Children's Writing Classes

How to write a Christmas picture book, the ones to be read over and over again!

This session will show you how to write your Christmas picture book with gusto and how to pepper it with zest to make it sparkle, so it becomes a family classic!

Want to be a children's writer but not sure where to begin? In this online teaching, Michelle gives you insider secrets and essential tips that will send you in the right direction. You’ll discover how to come up with ideas, how to find the right publisher, how to break into the children’s magazine and book markets, and more!

In this teaching, Michelle gives tips for breaking into the world of children’s writing, and she shares many non-fiction children’s writing opportunities you probably never considered. Plus, she teaches participants how to hook up with library publishers and write several books a year! Through this session, you’ll learn ways to multiply your publishing credits and earn consistent work/cash in the process, all the while building your children’s writing platform.

You might have heard that “Rhyme is a crime,” and that editors don’t like rhyming board books and picture books. That’s not exactly true. Editors just don’t like BAD rhyme. They like rhyming board books and picture books that are written well. It’s just that they have seen so much bad rhyme over the years, their hearts might be a bit hardened toward rhyme, generally speaking. But if you can write good rhyme—then go for it! In this workshop, bestselling children's author Michelle Medlock Adams shares how to write and sell well-done rhyming manuscripts so you don't become a rhyme criminal!

What Kind of Children's Book? - An Overview of Genres for Children (Ages 0-12)

Topics Include:
* Board Books
*Toddler/ Preschool Picture Books
*Storybook - Picture Book
*Nonfiction Picture Book
*Books for Beginning Readers
*First Chapter Books
*Middle Grade Readers
*Other Sub-Genres for Children

This series will cover: What’s a cover letter and how do I write one? Making a Pre-Submission Check-list How to Research Publishers – Creating Your Submission List Know Your Vocabulary and Increase Your Acceptance Odds – Unsolicited submissions, exclusive submissions, multiple submissions, slush pile, etc. You’ve finished your manuscript and you’re ready for the next step. In this series you’ll learn how to prepare your manuscript and the letter that goes with it, untangle the submission process, and understand the do’s and don’ts to get your foot in the door.

Writing Nonfiction for Kids 2.0

Module 1: Intro and Overview (What is nonfiction? Why NOT write in this genre?)

Module 2: Types of Nonfiction (Explore the various types of nonfiction and the current labels for each.)

Module 3: Publications (Learn about nonfiction publications across traditional, educational, and Christian publishing.)

Module 4: Voice, Tone, and Back Matter (Good nonfiction has many of the elements of good fiction. Learn how voice and tone come across in nonfiction. Also a discussion of word counts, sidebars, and back matter.

Writing Nonfiction for Kids 2.5

Module 1: Research (A discussion of some reliable resources for nonfiction as well as what won't work.)

Module 2: Keeping Track (Tips on keeping track of your sources to make your life easier later.)

Module 3: Where to Send It (How do you find nonfiction publishers?)

Module 4: Resources (What resources are available for nonfiction writers?)

Develop Your Characters with Top Secret Detective Files
Want to change your cardboard characters into a 3-D cast kids will connect with as
friends? Craft a Top Secret Detective File to get the inside scoop on what makes your
characters come to life. You’ll learn how to interview your characters, use a Word Wall
to impact your characters’ personality, and brainstorm ideas for your main characters and
secondary characters alike!
Video 1: Putting the Top Secret Detective File together
Video 2: Brainstorming your character’s personality traits
Video 3: Brainstorming your character’s name
Video 4: Interviewing your character
Video 5: Creating and implementing a Word Wall
Video 6: Using your Top Secret Detective File

Humor writing and children's just goes well together, but humor is hard to pull off. How do you be silly while presenting a great product that can last for generations? Multi-published children's author Nancy Sanders will walk you through how to effectively write humor for kids, in a way that will keep agents and editors reading, and is entertaining for all audiences, especially for the kids.

As writers, we often sit down at our desk and demand our brain turn on like a light switch. The brain, however, literally has a mind of its own. It refuses to be manipulated, bargained with, or even persuaded to perform. Just as a trainer can teach a dolphin to perform at a 5:00 show, however, you can learn effective strategies to train your brain to work with you. Bestselling children’s writer Nancy I. Sanders shows you how. Good-bye writer’s block!