Registration // Content // Perks & Bonuses // Teachers // Submissions // Contributors // Lives // Testimonials // FAQs
Calling All Children's Picture Book Writers and Illustrators!
Learn everything you need to know to
write and publish wonderful children's picture books!
With weekly critiques from industry experts &
exclusive skip-the-slush-pile submission opportunities
this course is a game changer!
Sorry (aside from scholarships), this course is now sold out.
To get first dibs on our next session in 2021 and to join our mailing list,
sign up here.
The next live training series begins later in 2021, runs 6 weeks and
includes a bonus instant-access mini-conference!
includes a bonus instant-access mini-conference!
From complete beginners to seasoned writers and illustrators, this course has something for everyone. Find out why our students say this course is "like attending twenty conferences or a prestigious MFA program in one course."
In this course, you can expect:
● To learn everything you need to know about publishing a picture book
● Exclusive publishing opportunities
● Live mentoring
● An interactive supportive community
If you want to:
● Write a fresh children’s picture book story from start to finish or jump in with one of our suggestions
● Polish an existing children's book manuscript for publication
● Revise your work to make it easy for an editor to say yes
● Radically improve your chances of publication or getting an agent
● Write a story that you can later illustrate to increase your chances for publication
● Create a targeted cover letter ready to send to your ideal editor or agent
● Participate in weekly critiques and our super interactive private FB group
● Join a critique group
● Submit to an exclusive panel of editors and agents who are looking to acquire from this course
● Have lots of fun
...then this course is for you!
What's new this session?
● TWO fabulous new acquiring co-teachers, some new Golden Ticket judges
● FREE LIVE advanced picture book writing and targeting your submissions minicourse/workinar and bonus for returning students!
● Skip-the-Slush-Pile with at least Ten Fantastic submission opportunities
● Tons of bonuses for all enrolled students
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Who: The course is co-taught with daily interaction by the expert publishing faculty, the weekly guests, and the published assistants. The course also includes videos and written interviews with over 25 industry experts.
What: It's a size-limited, online interactive e-course, talent search, and community lovefest with everything you need to know about writing, selling and marketing children's picture books. There are written and video lessons, worksheets, templates, handouts, lists of publishers and agents, feedback, and step by step directions, providing a really comprehensive education.
Where: It all happens in the comfort of your own home, a café, the library, on vacation, anywhere that you can get Internet access. With recorded LIVE webinars, this proven-track record course is designed to accommodate students from all corners of this beautiful world.
When: The next course starts January 11th, 2021 and runs for 5 full faculty weeks, PLUS a bonus instant-access mini-conference week. The program is designed to be extremely time-flexible... you can access the materials and interact as much or as little as you like. You will have access to the course materials for one year after the course ends.
How: Access daily lessons on our password-protected website, with tons of resources including lists of publishers and agents, worksheets, writing templates, videos and interviews, and much more! Get your work critiqued in weekly topic-specific webinars. Interact via our private Facebook group where questions are answered and small critique groups are set up for those who want them.
Why: The most important aspect —you want to write and publish children's picture books. This is the only course with a phenomenal proven track-record of published, contracted, and now agented former students.
What: It's a size-limited, online interactive e-course, talent search, and community lovefest with everything you need to know about writing, selling and marketing children's picture books. There are written and video lessons, worksheets, templates, handouts, lists of publishers and agents, feedback, and step by step directions, providing a really comprehensive education.
Where: It all happens in the comfort of your own home, a café, the library, on vacation, anywhere that you can get Internet access. With recorded LIVE webinars, this proven-track record course is designed to accommodate students from all corners of this beautiful world.
When: The next course starts January 11th, 2021 and runs for 5 full faculty weeks, PLUS a bonus instant-access mini-conference week. The program is designed to be extremely time-flexible... you can access the materials and interact as much or as little as you like. You will have access to the course materials for one year after the course ends.
How: Access daily lessons on our password-protected website, with tons of resources including lists of publishers and agents, worksheets, writing templates, videos and interviews, and much more! Get your work critiqued in weekly topic-specific webinars. Interact via our private Facebook group where questions are answered and small critique groups are set up for those who want them.
Why: The most important aspect —you want to write and publish children's picture books. This is the only course with a phenomenal proven track-record of published, contracted, and now agented former students.
