Picture Book 101 Workshop: Crafting Stories for Illustrations

Come with your curiosities, ideas and dreams for writing a picture book. Picture books average 500 words across 32-pages. This class will teach you how to format your picture book manuscripts and write them to maximize wording and page turns. 

Are you looking for that perfect gift for the writer in your life?

 Or, is this you? 

• “I’ve got a great idea for a Children’s book!”
•  Eager to learn how authors craft stories in 500 words or less?
• Wonder how the author works with the illustrator?
• Maybe you have no plan to write a picture book, but you’ve loved reading kid’s books for years and want to understand “their magic.”

Picture Books are magical. Knowing how they are crafted helps authors unpack the power of sparse wording with maximin content. No matter what genre you write, it might be the picture book that helps support your best story. 

You will leave this class with an umbrella understanding of writing and crafting a picture book. 

Note: Rebekah’s classes fill up quickly. To keep the same personalized offering, we have less than 20 spots available. 

Also note: The class cost of $70 for Class Ticket ($55 early bird before Christmas) or Class & Manuscript Critique Tickets $130 ($80 early bird before Christmas) are set at significant discount rates for attendees*. 

Who is Rebekah Manley?

Rebekah received her MFA in Children’s Literature with an emphasis in Picture Books. Her debut book is a “Children’s Book” for adults: Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Fun, Truly Bad Dates!

Bekah understands the magical craft behind saving space for the illustrations. She delights in teaching how page turns can build tension and humor in a book. Although Bekah writes books for all ages, she believes writing picture books improves her skill across genres.

Since the fall of 2015, she’s mentored and utilized over 25 interns to launch her blog, book and business. For eight years, Rebekah ran the Texas Center for the Book and continues to nurture literary partnerships and writers by teaching workshops online and across the United States. She seeks to equip writers, business owners and big dreamers with valuable tools so they may succeed. 

You can read more about her:

• Author life: rebekahmanley.com
• Love, Bekah business career: www.lovebekah.com
• Creative non-fiction blog: bravetutu.com
• Instagram: @RebekahAManley & @LoveBekah.xo 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/rebekahthewriter

*Pricing reference: Rebekah’s current consult and critique rate is $100/45 minutes. Depending on the manuscript’s needs, she spends anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours on each written critique. She’s offering a discounted price for attendees. You may read about her normal rates on Love, Bekah’s website. For up to 5 days after the workshop, attendees may purchase additioina picture book support à la carte options at the following, discounted, prices by emailing her at Team@LoveBekah.com

$100 global picture book manuscript critique (up to 1,500 words)

• valued at $150

$100 concept edits for longer work (15-pages & not to exceed 7,000 words)

$130 manuscript critique with 20 minute Zoom support call

•  global picture book manuscript critique (up to 1,500 words) 
• concept edits for 3-5 pages (not to exceed 7,000 words

$55 15-20 minute Zoom critique discussion call

$80 for 20-40 minute Zoom consult call

$150 “2nd look” line edit revision critique

$950 up to four critiques (global, 2nd look and line edits as needed) for no more than two picture book manuscripts

FAQs of the Picture Book Manuscript Critiques:

What is a “global critique”? Think of looking down at the earth for a reading to see an “areal view” of how the story, character and plot reads before digging into the details. In other words, it’s not worth doing “line edit” critiques on sentences that will likely change with the global concept of your book. Each word counts in a picture book and there is a point to start line edits, but that should come after the global critique.

What’s a “2nd look” critique? Once you’ve had a global content critique with Rebekah, you may take and incorporate edits into a revision. She’ll take another look at the same and improved manuscript to offer feedback and support the work as needed.  

Are “line edits” available for manuscripts? Yes, once you’ve done a global content critique with Rebekah, you may coordinate with her on the edits you need, depending on the needs of your manuscript. Often, line edits are not incorporated until later on in the drafting process. 

Will the class address publishing? i.e. Should I self publish? Find an agent or an editor? This class dives into the craft of creating a picture book. There will be a brief “business” discussion. However, the bulk of the class is in on the craft. If you’re interested in digging deeper to the publishing industry and how to put your work out there, register for Rebekah’s next online Author 101 course in Feb (details coming soon).

About ALEXANDRA AND THE AWFUL, AWKWARD, NO FUN, TRULY BAD DATES

Follow Alexandra and her adorable French bulldog pup Lottie as Alex goes on 30 dates in 30 days in this charming parody/comedic dating horror story all about dating apps, being stood up, and the other joys of millennial dating culture.

Set in the thick of our swipe right society, newly thirty-year-old Alexandra decides she’s got nothing to lose and sets off on a 30-dates-in-30-days adventure.

With her trusty French bulldog pup Lottie, Alex experiences the worst of millennial dating culture. From know-it-alls and bores to Mama’s boys and no-shows and everything else in between, you’ll be laughing along with Alex as she searches for love but ultimately discovers something a lot more meaningful.

Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Fun, Truly Bad Dates is the perfect gift for anyone who has swiped right, blind dated, or simply been a little bit lost in love at one point in their life.