Advanced Picture Books, with Celia Lee

February 24th, 2025 - March 27th, 2025

with Celia Lee

Apply

You'll submit your picture book at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. The editor will submit their notes near the critique deadline. After critiques are complete, we host a live group debrief over Zoom, in which each writer gets individual time with the editor to dig into feedback, brainstorm next steps, and discuss any writing questions. In addition, the editor will lead a group discussion in the group workspace.

Our goal with these events is to help writers strengthen the project submitted and to push their storytelling craft.

<p>You may participate in up to one picture book workshop per season. Winter season includes groups with Jan 6-Apr 14 start dates.&nbsp;<br></p>

Notes

Who this workshop is for: <p>This workshop is an advanced group. You must be an Inked Voices member, and you must meet one of the following for this advanced group: 1) picture book traditionally published or under contract; 2) agented (or previously agented in the past 3 years); or 3) querying and getting requests for additional PB manuscripts. (limited spots available for this category)</p>

Focus: Children's - Picture Books - Fiction - Children's - Picture…

Group size: 9 writers

Submissions: <p>Submit one fiction picture book under 900 words or one nonfiction picture book under 1500 words (including backmatter). If your backmatter runs longer, please submit the headers for sections that are not included. There is no need to include a bibliography. For writers working on poetry collections, the word count max will be similar to that for fiction picture books.</p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">Changes and Withdrawals Policy:&nbsp;</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 $20 change fee.</li><li>Under 2 months to 14 days ahead of a workshop start: If we are able to replace you, you will be credited for the full workshop price less a $20 change fee. If we can't replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop cost.&nbsp;</li><li>Withdrawals within 14 days of a workshop start: If we can replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop price. If we cannot replace you, you will not receive a credit. Your fee will go towards our workshops and scholarships.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Fee

Members: $135; Non-members: $165

About Celia Lee

Celia is an executive editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, where she works with creators on all things illustrated, from picture books and early illustrated chapter books and middle grade to graphic novels for all ages. Authors and illustrators she’s partnered with include Emmy Kastner, Melissa de la Cruz, Jashar Awan, Colin Kaepernick, Whitney Gardner, Beth Ferry, and Victo Ngai. She previously worked at Scholastic, where, in addition to editing, she helped start their employee diversity committee as well as coordinated their partnership with We Need Diverse Books ™. Celia served for two years as a member of the Children’s Book Council (CBC) Diversity Committee and is a mentor for POC in Publishing. She studied English Literature and Art History at Virginia Tech and earned a MS in Publishing from NYU.

Schedule:

  • Mon, Feb 24 - Submissions due
  • Mon, Mar 17 - Critiques due
  • Mon, Mar 24, 7-9:15pm ET - Debrief call
  • Thurs, Mar 27 - Group closes