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There are two levels of Payment for the Craft and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books
1. The Big Bonus, which includes all the materials, bonuses, weekly critiques, submission opportunities, interactive community and so much more. 2. Then there are the Full Course with ONE HOUR Extra Success critiquing opportunities below. These are only available at the time of registration. |
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PLUS ALL THE BONUSES, INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION, FABULOUS COMMUNITY,
WEEKLY CRITIQUING WEBINARS WITH AGENTS & EDITORS
PLUS TWELVE FANTASTIC SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITIES!
We also have wonderful scholarships right here!
WEEKLY CRITIQUING WEBINARS WITH AGENTS & EDITORS
PLUS TWELVE FANTASTIC SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITIES!
We also have wonderful scholarships right here!
Need more info? Keep scrolling!
Each week we have LIVE topic-specific critiquing webinars with acquiring editors and agents to further increase student's work quality and chances for publication. We call these the Lives. These editors and agents, plus other decision makers return at the end of the course to look at students mentored work with an eye towards acquisitions.
From complete beginners to seasoned writers and illustrators, this course has something for everyone. Find out why our students say this course is "like attending twenty conferences or a prestigious MFA program in one course."
Last year's panel of Golden Ticket judges, who AT THE END OF THE COURSE,
REQUESTED TO SEE 56 FULL MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS!
Quite a few of these students are now agented or contracted. Woohoo!
We will announce this year's judges when we have them finalized, so keep checking back.
REQUESTED TO SEE 56 FULL MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS!
Quite a few of these students are now agented or contracted. Woohoo!
We will announce this year's judges when we have them finalized, so keep checking back.
We'd love you to add your story to our story of many now-published students' books on shelves at bookstores everywhere!
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WEEK 1
WEEK 3
WEEK 5
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WEEK 2
WEEK 4
WEEK 6
START PREPPING YOUR GOLDEN TICKET SUBMISSIONS! |
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THE GOLDEN TICKETS
An EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY no other academy offers! At the end of this course, you will be able to put your work in front of real industry experts! You will directly pitch a select group of agents and editors and bypass the slush pile or closed-house submission policy. In this course, you will learn how to not only write memorable and marketable picture books, but also how to write great pitches, bios, and covers letters to catch that agent or editor's eye. Our panel of judges will look look at a secret website of your pitches and bios and select ones that they're interested in seeing more from for a chance to publish your work. |
THE LIVE WEBINARS
The "LIVES" are another Children's Book Academy EXCLUSIVE available to you through this course! Each week, you will have the opportunity to share your work with our special honorary guests in order to get some of their insight and direct coaching of your work during our live (and recorded) sessions. From hooks to character development to plot twists and pitches, your work is guaranteed live critiques throughout the course weeks in a friendly and supportive environment that fosters growth and community. You will not find an opportunity to impress editors and agents from the most sought-after houses anywhere else. |
AND a BRAND NEW FREE LIVE higher level writing and targeting your publishers or agent bonus mini-course for returning students!
- FREE How to Build a Website Great for authors & illustrators
- FREE How to Write and Illustrate Brilliant Board Books Another great FREE bonus for both authors and illustrators
- FREE Bonus Videos The Brilliant Barbara Bottner Bonus Interviews dig deeper into course materials
- FREE Social Media Tips & Tricks Learn to setup your accounts & develop a social media following to help promote your books
- FREE Learn Photoshop We offer this at two levels: beginners (Part 1) and seasoned users (Part 2) in one low-cost course
- Expert Writing Tips FREE The Little Big Book of Children’s Book Writing Techniques & Terminology
- Plus an awesome bonus for the first 20 to register: Half off our delicious start today "Let's Get Funny: Writing Humor for Kids" course (which is getting rave reviews)
- BUT WAIT THERE'S EVEN MORE - a quickie intro to humor with Amy Fitzgerald!!!
- AND a BRAND NEW FREE LIVE higher level writing and targeting your publishers or agent bonus mini-course for returning students!
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Sign Up
For The Full Course with all the amazing bonuses, daily interaction and mentoring, weekly critiques with editors and agents, keep forever handouts and worksheets, a fantastic community
AND THE CHANCE TO WORK LIVE WITH AN EDITOR OR AGENT!
For The Full Course with all the amazing bonuses, daily interaction and mentoring, weekly critiques with editors and agents, keep forever handouts and worksheets, a fantastic community
AND THE CHANCE TO WORK LIVE WITH AN EDITOR OR AGENT!
