School of Visual Storytelling

This is a professional level, comprehensive children's book writing class. Ann Whitford Paul is a prolific children’s book author who has also written the best selling book Writing Picture Books: A Hands-on Guide from Story Creation to Publication. Ann is considered one of the top experts on teaching authors how to write a compelling and sellable picture book manuscript.

Is this class for me?

You can get an overview of the class by watching the Free Session video. Ann will go over the content of the class, her Writing Picture Books book, her published picture books, and how to prepare for the critiques at the end of the class.

How To Write Picture Books

This class consists of ten sessions, which will meet on a weekly basis. It will cover everything you need to know to create an engaging story in the traditional picture book format and keep your readers eager to find out what happens next. Ann will also cover the important topic of how to make your language sing and your words echo the action of your story. Sessions 1-4 will focus on story structure and organization, sessions 5-8 will focus on polishing your story and the 9th and 10th sessions will be live critiques of your manuscript. Ann will be assisted by children’s book illustrators Will Terry, Lee White, or Jake Parker each night to field questions and offer insight from the perspective of an illustrator.