)
- Revisit your notes and create your post-conference to-do list (10 minutes)
- Final Q&A (15 minutes)
Objectives:
Participants will:
- Learn how to revisit a first draft and further create a satisfying text ripe for illustration possibilities.
- Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each picture book component in their first draft.
- Gain tangible revision techniques to help get them to a next draft, or a solid final draft.
- Witness a live revision by the editor/instructor.
- Review examples from published picture books for fresh inspiration.
- Share their work with colleagues for new perspectives and additional feedback.
- Create a post-conference to-do list with actionable tasks and next steps.
