Learn how to polish your picture book manuscript and write a compelling pitch in this practical hands-on workshop.

If you have a draft picture book manuscript that you want to take to the next level, this workshop is for you. Kate Stevens draws on her extensive experience as an in-house and freelance editor of children’s books to give you the tools you need to polish and pitch your picture book manuscript effectively. She’ll share some editorial tricks of the trade, give you tips on how to go about pitching to publishers, and answer any questions you may have about the acquisition and publication process.

Learning outcomes

As part of this workshop, you will:

Learn about picture book formats, age ranges and page extents

Elevate your work with some highly effective tricks of the trade

Consider how your picture book fits into the Australian market

Understand the elements of a successful picture book pitch, and how to approach publishers

Have all your questions about the publishing process answered

Format

This is an in-person workshop with a focus on editing and publishing; it will be held at State Library of Queensland. This workshop is suitable for picture book writers with a draft of their work.

About Kate

Kate Stevens has been assessing picture book manuscripts and working with children’s authors and illustrators for almost twenty years. She has over sixteen years’ experience as an in-house book editor, most recently as an Associate Publisher of children’s books at Hachette Australia. Now based in Brisbane, Kate works as a freelance editor and a tutor in writing, editing and communication subjects at UQ and QUT. She mentors writers through the Queensland Writers’ Centre and the Australian Society of Authors, and is currently writing her PhD thesis at UQ on the role of the book editor in young adult fiction.

For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program of Events and answers to FAQs, please visit: www.queenslandwriters.org.au/program-info