Course Outline
Monday
8:00am-8:20am Registration
8:20am-8:50am Intro by Instructors
8:50am-9:35am Attendee Introductions: Class attendees introduce themselves.
9:35am-10:20am Lecture: Katherine Jacobs, Editor at Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
Getting Past the First Reader
It takes a village to publish a book but it begins with an individual connection. Meet the Macmillan Children's Publishing Group family and discover what it takes for me to present a project to my colleagues. Learn who is Roaring Brook Press and what makes a book a Roaring Brook book. We'll look at specific examples of books that not only are shining examples of well-crafted projects, but also are just right for me and my house.
10:20am-10:50am First Page Critiques
10:50am-12:00pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
12:00pm-1:15pm LUNCH
1:15pm-2:00pm Lecture: Ammi-Joan Paquette, agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency and author of picture books and novels.
The State of the Market
What kinds of books are selling right now? How does this differ from what has sold five or ten years ago, and what does this mean for authors — particularly debut authors — today? We'll talk a little about trends and a lot about quality, sharing tips and tricks to make your manuscript not only stand out in the current market, but also stand the test of time once it's in print. To publication and beyond!
2:00pm-3:00pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
3:00pm-3:45pm First Page Critiques
3:45pm-4:30pm Lecture: Jane Kurtz, Author
Ushering your Picture Character on Stage... and Off... with Grace and Pizzazz
How can you create a memorable picture book character and introduce your character in compelling ways — especially these days when picture books are short and need to captivate young readers quickly? How can you make sure your opening sets up a fun and satisfying and perhaps even surprising ending? We will explore together ways to take 32 pages and craft them into an inventive, unforgettable story.
6:30pm Potluck Dinner in Classroom: Bring anything you like, food or drink, nibbly, main course, dessert. Friends and family very welcome (we love dogs, but some people are allergic, so please don't bring).
Tuesday
8:00am-9:00am Informal Discussion: David Greenberg and other instructors available for informal discussion.
9:00am-9:45am Lecture: Anne Osterlund, Author
Listening to Your Characters
A discussion about the joys — and challenges — of writing full-blooded characters. Desires. Flaws. Contradictions. Characters that flat out refuse to go where you want them to go and do what you need them to do. YA author, Anne Osterlund, will share tips on how to deal with stubborn attitudes, emotional fallout, and less-than-forthcoming villains. And most importantly, how to listen to your main character. To use all those problems to create a truly believable story.
9:45am-10:15am First Page Critiques
10:15am-12:00pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
12:00pm-1:15pm LUNCH
1:15pm-2:00pm Lecture: Margriet Ruurs, Author
Writing & Research: Writing Nonfiction for Children
Nonfiction allows you to delve deep into your passion for a topic whether it is nature, wildlife, a country or any other information. Margriet will take you on a journey of research. Her nonfiction books include wildlife and nature books as well as books on global awareness. Get ideas for sharing information in your own, unique voice and how to find homes for your books or articles.
2:00pm-2:30pm First Page Critiques
2:30pm-3:30pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
3:30pm-4:30pm Guest Lecture: Lois Harris, Author*
A Simple Structure for a Strong Story
Fairy tales and contemporary picture books are used as fun examples of simple story structures. Learn about a story's key elements: character, plot, conflict, resolution, and ending. On a handout, follow the easy outline, fill in your story's key parts and, if you like, share your ideas with other writers. Your completed plan will help you craft a strong, successful story — and you'll discover most of the work has been done before you begin to write the text.
8:00pm-8:45pm Lecture: Margriet Ruurs, Author
Looking Beyond Books: Creating a Market for Your Writing
Once you have submitted your manuscript to a book publisher, it's time to write more stories and market them. While you wait for an acceptance or rejection, you can build up your bibliography. Let's take a look at how to find markets for your writing by submitting stories to newspapers, magazines and beyond. Whether you write poetry, fiction or nonfiction, there is a market for your writing that allows you to build up experience and maybe even make some money.
Wednesday
8:00am-9:00am Informal Discussion: David Greenberg and other instructors available for informal discussion.
9:00am-9:45am Lecture: Anna Bloom, Editor at Scholastic
Writing for the Series Book Reader
An overview of series book and commercial fiction, with a particular focus on books for younger readers. We'll discuss the current series book marketplace and I'll share some key ingredients for creating a series book proposal that keeps me reading — and makes me want to read more.
9:45am-10:15am First Page Critiques
10:15am-12:00pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
12:00pm-1:15pm LUNCH
1:15pm-2:00pm Lecture: Ellen Howard, Author
Reading for Their Lives: Middle Age Children and Their Books
Just what is a "middle age child" anyway? What characterizes the books they love? Speaking from her own experience as a child and thirty years as a writer of middle age fiction, Ellen Howard will answer these questions, share some techniques for accessing your own hidden middle age child and discuss the conventions of middle age literature and how and why these "rules" are sometimes broken., Most importantly, she'll tell you why she believes middle age children are often "reading for their lives."