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A die-hard Spice Girls fan and Totoro enthusiast, Harriet Low is an editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which publishes award-winning books like these recent winners: The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander & Kadir Nelson, ¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market by Raúl the Third, All in a Drop by Lori Alexander & Vivien Mildenberger, Dissenter on the Bench by Victoria Ortiz, and Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack. As an editor, Harriet especially enjoys dry humor, middle grade fantasy, non-fiction, graphic novels, and stories that have a darker edge.
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Rosie Ahmed is an Assistant Editor with Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers. Before that, she was an editorial assistant at Dial and the former Kathy Dawson Books. Rosie has interned with Bloomsbury Children’s and the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency, and earned her MA in Creative Writing at the University of South Dakota. She works on picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, and nonfiction that give children the stories they need in order to thrive.
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Dr. Mira Reisberg has helped MANY authors and illustrators get published. She has worn just about every hat in the industry including illustrator, author, and literary agent. Mira holds a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on children's literature. She has taught children's literature survey and making courses at Washington State University, Northern Illinois University, San Francisco City College Extension, and US Berkeley Extension. Mira also works as an editor and art director at Clear Fork Publishing's children's imprint Spork and is an award-winning children's book illustrator and writer.
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Charlotte Wenger is a literary agent in the Boston area with Prospect Agency. Prior to joining Prospect, she was an associate editor at Page Street Kids. She has her Master of Arts in Children’s Literature from Simmons College (now University) and serves on the national advisory board of the Mazza Museum, the world’s largest collection of original artwork by children’s book illustrators. Charlotte is drawn to children's literature and art for all ages—board books through YA, but especially picture books.
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Joni Sussman has been the Publisher at Kar-Ben Publishing for 17 years. Celebrating almost 50 years of publishing award-winning Jewish-themed picture books for children. Kar-Ben publishes both fiction and non-fiction for preschool through middle school readers, including Jewish holiday books, life-cycle stories, Bible tales, folktales, picture book biographies, stories about American and world Jewish history, Israel, the Holocaust, the rich diversity within the Jewish community, and other Jewish topics.
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SOME OF THE MANY BOOKS MIRA AND HER PUBLISHER HAVE ACQUIRED FROM THIS COURSE ALONE:
For a limited time only, use code PBLove
FOR AN ADDITIONAL $100 OFF the prices below!
FOR AN ADDITIONAL $100 OFF the prices below!
FABULOUS COURSE OFFERINGS |
FULL COURSE GREAT VALUE $579 |
FULL COURSE + CRITIQUE BEST VALUE $679 |
Five+ weeks of live access to your helpful instructors, assistants and super supportive peers in our Private Group |
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Access to roughly 30 lessons + an additional 6 day mini-conference |
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An additional YEAR of access to all the juicy content |
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Six additional bonuses (value $650) |
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The Little Big Book of Children’s Book Writing Techniques and Terminology (Absolutely Priceless) |
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Lifelong access to our own highly interactive private Facebook group |
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Daily M-F access to your instructors |
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Live weekly topic-specific, workshop/webinars focused on you and your work. These interactive webinars will also be recorded. |
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A FREE Social Media course |
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Fabulous templates, worksheets, and done-for-you scripts |
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A beautiful CBA badge for your website |
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Your own optional critique group |
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A FREE e-Book of course content |
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Live weekly topic-specific work-shopping critique webinars where we focus on you and your work (these interactive videos will also be recorded) |
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Fabulous templates, worksheets, and done-for-you scripts |
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Optional peer support critique groups set up for you |
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Priceless opportunities to learn from and connect with editors in our live webinars |
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Exclusive entry into the Golden Ticket skip-the-line pitch fest/talent search contest where editors and agents will select manuscripts to consider for publication, and so much more! |
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EVERYTHING PLUS a Deeply-Discounted, one hour, one-on-one live critique that’s like an intensive individual mini-course focused solely on you and your work with an acquiring editor or agent! |
Receive a Critique for only 100 more |
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Sorry, our class is full , and registration is now closed. Sign up for our mailing list and gets first dibs on the next session.
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AND SO MUCH MORE!
Registering for the Craft and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books is an incredibly useful investment in your career with a priceless return on this investment. The course comes with a money back guarantee that if you fully participate and do the work throughout the course, if at the end of a year you don't feel that you learned a lot, we'll give you your money back!
Still a little unsure? Here are some testimonials from amazing students who have taken this transformative journey before you, all of whom are now multi-published!
