Winter/Spring 2025- Advanced Picture Book Writing, with Sean McCarthy
January 8th, 2025 - May 23rd, 2025
with Sean McCarthy
In this 3-round workshop, picture book writers will work with a literary agent and a curated group of peers to revise and polish a manuscript towards submission. At the start of the group, writers will submit two picture book manuscripts, plus pitches for two additional manuscripts for written critique. After the initial round, writers select one of their two full manuscripts for revision in rounds two and three. Each round includes a debrief call where writers get one-on-one time with the professional to discuss their questions, brainstorm trouble spots and get feedback on their revision ideas. All group members listen in. In addition, the pro will lead a discussion once each round on the group discussion boards.
Peer learning is a significant element in our workshop design. In all rounds, writers peer critique one another's work in addition to receiving feedback from the professional. Writers are able to see the professional critiques of their peers' work. Our debrief calls are done as a group. Many tell us that this peer learning is as valuable as the critiques and discussion of their own work. We encourage writers to dig in to help each other, much in the spirit of a critique group, for the length of a workshop.
While the workshop allows significant time for revision and critique, the time tends to pass quickly, and participants should be mindful of their schedules when considering this group.
<p>You may participate in up to one picture book workshop per season. Winter season includes groups with Jan 6-Apr 14 starts. <br></p>
Notes
Who this workshop is for: <p>The workshop is geared towards picture book writers who are farther along in their journey. This includes writers who are in the picture books query trenches (and practiced writers preparing to do so), as well as agented and/or published writers.<br></p>
Focus: Children's - Picture Books - Fiction - Children's - Picture…
Group size: 5 writers
Submissions: <p>There will be two rounds of submissions. In Round 1, writers will submit 2 picture book stories. In Round 2, they will submit a revision of one of these stories. Fiction stories should be under 900 words and nonfiction stories should be under 1500 words including any backmatter (you may submit partial backmatter if you hit the limit).</p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">Changes and Withdrawals Policy: </span></p><ul><li>2 months or more ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited the full amount of the workshop, less a $15 change fee.</li><li>Under 2 months to 15 days ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited for the full workshop cost less a $15 charge if we are able to replace you. If we can't replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop cost.</li><li>Withdrawals within 2 weeks of a workshop start will not be credited even if you are able to be replaced. Your payment will go towards our scholarship program. </li></ul>
Fee
Members: $375; Non-members: $450
About Sean McCarthy
Sean McCarthy began his publishing career as an editorial intern at Overlook Press and then moved over to the Sheldon Fogelman Agency. He worked as the submissions coordinator and permissions manager before becoming a full-time literary agent. Sean graduated from Macalester College with a degree in English-Creative Writing, and is grateful that he no longer has to spend his winters in Minnesota. He is drawn to flawed, multifaceted characters with devastatingly concise writing in YA, and character-driven work or smartly paced mysteries/adventures in MG. In picture books, he looks more for unforgettable characters, off-beat humor, and especially clever endings. He is not currently interested in issue-driven stories or query letters that pose too many questions.