Next Workshop... July 15-19, 2013
Purpose: This is an intensive workshop for those who are not only passionate about children's book writing, but who dream of publishing their own children's books. Getting attendees published is the end goal. (Students from 2003 and 2007 have published their first books! Others have signed with an agent who has been an instructor for several summers.) The course is designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced writers. It consists of presentations by eight full-time instructors, gobs of writing, group manuscript sharing, and intensive consults with instructors. The instructors are five professional children's book authors, two children's book editors from major publishing houses, and a full-time children's book agent. What makes this course distinctive is the enormous amount of one-on-one coaching from the instructors, far, far more than from any other course we're aware of. The teacher-student ratio roughly will be one to seven. This means that students can have at least one major manuscript consult per day, and possibly more.
Hours: Six hours and fifteen minutes a day, 9:00 am-12:00 pm, 1:15 pm-4:30 pm. Between 8:00 am and 9:00 am, Tuesday through Friday, there is optional, informal class time in which students can write, share, and consult with instructors.
Guest Lecturers: There will be two guest lecturers, both established children's book authors or experts on writing or the children's book world.
Oceanside tidalpool.
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“The instructors were outstanding... I expected to be challenged, enlightened and involved. I didn't expect to be entertained and delighted!”
Patricia Carrelli
OCCBWW 2012 |
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Evening Presentations: On Tuesday and Wednesday night of the course, class authors-instructors will present.
Pre-Workshop Manuscript Review: Those who wish may submit a manuscript of picture book length or up to five pages from a larger work. Every single instructor will read it before class begins giving them a running start with you from day one.
Morning "Before-Class" Consults: Every morning, before class officially starts, between 8:00 am - 9:00 am, most instructors will be available for informal consults (at no additional charge).
Out-Of-Class Consults: If you wish, several instructors (not necessarily all) will be available for 60 minute manuscript consults, outside of class hours, for a fee of $100. We will distribute information about which instructors are available several months before class starts.
Manuscript Review by Children's Book Editor or Agent: If you wish, upon finishing the course, an editor at a major publisher or a children's book agent will read a portion of your manuscript and offer you a professional critique. The cost for this is $150 (which, for manuscript reviews of this sort, is extremely reasonable).
Cost without graduate credit: $799
Graduate Credit Available from University of the Pacific: Up to three graduate level credits @ $62 per credit. Some additional course work required. Call 1-800-479-1995 for further details. Please see the information in the box below titled "University Semester Credit Option".
UNIVERSITY SEMESTER CREDIT OPTION:
Semester hours, from University of the Pacific, Center for Professional and Continuing Education. $62 per credit. Acceptable to most participants, including many on district funding or release time, as credit is awarded for additional, "Teacher-Friendly" follow-up activities. For Graduate Professional Development participants NOT pursuing an advanced degree at UOP. Enroll at the seminar. For other credit questions ONLY, call (800) 479-1995.
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“This is my third year. It seems no matter how often I come I am flooded by new connections and revelations. This course continues to exceed my expectations. The low instructor/student ratio means there is ample opportunity for consultation and more if you take advantage of the unscheduled morning time. Awesome setting, caring, committed instructors.”
Jeff Bloom
OCCBWW 2012 |
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Location: This workshop is held in the exquisite, isolated coastal town of Oceanside, Oregon (which is roughly 90 miles from Portland, and ten miles from Tillamook and is so minuscule that it's not on all maps). The town basically amounts to a small, gnarled mountain whose hemline is the seashore. There are giant rocks off-shore that are home to sea lions (who snort at night) and sea birds. There are tidal pools everywhere, seals, herons, pelicans. It is entirely non-commercial, under-populated. Aside from a few modest motels, the only businesses are a little tavern (that has a great selection of micro-brews) and a small restaurant directly by the beach that sells good seafood and burgers, and, if it's chilly, heats by wood-stove. You can buy a latte. The town could market itself as a Haiku.
The classroom will be the comfortable Oceanside Community Center (one of the few classrooms in the world with a wood-burning fireplace) which is directly by the beach. In fact, if you fell off its patio (where many instructors hold one-on-one consults in good weather), and were it a very high tide, you'd end up in the ocean.
Lodging: There are modest motels, B&B's and house rentals available in Oceanside (and all the nearby towns). Many of them have stunning views of the ocean. There are also nearby campsites you can reserve. For those participants who wish, we will give them the e-mail addresses of everyone else who has signed up so they can contact each other about sharing houses (or transportation). For information on where to stay, please see Lodging Information.
“How did the course meet your expectations? 'Hugely well'... The range of expertise from your speakers was incredibly useful. Whether it was my genre or not, I was able to learn from each topic.”
Debora Carney
OCCBWW 2012 |
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Cancellation Policy: You may cancel at any time up to six weeks before the class and receive a full refund of your registration (minus a processing charge of $55). Between six weeks and three weeks before the class there is a 50% refund (minus a processing charge of $55). And within three weeks of the class no refund is available.
Oregon Coast Children's Book Writers Workshop Class of 2012 on classroom patio.
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