May 5, 2023 - June 8, 2023
Online
$499Overview
An Online Course with Pre-recorded & Written Lectures, Writing Exercises, and Live Discussion/Q&A
Are you ready to do a deep, deep dive into picture book structure? This online course with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen features pre-recorded and/or written assignments for each letter of the “Picture Book Alphabet,” plus weekly LIVE Zoom sessions for all of your course related questions.
- Pre-recorded & written lectures released on Fridays (May 5, May 12, May 19, May 26)
- Live sessions via Zoom with discussion/Q&A, sharing from weekly exercises, and an opportunity to workshop your draft.
- Thursdays (May 11, May 18, June 1) 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern (Please note that there is NO MEETING on May 25)
- Small Group Workshopping of one picture book draft on Thursday, June 8 7:30pm – 9pm (the final live meeting)
- Access to all lectures and resources will be available until July 31, 2023
- Optional post-course feedback is available at an additional cost (details below)
- 25 participants max
Why This Workshop?
Are you ready to do a deep, deep dive into picture book structure? If A is for ARC, and Z is for ZILLIONS, just imagine all of the learning that happens in between.
Get ready to read, write, and WORK on all things Picture Book Plot–from A to Z.
This online course with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen features pre-recorded and/or written assignments for each letter of the “Picture Book Alphabet,” plus weekly LIVE Zoom sessions for all of your course-related questions.
In this course, you will explore every aspect of picture book plotting, including:
- Narrative arc: beginnings, middles, endings
- Components: character, theme, setting, word play, humor, dialogue, description
- Illustration and page turns
- Repetition and word play
In addition, you will:
- Read lessons (Most written, with some pre-recorded video)
- Complete assignments
- Learn about writing query letters and pitching your picture book
- Analyze mentor text sets
- Participate in weekly LIVE Zoom Q & A sessions
This is primarily a self-paced program, with participant engagement happening through weekly Zoom sessions for questions and reflections related to the pre-recorded and written resources.
There is not a formal manuscript critique included during the course, but there will be check-ins and sharing of works-in-progress, including small group workshopping of one picture book draft in the final week.
An optional critique will also be available post-course.
Feedback Expected
- Weekly Q & A at the LIVE sessions to discuss questions related to written and recorded lectures.
- Weekly sharing and discussions at LIVE sessions.
- Small group workshopping of one picture book draft during one of the LIVE sessions (see agenda below).
- OPTIONAL feedback will be available at an additional cost post-course. After submitting your picture book manuscript, a private session will be scheduled via Zoom to review ideas, suggestions, and next steps. The cost for this optional feedback is $125, and sessions will be scheduled within 4-6 weeks of submission.
It’s a Great Fit If…
- You want to write picture books. This in-depth course will ensure that you have a thorough understanding of how to plot a compelling picture book.
- You have written a picture book(s), but aren’t sure it’s ready to submit. Making time for this course means you will learn how to revise and strengthen your story.
- You’ve written a story for children but aren’t sure where it might fit on the shelf. This course will give you a deep understanding, including mentor texts of past and current picture books, and how they differ from other writing for children.
- You work well in a hybrid-learning model with expectations of watching and reading all of the course content, and attending the LIVE discussions to ask questions and share examples.
Tentative Agenda
Pre-Workshop
- At registration: you will submit a brief survey of your goals, and a summary of where you are on your picture book journey.
- On May 5, you will be invited to join the virtual classroom where you will find the Highlights Foundation Community Standards, your course syllabus, and your first set of pre-recorded and written lectures.
Week 1
In the Virtual Classroom:
- Watch welcome video and read lectures on: narrative arc, beginnings & endings, urgency and tension, character
- Work on your first writing assignments
- Preview Highlights Foundation Community Standards
- Familiarize yourself with the discussion board
Thursday, May 11 at 7:30 – 8:30pm Eastern: LIVE session via Zoom
- Introductions
- Review assignments
- Open Q & A for Week One Resources
Week 2
In the Virtual Classroom:
- Content released on Friday, May 12 by 9am Eastern
- Watch this week’s videos and read lectures: dialogue, description, foreshadowing, character problem-solving, hooking the reader, marketing and pitching, humor
- Work on this week’s writing assignments
Thursday, May 18 at 7:30 – 8:30pm Eastern: LIVE session via Zoom
- Open Q & A for Week Two Resources
- Sharing from exercise
Week 3
In the Virtual Classroom:
- Content released on Friday, May 19 by 9am Eastern
- Watch this week’s videos and read lectures: action, pacing, layout, outlining, analyzing mentor texts, variations on plot constructions
- Work on this week’s writing assignments
*There is NO Live session on May 25. Please use this time to catch up on your videos, prepare your submission for small groups, and gather questions for the next live session.
Week 4
In the Virtual Classroom:
- Content released on Friday, May 26 by 9am Eastern
- Watch this week’s videos and read lectures: writing good query letters, theme, settings, illustration, using repetition
- Work on this week’s writing assignments
Thursday, June 1 at 7:30 – 8:30pm Eastern: LIVE session via Zoom
- Open Q & A for Week Three Resources
- Sharing from exercise
- Discuss plans for June 8th live session (small group workshopping)
Week 5
In the Virtual Classroom:
- Please post your submission for small group discussions by June 4
- There is no expectation that you will read or respond to submissions at this time; please hold comments until our live session.
Thursday, June 8 at 7:30 – 9:00pm Eastern: LIVE session via Zoom (Please note the longer time related to small group workshopping)
- Final Q & A
- Small Group Workshopping of one picture book draft (or your picture book outline, if that is what you have completed). You will be able to Share Screen.
Post-Course
OPTIONAL 1:1 feedback will be available at an additional cost post-course.
After submitting your picture book manuscript, a private session will be scheduled via Zoom to review ideas, suggestions, and next steps. The cost for this optional feedback is $125, and the session will be scheduled within 4-6 weeks of submission.
Commitment Required for the Best Experience
To get the most out of this online course, you should watch the weekly recorded lectures and read the written lectures, attend the LIVE sessions with your questions, and complete the writing exercises. You’ll have access to all of the resources, and the recordings from the LIVE Q & A sessions through July 31, 2023.
The Highlights Foundation strives for a safe and inclusive environment. You will have access to our Community Standards prior to the workshop where we ask for your respectful engagement with fellow creatives, including our faculty and staff.
How It Impacts Kids
Picture books are the first entry point for getting children engaged in story, inviting kids to immerse themselves in the stories they hear–and later, the ones they read. This course will help you learn the components of a strong picture book.
Testimonials from Our Community
“The plotting workshop I took with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen changed how I compose picture books! I never thought I could plan out the plot before taking this class.”
“Sudipta taught with great energy, practical advice, and contagious humor. Her examples for each tip provided clarity and inspiration, and her can-do attitude inspired us all.”
“Sudipta provided a wealth of information in the coursework and was very generous with her time during office hours. She knows her stuff!”
“Sudipta is a wonderful teacher in person but the online lessons were also great – so much material laid out in a very accessible way. It is clear she put a lot of work and thought into the class.”
“I like the process of getting new information each day, then an assignment, and often an extended lesson with writing cues. Being able to ask questions any time was great; the Thursday night sessions were very informative.”
“Even though we were were not together in person, I felt the facilitator and Sudipta did a great job in making us feel we were a mini family where we could learn and share freely.”