2:00pm-2:30pm First Page Critiques
2:30pm-3:30pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
3:30pm-4:30pm Guest Lecture: Chris Kurtz, Author**
Using Your Life as Fuel for Writing
You are going to appear in your writing anyhow so why not embrace it? And it turns out your flaws, your disappointments, your regrets and mistakes are the most potent fuel for the engine of your character's journey. Chris Kurtz describes how his failures are the most effective features of his characters in The Pup Who Cried Wolf and The Adventures of a South Pole Pig.
8:00pm Lecture: David Greenberg, Author
The Story Behind His First Novel, A Tugging String (Dutton)
This book describes the Selma-Montgomery Voting Rights March of 1965 led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an event to which he is very personally connected. He describes the times, events, personalities, and the powerful connection that inspired him to write this book.
Thursday
8:00am-9:00am Informal Discussion: David Greenberg and other instructors available for informal discussion.
9:00am-9:45am Lecture: Katherine Jacobs, Editor at Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
How Picture Books Work
Picture books are a unique and powerful art form. Learn about the limits and possibilities of the form; how words work with pictures to create an emotional response; and analyze several examples that might inform your own work-in-progress.
9:45am-10:15am First Page Critiques
10:15am-12:00pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
12:00pm-1:15pm LUNCH
1:15pm-2:00pm Lecture: David Greenberg, Author
Like Rhymin? Climb In
There's more to rhyming than just lining up similar sounds. There are language qualities, unapparent to the casual listener, that make rhymes great and the listener smile with satisfaction. This talk will examine what these are.
2:00pm-2:30pm First Page Critiques
2:30pm-3:30pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
3:30pm-4:30pm Lecture: Ammi-Joan Paquette, agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency and author of picture books and novels.
The Promise of Chapter I
Some people judge a book by its cover, while others open the first page to begin their judging by the printed word. In this talk we'll discuss the promise of chapter one, from the first line onward, and how the way you begin your book can — and should — influence where your story goes and what the reader will expect to hear. Come armed with the first line of your WIP for optional group discussion.
6:30pm Dinner at David & Susan Greenberg's Home:
Located at 5715 Norwester (a healthy walk from the classroom; I'll give directions), 503-842-1290. All food provided, friends and family very welcome (as much as we love them, no quadrupeds please). No objections will be made if you bring a beverage of any sort. David and Susan do not morally object to good beer or wine. If you drive up, it's vital that you not park in front of anyone else's house. Neighbors tetchy about this. There are several vacant lots before and after our house.
Friday
8:00am-9:00am Informal Discussion: David Greenberg and other instructors available for informal discussion.
9:00am-9:45am Lecture: Anna Bloom, Editor at Scholastic
Art of the Argument
Exploring character and conflict in your writing. Special emphasis on creating effective, organic dialogue and strengthening character development. We'll look at texts for a variety of age ranges and discuss how well-written dialogue can elevate your writing in a wide variety of ways.
9:45am-10:15am First Page Critiques
10:15am-12:00pm Writing Time and Individual Consults: Optional sharing with other students.
12:00pm-1:15pm LUNCH
1:15pm-2:00pm Lecture: Anne Osterlund, Author
Plotting a Novel: Embrace the Simplicity
Plot isn't tricky. It's simple. You learned it in the sixth grade. Background info. Problem. Rising Action. Climax. Falling Action. Conclusion. So come embrace that simple structure. And then delve deeper. Learn how that structure plays out within a scene. How to use it for a specific genre. Or a specific character. How to start your story en media res, then climb past the climax, tackle the pieces that don't connect, and reach a satisfying conclusion without turning your novel into a Christmas present. Just remember that it's all simple.
2:00pm-2:30pm Q&A: All Instructors
Question-Answer Session with Instructors
This session will be with instructors about all aspects of course including marketing and technical details of manuscript submission.
2:30pm-End of Day Final Sharing: Final sharing of all writing and a group discussion.
*Lois V. Harris' fiction and nonfiction have appeared in children's magazines and the L.A. Times, and she is the author of three picture book biographies. She is a member of the Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators and The Authors Guild. Lois lives with her family in Anacortes, WA, and when not researching or writing, you might find her on their boat in the San Juan Islands, searching for whales. Check out her web site at www.loisharris.net.
**Chris Kurtz didn't want to grow up to be an author when he was a kid. He wanted to be one of the characters in his favorite books! He was Jim Hawkins from Treasure Island hiding in the apple barrel or he was in the north pole with a bull-whip, driving a long line of sled dogs with Buck from Call of the Wild in the lead. Or he was Buck, himself!
Gradually Chris came to the disappointing realization that none of those mind movies were going to come true. But there were all those stories and movies he had already written and starred in. So Chris sat down to write his own books! Chris is also a third grade teacher in Portland, the father of three, and God to his adoring wire-haired dachshund, Penny.
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