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Join former students who have now received over 375 contract offers and others who have signed with their dream agents. Here's a wee video from former student AND NOW MULTI-MULTI AWARD-WINNER Yuyi Morales.
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Marcie Colleen is now multi, multi published with a major kidlit career!
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Jenny Kouts is also multi published and doing great in Greece! Yay Jenny!
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And here's Danielle Dufayet, now published with three books and more on the way!
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From Tanja Bauerle
I just completed The Craft and Business of Writing Children’s Picture Books. The wonderful Mira Reisberg is so incredibly generous and knowledgeable that the past five weeks have been filled with resources, information and practical applications that I can’t wait to implement into my own writing. I feel so inspired and feel like my inner writer is blossoming, all that’s to the marvelous Mira. I highly encourage you to take any of Mira’s courses. You will not be disappointed and the tools that she will bestow on you will propel you onwards. |
From Melanie Moschella
I thoroughly enjoyed the online format of “The Craft and Business of Writing Children’s Picture Books”! Every weekday there was a new lesson posted with lecture notes and informative videos from other children’s book authors [and editors, agents, and book sellers]. I had an idea for a picture book, but as a new writer I did not know how to get started. What I especially liked about this class was our small critique groups and the one-on-one critique with Dr. Reisberg. Dr. Reisberg understands the children’s book industry and her feedback and continued encouragement has been wonderful! |
From Marcy Pusey
Just completed five weeks with the Children's Book Academy… and I have to say: It was SUPERB. FANTASTIC. The class has so inspired and equipped me, that I’ve been more intentional about submitting, working, pitching, querying… and writing. I have some new, great, practical “tools” in my writer’s toolbox that I didn’t have before. I’ve left with a new fantastic critique group, an e-book with all the information, access to the website for awhile longer, and Mira. Mira is amazing. Since the class ended, I've won second place in the Perfect Character Driven Pitch contest. I submitted a book to a publisher I’ve worked with before (SNAP Learning) who loved my work and bought it! |
From Wendy Greenley
For the past five weeks I've been a student at Dr. Mira Reisberg's Children's Book Academy. Mira's passion for the subject was palpable, and her record of successes with previous students an inspiration. I came away with a renewed sense of focus and a conviction that it isn't enough to write good picture books--children deserve great picture books and it is up to writers to rise to the challenge. Seriously, thanks, Mira. |
From Danielle Heitmuller
Dr. Mira Reisberg is an excellent teacher. She pushes you to do your best, but in such a supportive and nurturing way. The Children's Book Academy improved my writing skills tenfold. I feel confident in submitting my manuscript and ready to write more with my newly acquired knowledge. |
From Audrey Couloumbis
One of the truest truths of writing is that we never know it all, we rarely face the same challenges with the next book that we met with the last. Consequently, we're always learning. I've taken two courses with Mira Reisberg's Children's Book Academy, although I had my doubts, at first, that an online class would be satisfying. But it had been too long since I'd had the opportunity to take any class, anywhere, and I decided to give it a try. I wasn't disappointed. I learned a lot in each class and of course...I'm looking forward to the next. |
The expert contributors will speak to you in custom created videos and written interviews sharing their perspectives on everything from writing tips and secrets on how they structure their books, researching and writing non-fiction, writing biographies, crafting perfect rhymes, creating luscious language, working with plot, getting rejected and keeping on going, what they look for in buying books, what they look for in submissions, creating an authors platform to make you more attractive to publishers and so much more.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: What kinds of formats will there be?
A: We will have helpful weekly subject-specific show and tell videos, daily lessons, video interviews with expert course contributors, written lessons, written interviews, step-by-step worksheets, handouts, a highly interactive secret Facebook group, weekly live critiques with extraordinary guest critiquers, and Q&As that are recorded as videos that remain indefinitely available along with the Facebook group, 2 e-books, and optional small critique groups.
Q: Who will benefit from this class?
A: Anyone who has a passion or interest in writing or illustrating children's picture books.
Q: When does the class start?
A: The next class starts January 11 2021.
Q: How much will I be investing in this course and how do I pay?
A: We have fantastic staggered discounts so the sooner you register, the bigger your discount. And of course there are the extra bonuses! The course includes over 30 lessons + tons of bonus materials, 6 weeks of M-F instructor access and lifetime access to your community + a 1 week mini-conference. You’ll register through Infusionsoft, which will automatically convert currency for you and we have nifty payment plans available.
Q: When does registration end?
