Children’s Authors’ Bootcamp
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is this class for?
This class is designed for the beginning to intermediate writer. The person just exploring the idea of writing fiction for children will gain a solid foundation on which to build. The person who is close to being published (getting personalized rejection letters) will find the tools to help them land a contract. More experienced writers can hone skills, refine techniques, and come away seeing their stories more clearly.
What will be covered?
On Saturday we start with a look at the genres and categories of children’s fiction - magazine stories, picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult, and touch on the "rules" for each age group. We'll talk about generating story ideas and the importance of identifying what your main character wants and what's keeping him from getting it (conflict). In-depth tips for developing a believable main character will lay the groundwork for examining the Three Act Structure of plotting.
The afternoon will be spent working with setting, time period, description and theme. Then you'll break into small groups and do an exercise that brings all the elements together. Saturday night (for homework!) you'll do the same exercise with your own story.
Sunday morning will be spent putting together the groundwork done on Saturday. Decisions need to be made on many things including dialogue, point of view, tense, pacing, and sentence structure. Before we break for lunch, we’ll examine and write some gripping first sentences and enticing first paragraphs. After lunch we’ll talk about revision, formatting a clean manuscript and targeting the best place to send your finished work. Finally, back in your small groups, you'll share your story ideas, characters and plot outlines for your own work with your classmates and get constructive feedback. Time will be set aside throughout Bootcamp to answer any questions you might have.
For a detailed course outline click here.
I'm nervous about this "Bootcamp" name. Will there be calisthenics, marching and push-ups involved?Only if Laura and Linda show up in a bad mood.
What's the difference between a writing workshop and a conference?
The key element to a writing workshop is "work." Whether it lasts a few hours or a few days, the purpose of a writing workshop is to give you practical, solid techniques to improve your writing. At Bootcamp, you'll be able to put those techniques to use immediately, and have ample time for discussion, questions and an exchange of ideas. Workshops generally focus on one aspect of writing (in the case of this Bootcamp, it's writing fiction for children), and the instructors are industry professionals with a high level of expertise. Our goal with Bootcamp is to provide you with a road map you can use to write a story you're currently working on, and every story you write in the future.
Conferences are often sponsored by an organization, and offer a more generalized perspective of writing. Several speakers present one-hour talks on their particular niche, be it writing, editing, illustrating or marketing. Conferences have a social element: they are a time to network with other writers, meet editors or agents, celebrate successes, commiserate about rejections.
Writers who are making a long-term commitment to their craft need both conferences and workshops. Attending a conference once a year or so will help you keep abreast of industry news and allow you to feel connected to the writing community. Taking workshops such as Children's Authors' Bootcamp throughout your career will strengthen your skills as a writer and help you hone your unique talents.
Do you do manuscript critiques?
There isn't enough time during Bootcamp for us to individually critique your manuscripts (we barely have time to cover the information we have plus answer all your questions!). We will set aside some time for students to share their in-class writing and get feedback from us and other students (and if you use your own story ideas as a basis for the writing exercises, you'll be getting feedback on your manuscript indirectly). Many writers' organizations have lists of qualified professionals who critique members' manuscripts for a fee. The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators is one such organization (http://www.scbwi.org). If you’re interested in starting your own manuscript critique group, you’ll probably meet some people at Bootcamp who would like to form a group as well.
Another reason we don't critique actual works-in-progress during Bootcamp is that chances are, once you've taken the workshop, you'll want to substantially revise your work. Many students have told us that a critique of a manuscript they wrote prior to attending Bootcamp wouldn't have done them any good. We showed them so many ways to improve their stories that they went home and completely revamped their manuscripts!
However, we do offer a manuscript critique service exclusively for Bootcamp alumni after they've completed a Bootcamp workshop. For rates and other details, click here.
Will you cover board and novelty books?
In today's market, most board books are written by the illustrators (unless the work was first published as a picture book and then turned into a board book). Novelty books, especially pop-ups and lift-the-flaps, are also usually conceived and executed by an artist rather than a writer. As a result, we won't be devoting time specifically to discussing board or novelty books in Bootcamp. However, if you'd like to try writing a board book, you will be able to use many of the techniques we present for writing picture books. And if you have specific questions regarding board or novelty books, we'd be happy to answer them in class.
Will you cover information on illustrating children's books?
Neither of us is an illustrator, and so we can't speak directly to things like illustration technique or materials. However, we will discuss how the text and illustrations work together in a picture book (something a writer needs to be aware of), talk about how much input the writer has in the illustrations, and explain how you would go about submitting both the manuscript and illustrations to a publisher if you're a writer and an illustrator.
Do I need to purchase a workbook?
No, there is no workbook for Bootcamp, though you will receive a comprehensive booklet of handouts at no additional cost. Linda’s children’s books and a variety of writing how-to books published by Children’s Book Insider will be available for purchase should they look useful to you. Of course, we’d be pleased to autograph them.
Will you give me a list of publishers?
Because there are so many publishers doing different types of children's books, and because each student's manuscript is unique, it would be impossible for us to compile one list that every student could use. However, we do teach you how to research publishers on your own, and determine which ones are the best fit for your work.
Will I have to read my work in front of the class?
No, in spite of our name, no one has to do anything they don’t want to do. However, taking advantage of the opportunities to read the work you do in class allows feedback on your ideas and techniques in a supportive atmosphere. The input you get might be just the key to unlocking the magic of your story. You’ll learn from hearing the feedback given to other participants on their work, too.