Picture Book Foundation Course with Natascha Biebow

• Black-British writers aged 18 and over (essential)

• Beginner, emerging and intermediate picture book authors and author-illustrators (essential)

• Unpublished (traditionally) and un-agented writers

• Self-published writers

• All Jericho Prize alumni (regardless of the above)

Location: Zoom (a pre-course pack will be sent to successful applicants)

Duration: six 90-minute online sessions (webinar presentation, hands-on exercises and Q&A)

Time: Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30pm 

Dates: 22 May, 5 June, 19 June, 3 July, 11 and 25 September 2024

• Session 1: Figuring out your story — what makes a commercial picture book? Formats, genres and universal themes

• Session 2: Understanding your characters — what makes a memorable and child-centred character?

• Session 3: Putting it down on paper — creating a sound picture book structure and developing your premise

• Session 4: Top tips on levelling up your plotting, pacing and rhythm

• Session 5: Creating an opening that will grab readers and an ending that delivers

• Session 6: Tightening up your story — tips on nailing your hook, revision and submission

The course will be a mix of webinar style and practical hands-on exercises, with lots of time for exploration and questions.

• You'll be able to write and fine-tune your ideas, covering format, structure, characterisation, plotting, pacing, rhythm and voice

• An overview of the publishing business, how it works, the current picture book marketplace, trends and how to submit

• Tools for writing, revising and pitching your stories to editors and agents 

• Applicants will need to demonstrate a keen interest in writing picture books and commitment to dedicating at least 8 to 10 hours per month during the four-month period of May to September 2024. 

• Active participation is an important component of this course, and you will be expected to attend at least 4 out of 6 live sessions.

• To get the most out of the course and expand your knowledge of the picture book genre and marketplace, participation in the Jericho Prize monthly book reading group will also be a required additional element of this course. (See details below.) 

• You may also be selected to participate in the Jericho Prize Zoom Pitching Event on 19 October 2024, where you will get the chance to pitch your picture book concepts to agents, editors and publishers on a one-to-one basis. 

Natascha Biebow is a picture book expert and the founder of Blue Elephant Storyshaping, an editing, coaching and mentoring service for authors and illustrators, both published and pre-published. Natascha has 30 years’ experience commissioning and editing award-winning picture books, pre-school and novelty books, non-fiction, early readers and young fiction for major publishers and independently published authors. 

She is an experienced tutor, who has run a number of picture book webinar courses for Write for Kids, and the Editorial Director of Five Quills. In 2018, she was awarded an MBE in recognition for her services to children’s writers and illustrators, and the Stephen Mooser SCBWI Member of the Year in 2019. She is the longstanding Regional Advisor (Co-Chair) of SCBWI British Isles and a member of the SCBWI Advisory Council.

Natascha’s favourite job is collaborating with authors and illustrators at all levels to shape and find the heart of their stories. She is the author of the award-winning, bestselling The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons. As an author herself, she understands just how challenging it is to dream up ideas, revise and finesse your book, pitch and hope to get published, deal with rejection and re-imagine, stay motivated and keep up with the business, fit being creative into your life, and constantly work to become a better writer or illustrator. TOGETHER we will go on a storyshaping journey. I can’t wait to meet you and your stories!

Please submit the following information with your application:

• a text-only picture book manuscript (you can include illustration notes) in MS Word format (under 1000 words) OR

• a story outline and paragraph about your idea if you have not yet written a draft picture book

PLUS

• a 200-word biography, including your writing career summary that should evidence how you have been developing or intend to work on your picture book craft, and how and why being accepted on this course will help you level up and your goals for the future 

• a headshot of you

• a pledge to work on your craft for 8 to 10 hours per month, and attend at least 4 out of 6 course sessions live

Submissions close at midnight on 22 April 2024.