A: Because our courses generally only happen once a year, and due to the high success rate of our students, usually sell out, we recommend that you register sooner rather than later.
Q: I’m primarily an artist, will this course be relevant for me?
A: While the primary focus of the course is writing children's picture books, you will learn a ton of helpful information and may increase your chances of publication as a much desired author/illustrator.
Q: What will I need?
A: Computer and Internet access, Facebook access, a great attitude and open mind, and a willingness to play with language and ideas.
Q: Are there any specific time requirements?
A: No! The only time sensitive areas are if you want to submit your work for a live webinar critique, there is a specific deadline, and if you join one of the optional critique groups you need to honor your group's critiquing timeline. The weekly webinars also happen at a specific day and time provided in advance, but if you can't make it live, they are also recorded for later viewing.
Q: What do I do if I have further questions?
A: You can call Mira directly CALIFORNIA time at 503.255.0152 or email mira@childrensbookacademy.com with "Children's Picture Book Writing Course Question" in the subject headline.
Q: How long does the course stay open after it ends?
A: Students have an additional year or more access to the course after it ends. The Facebook group with links to the webinars and extra materials stays open indefinitely.
Q: Do you offer refunds?
A: Sorry, there are no refunds. Because we give bonus passwords at the time of purchase, it is impossible to offer refunds. We appreciate your understanding. However, we do offer a 100% learning money back guarantee, that if you read the lessons, participate and do the work during the course, and at the end of a year, don't feel that you learned a lot, we will refund your money in full.
Q: What kinds of formats will there be?
A: We will have helpful weekly subject-specific show and tell videos, daily lessons, video interviews with expert course contributors, written lessons, written interviews, step-by-step worksheets, handouts, a highly interactive secret Facebook group, weekly live critiques with extraordinary guest critiquers, and Q&As that are recorded as videos that remain indefinitely available along with the Facebook group, 2 e-books, and optional small critique groups.
Q: Who will benefit from this class?
A: Anyone who has a passion or interest in writing or illustrating children's picture books.
Q: When does the class start?
A: The next class starts January 11 2021.
Q: How much will I be investing in this course and how do I pay?
A: We have fantastic staggered discounts so the sooner you register, the bigger your discount. And of course there are the extra bonuses! The course includes over 30 lessons + tons of bonus materials, 6 weeks of M-F instructor access and lifetime access to your community + a 1 week mini-conference. You’ll register through Infusionsoft, which will automatically convert currency for you and we have nifty payment plans available.
Q: When does registration end?
A: Because our courses generally only happen once a year, and due to the high success rate of our students, usually sell out, we recommend that you register sooner rather than later.
Q: I’m primarily an artist, will this course be relevant for me?
A: While the primary focus of the course is writing children's picture books, you will learn a ton of helpful information and may increase your chances of publication as a much desired author/illustrator.
Q: What will I need?
A: Computer and Internet access, Facebook access, a great attitude and open mind, and a willingness to play with language and ideas.
Q: Are there any specific time requirements?
A: No! The only time sensitive areas are if you want to submit your work for a live webinar critique, there is a specific deadline, and if you join one of the optional critique groups you need to honor your group's critiquing timeline. The weekly webinars also happen at a specific day and time provided in advance, but if you can't make it live, they are also recorded for later viewing.
Q: What do I do if I have further questions?
A: You can call Mira directly CALIFORNIA time at 503.255.0152 or email mira@childrensbookacademy.com with "Children's Picture Book Writing Course Question" in the subject headline.
Q: How long does the course stay open after it ends?
A: Students have an additional year or more access to the course after it ends. The Facebook group with links to the webinars and extra materials stays open indefinitely.
Q: Do you offer refunds?
A: Sorry, there are no refunds. Because we give bonus passwords at the time of purchase, it is impossible to offer refunds. We appreciate your understanding. However, we do offer a 100% learning money back guarantee, that if you read the lessons, participate and do the work during the course, and at the end of a year, don't feel that you learned a lot, we will refund your money in full.
Here's a tiny sneak peek from a much larger video interview with Marsha Diane Arnold where she shares words of wisdom for beginning writers. In the full interview, Marsha shares about her writing process, how she embeds or unearths deeper meanings in her stories, and how she crafts character-driven stories. She's pretty fabulous as are our other gifted contributors.
Is this your time to shine? Join us.
Heads up, unfortunately, this session is all sold out. Join us for the next one later on 2021.
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