The WWA SCBWI Northern Network wants to invite you to our December Schmooze! Northern Network SchmoozeWednesday, December 1, 7:00-9:00 pmBarnes & Noble (café), Bellingham, Washington“Writing Picture Books: An Author’s and Editor’s Perspective” More than twelve years of experience making products for children—books, toys, games, and puzzles—has given our special guest speaker, Liz Mills, a unique... Continue Reading →
Picture Book Blog
Fellow SCBWI member, and illustrator George Shannon started a blog recently that celebrates the picture book. This blog includes reviews, essays about picture books, writing tips, related bibliographies, and critique services. Check out his blog, and also his website.
Picture Book Illustration Class
SCBWI's own Doug Keith will be teaching a Picture Book Illustration class at Edmonds Community College this fall. The course focuses on the fundamentals of creating artwork for picture books, from the first sketches and storyboard, to the final art. Doug is a multi-talented artist, who has illustrated more than forty picture books. For details... Continue Reading →
Online picture book class with Liz Mills
If you can't make a real-life class for whatever reason, this virtual one taught by our own Liz Mills might be just the thing: From Cover to Cover: A Picture Book Class Are you brimming with picture-book drafts after NaPiBoWriWee? Do you have a drawer full of stories clamoring to be completed and polished? Then... Continue Reading →
Good news for Lisa Owens
She has a new picture book series coming soon. It's called LET'S BE SOCIAL and you can read about it on her blog. Thanks to Liz Mills for the link.
Peter Brown Breakout: The Laments of Style #scbwiwwa
Peter starts off his slideshow with some paintings he did in art school. They were all a bit wacky. Peter decided he wanted to find a new style that was not only appropriate for children's books, but appealing and unique.Looking to develop this style he did some Art Exploration -- looking at fine artists, naive... Continue Reading →
Good advice on writing picture books
Tara Lazar, an aspiring author, has this great blog post on thinking strategically about your ideas before you begin writing. A typical day as a newbie writer: sit down at the computer, start writing. At least, that’s what I did two years ago. I got an idea and I didn’t stop to think: is this... Continue Reading →
How to mock up a picture book
If you've taken a class with Darcy Pattison, you know she gives great advice. The author of 19 GIRLS AND ME and two picture books about Oliver K. Woodman explains here why--and how--to make a dummy.Why Make a Dummy?Picture books combine text and words in a short 32 page book. The structure is so unusual,... Continue Reading →
For inspiration: visit Richard Jesse Watson’s blog
Richard is in the midst of a series on his creative process. If you're feeling at all dark and cold, it'll warm you right up.When I first read the text to The Dream Stair, it beckoned me both ways. Go up the stair to your attic room. Go down the stair to your cellar room.... Continue Reading →
On the challenges of picture books
Today on the Upstart Crow Literary blog Michael Stearns has an excellent, thoughtful post on the art and business of picture book writing.I think it's a must-read for anyone attempting PBs (and not just because he name-checks the great and wonderful Deb Lund a couple of times and happens to be one of the smartest,... Continue Reading →