Write musical, memorable picture books that will delight children and adults alike in Writing Picture Books: What Editors Want First-Time Authors to Know.

We gravitate to picture books from a desire to share our passions, our heritage, and the joy and magic of our lives with young readers. At the same time, writing for children requires precision, clarity, and a deep understanding of what makes a story work.

This course guides first-time picture book authors through the unique craft and business of writing for young readers, with an emphasis on what editors are really looking for in today’s competitive marketplace. You will end this course with a marketable manuscript where every word counts, where children feel empowered—and where editors will pay attention.

In eleven focused, actionable lessons, you will:

• Generate picture book ideas that readers—and agents and publishers—will want to buy.
• Compose a picture book with strong pacing, structure, language, and characters.
• Learn what publishing options are the best fit for your story.
• Develop a synopsis/query letter combination that sells.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a strong grasp of the essential elements of picture book storytelling, a polished manuscript draft, and a clear path toward publication.

Pictures books are a great place to share your passion, your heritage, and your world with young readers. Share your world with the next generation and craft your most successful story in Writing Picture Books: What Editors Want First-Time Authors to Know.

100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

If for any reason you are not satisfied with the course, you may request a full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.

The post Writing Picture Books: What Editors Want First-Time Authors to Know appeared first on Writers.com.

Writing a novel is hard. But do you know what’s harder? Never finishing one because you keep second-guessing yourself, rewriting the same chapter over and over, or staring at a blank page like it personally offended you. This course is here to fix that.

Fast-Draft Your Novel with a Zero Draft is a self-guided, ten-session course designed to help you break free from perfectionism and get your story on the page—messy, imperfect, and wonderfully real. You’ll learn how to silence your inner critic, embrace a Zero Draft mindset, and keep momentum going, even when self-doubt creeps in.

You don’t need a detailed outline. You don’t need to know everything about your characters. You just need a step-by-step process, a roadmap, and a willingness to write without overthinking.

Meet Your Instructor: Cara Stevens

“Cara gave me such detailed and helpful advice while also offering me the encouragement that I needed as a new author.”
— Katie M.

What You’ll Learn

Fast-Draft Your Novel with a Zero Draft will teach you:

• How to draft quickly without getting stuck in endless revisions
• Why a Zero Draft is the secret weapon of successful novelists
• Ways to structure your story just enough without stifling creativity
• Techniques for character development that don’t require an extensive backstory
• How to build immersive settings without spending months drawing a fictional map
• Strategies for troubleshooting plot problems without scrapping your entire draft

This course is for you if you’re ready to stop overthinking and start writing. Your story won’t draft itself—so let’s get to work!

What You’ll Get

Inside, you’ll find:

• 10 video lessons (10 minutes each—because no one has time for an hour-long lecture)
• 10 written chapters, clearly laid out, with key takeaways
• 10 assignments to keep you writing instead of just thinking about writing
• A fresh perspective on drafting that turns the messy first pass into a phase of discovery

100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

If for any reason you are not satisfied with the course, you may request a full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.

The post Fast-Draft Your Novel With a Zero Draft appeared first on Writers.com.

The post Fast Draft Your Novel With a Zero Draft appeared first on Writers.com.

Together, we’ll dive deeply into the podcasting world, and you’ll avoid overwhelm as you lay the technical, content, and marketing groundwork for your podcast. You’ll learn how to choose the right topic and format for your interests, find the best podcast hosting platform, and plan, record, and share your first episode and beyond. 

Come prepared to explore or brainstorm a basic idea for your podcast, and bring along a list of podcasts you appreciate and enjoy.

By the end of this workshop, you will have a solid understanding of podcasting, an actionable plan to launch your podcast, a well-crafted content schedule, and the skills needed to create engaging episodes tailored to your target audience.

You will finish this course with the confidence to hit record and share your voice with the world. Join us and take the first step toward transforming your passion into a compelling experience for listeners.

Who This Course is For:

Anyone interested in launching their first podcast. Whether you are a seasoned writer looking to expand your reach or a newcomer eager to explore new mediums. 

Learning and Writing Goals

Learning Goals

In this course, you will: 

• Understand the fundamental concepts and components of podcasting.
• Learn how to choose a podcast format and style that resonates with your target audience.
• Develop strategies for creating and maintaining a content schedule that keeps your audience engaged.
• Identify your ideal target audience and tailor your podcast content to their interests.
• Discover techniques for finding the right recording voice and tone to effectively communicate your message.
• Gain insights into refining your episode structure and format to maximize listener engagement and retention.

Writing Goals

• Develop a clear and engaging introduction script for your podcast episodes.
• Craft episode outlines that align with your content schedule and target audience interests.
• Hone your ability to write for the spoken word, adapting your language and style to suit your podcast’s tone and audience.
• Generate ideas for episode content that resonate with your target audience’s preferences and interests.
• Craft a personal and authentic podcasting voice that connects with your listeners and reflects your unique personality and perspective.

Zoom Schedule

We will meet on Zoom on Thursdays, September 19th and 26th at 5 PM Eastern.

Weekly Syllabus

The post How to Start a Podcast appeared first on Writers.com.

Experience not necessary! You just have to enjoy writing! Young writers of all levels are welcome to join and explore all the forms that creative writing can take, including flash fiction, fan fiction, fantasy, free writing… and that’s just the ones that start with F! Structured as an interactive creativity workshop, the class will combine a mix of group activities, writing sprints, micro-lessons, live group critique, and an opportunity to explore themes and structures outside of class through optional assignments and prompts.

To help you explore your calling as a writer, you will have time to craft a personal writing statement. Writing a bold personal statement that says I AM and I DO and I WANT is a powerful first step in manifesting the type of writer you hope to become and discovering where your writing can take you in the future. 

At the end of class, you will also have the opportunity to receive feedback on one piece of work you’ve created in the workshop in the form of a developmental edit letter from me. The developmental edit letter will provide feedback, encouragement and guidance to help you take your work to the next level.

Through engaging activities, expert guidance, and a supportive community, you will have crafted a short work that reflects who you are and who you aspire to become as a writer. 

Workshops are not only a practical and productive way to hone specific skills; they’re also a way to feel connected to a larger community of writers and creatives. This workshop is a special gift to give a teen writer just beginning to explore and establish their own place in the writing world!

Learning and Writing Goals

Learning Goals:

In this workshop, you will: 

• Discover Your Voice: Understand your writing style, themes, and narrative preferences to discover your distinct voice as a writer.
• Cultivate Creativity: Develop your creative thinking, imagination, and storytelling skills through interactive creativity games and exercises.
• Master Storytelling: Learn essential storytelling techniques and the art of crafting compelling narratives.
• Receive Peer Feedback: Gain valuable insights from your peers and improve your writing through constructive feedback sessions.
• Self-Reflect: Use fiction writing as a tool for self-reflection and self-expression.
• Build Confidence: Boost your confidence in your writing abilities and unlock your full creative potential.

Writing Goals:

By the end of this course, you will:

• Create a piece of fiction that showcases your unique voice and perspective.
• Explore fundamentals of story structure while writing different types of short fiction.
• Build a portfolio of writing that reflects your growth as a writer.
• Develop the skills to give and receive constructive feedback effectively.

Zoom Schedule

We will meet on Zoom on Sundays, January 21st and 28th from 4pm to 6pm Eastern.

Workshop Syllabus

The post Teen Writers’ Workshop: Discover the Writer You Want to Be appeared first on Writers.com.