Sample Course Page

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COURSE OVERVIEW

Through our carefully structured course, we analyse the core elements needed to create successful picture books and help you develop the necessary skills to succeed in this important and highly competitive sector of the children’s book market. 

Our goal is to help you prepare a portfolio of between three and four submission-ready manuscripts and to give you advice on how to develop your career as a picture book writer.

Our Writing Picture Books for Young Children course is run over three, nine-week long terms. Each course includes:

• three, full-day workshops, conducted online (held at the weekend);
• editor-led live sessions (hosted on a weekday evening);
• interactive Facebook group;
• twenty-four interactive workbooks with videos, information slides & exercises
• three one-hour one2ones; two with your primary Golden Egg Industry Editor, one with your secondary Golden Egg Industry Editor. This means that you will benefit from the input of two editorial viewpoints, (includes one hour of editor prep prior to each one2one);
• option to have your final portfolio submitted to our First Look Deal for those students who reach submission standard by the end of the course or after a further review within three months of the course end date. This option is selective, and completion of the course does not guarantee submission to our First Look partner.

Throughout the course, you will be writing new stories as well as honing your work-in-progress stories.

TERM ONE: Creating Picture Book Characters and Stories

Term one looks at:

• the picture book publishing landscape;
• the child’s world view;
• creating convincing picture book characters;
• the strength and communicability of your story ideas.

You will work on analysing your stories and published picture books in terms of:

• concept; 
• narratorial focus;
• characterisation;
• writing style, tone and voice;
• emotional impact;
• relationship between text and illustrations.

Term structure:

• one, full-day online workshop (held at the weekend); 
• editor-led live sessions (hosted on a weekday evening);
• eight interactive workbooks with videos, information slides & exercises;
• a one-hour one2one with your Golden Egg Editor examining 3-4 of your picture books stories.

TERM TWO: Structure, Shape and Style

Term two looks at:

• different ways to structure your picture book stories;
• strategies for developing your main storyline;
• writing style, including writing in rhyme;
• the visual narrative in picture book storytelling.

You will work on analysing your stories and published picture books to identify and strengthen:

• their structure, and narrative and character arcs;
• your picture book writing style;
• your story pitches.

Term structure:

• one, full-day online workshop, online (held at the weekend);
• editor-led live sessions (hosted on a weekday evening);
• eight interactive workbooks with videos, information slides & exercises
• a one-hour one2one with your Golden Egg Editor examining 3-4 of your picture book stories.

TERM THREE: Hone Your Portfolio

Term three looks at:

• picture book writing trends and challenging themes;
• the picture book as theatre and bringing your stories to life at events; 
• the many roles of a picture book author and branching into other areas of children’s writing.

You will also develop your understanding of:

• the children’s picture book market;
• the submissions process and working with an agent and publisher;
• the creative process after a picture book is commissioned.

Term structure:

• one, full-day online workshop (held at the weekend);
• editor-led live sessions (hosted on a weekday evening);
• eight interactive workbooks with videos, information slides & exercises;
• a one-hour one2one with your Golden Egg Editor examining 3-4 of your picture book stories and recommending your next steps within Golden Egg or the industry.

Cost etc