Mem Fox is credited with saying, “Writing a picture book is like writing War and Peace in haiku.” In other words, it’s not as simple as you think. In this class, writers will explore the who, why, where, what, when, and how of writing picture books:

• who your audience is and suggestions for connecting with them;

• why you should (and should not) write a picture book;

• where the best ideas come from;

• what the basic structure of a picture book is, including pagination and illustrations;

• when to use “little” words and “big” words, as well as when to use rhythm, rhyme, and repetition;

• how to use story and characters arcs for writing picture books (Yes, they still apply!).

Using examples from classic children’s books, as well as her own works, bestselling children’s writer Tama Fortner will lead writers through the steps needed to create a “Read it again, please!” picture book.

*This class can be adapted to a single session or an extended workshop.

Want to write a nonfiction book for children or adults? Then you’d better be ready to do some research because it’s the facts you uncover that will drive your writing! Learn the skills, tips, and tricks used by an ECPA award-winning and bestselling nonfiction writer for children. Topics covered will include finding potential ideas, identifying and tracking down primary and secondary sources, warnings about and surprising uses of Wikipedia, mining the depths of the Internet using Boolean searches, and keeping track of all that research. (Psst! These tips and tricks work for researching children’s, teen, and adult books!)

Writing devotions for children (and grownups!) means writing something they will actually want to read. On their own. Without being forced or bribed.

If you want to write a devotional that kids (and grownups!) will run to pick up on their own, let the award-winning writer behind Simply Christmas, Roar Like a Lion, and the Indescribable for Kids series share with you a few of her best tips and strategies. This workshop will explore such topics as the basic structure of a devotional, using the richness of imagination and humor to connect with readers, finding your voice (Hint: it’s not a preachy one!), avoiding “church speak,” and making your message both real and relevant to today’s readers.

*This class can be adapted to address writing specifically for kids, specifically for grownups, or both!

In our digital world, it’s all about images! Tap into your creativity, and learn to create professional-looking posts for social media using the free version of Canva. This class will touch on how to create a color scheme and choose fonts, as well as how to create social media posts for Instagram and Facebook. The basic features of Canva will be explained and demonstrated, including templates, images, elements, sharing, and downloading. Participants are asked to bring their laptops with the free version of Canva already downloaded.