APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
To apply, please email the following documents to [email protected], marking the subject line as ‘picture book application’:
- between one and three of your picture book manuscripts (each no more than 1000 words)
- a covering letter (no more than one page of A4) telling us a little about you
Please submit your work as Word documents.
All UK and international applications and course queries to Jo Collins at [email protected]. Please mark the subject line as ‘picture book course query’
*All workshops and online sessions will be run on GMT or GMT+1.
Course start date: September 2025
Application deadline: 25th July 2025
NB: We do our utmost to ensure dates do not change from those stated prior to the course start date. However, on the rare occasion this happens, students will be given as much notice as possible.
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. The course includes:
- one full-day writing workshop, and two half-day writing workshops conducted online (held at the weekend or during the week)
- two presentations and Q&A sessions with the picture book editorial team at Andersen Press
- editor-led live lessons (hosted on a weekday evening)
- interactive Facebook group
- twenty-four interactive workbooks with videos, information slides & exercises
- three one-hour one2ones with your Golden Egg Industry Editor (includes one hour of editor prep prior to each one2one).
- future option to have your final portfolio submitted to our First Look publishing partner for those students who reach submission standard by the end of the course or after a further review within 3 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, five-hour online writing workshop (held at the weekend or during the week)
- editor-led live lessons (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, three-hour online writing workshop (held at the weekend or during the week)
- one online interactive presentation and Q&A with a picture book publisher
- editor-led live lessons (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:
Ways to use humour and playful writing in your storytelling:
-
- the role of the author in the process of creating a picture book;
- the picture book as a performance and bringing your stories to life at events.
You will also develop your understanding of:
- the children’s picture book market
- the submissions process and how to pitch your work to an agent or publisher
- working with a publisher and the creative process after a picture book is commissioned.
Term Structure:
- one, three-hour online workshop (held at the weekend or during the week)
- one online interactive presentation and Q&A with a picture book publisher
- editor-led live lessons (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.
SUCCESS STORIES
Graduates from our Writing Picture Books for Young Children have gone on to sign publishing deals with Andersen Press, Penguin Random House, Nosy Crow, Little Tiger, and Barefoot Books, amongst others. Numerous writers have also signed contracts with literary agents such as The Catchpole Agency and Peters, Fraser & Dunlop, to name a few. Click here to learn more about Golden Egg Academy success stories.
