Hullo lovely! Here is the recording from the workshop/training that Kelly Delaney and I (Mira Reisberg) hosted in support of our Craft and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books Course. We did it to give folks a small sense of our working style and as a hopefully helpful offering for our community. We edited a lot of the recording around the prizes and other fun stuff, but we did leave a little in as well. Keep an open mind and an open heart. You never know what might come out of this.

And just a wee recap of some of what you learned in the workshop recording followed by a fun call to action!

ONE

This is where it all begins. whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction  - your main character(s) or subject is key. You need to start with this first critical element and then let it guide you through your writing.

TWO

If the reader doesn't feel for your character(s), or care for them or your subject, you have a dead story.

No one will want to read on. No one will empathize. No one will care. No one will be curious enough to want to find out more or even more importantly, desperately want to turn the page to find out... WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

It is important that you pay attention to your character's feelings and fears as well as how you want your readers to feel about your subject or characters. Be prepared to evoke some emotions and make us care!

THREE

The famous educational theorist Paulo Freire once said something to the effect of words without action is just blah. Now he was referring to activism to help poor people and children around the world. But the same can be true of storytelling.

If you just have talking heads, and not much happening, your story will be as flat as a flounder. This is where plot or action comes into play. You want to engage your reader by making things happen. Things that connect to your characters or topics. Things that get your reader's hearts beating or mind's racing with excitement, fear, empathy, humor, or just plain curiosity or delight.

If you'd like to delve into these topics, and many others in a deep way while writing wonderful picture books,
join Kelly and Mira and a bunch of other editors and agents working with you LIVE starting April 16th 2018 click the image below.