The Storyteller Academy Blog
Helping You Make and Share Your Stories
Instructor Stories: Laurie Keller
Myrna Foster introduces the award-winning Laurie Keller. Laurie taught our new Writing Humor mini-class and could be mentoring a critique group this term. There is a book giveaway included.
Student Success Stories: Julianne Winter
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Julianne Winter about her illustrated illustrated chapter book. This post includes a giveaway of Julianne's debut as an author/illustrator, TALES OF WHIMSY: BOOK ONE: WISHWEAVER.
Manuscript Format for Submissions or Queries
Myrna Foster shares some tips from Jim Averbeck and herself on how to format your children's book manuscript for an agent or editor.
How to Generate New Picture Book Ideas
Myrna Foster shares Arree Chung's Post-it Note Exercise, her favorite idea picture book idea blog, and other ways to generate new picture book ideas.
How to Finish Your Creative Projects
Rejection isn't fun. Myrna Foster shares five ways that readers can protect their mental health and turn rejection into a learning experience that leads to success.
Five Healthy Ways to Deal with Rejection
Rejection isn't fun. Myrna Foster shares five ways that readers can protect their mental health and turn rejection into a learning experience that leads to success.
Supporting Our Community Multi-Book Giveaway
Myrna Foster and Arree Chung give away books and open a discussion about supporting better race relations for our community.
Instructor Stories: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Myrna Foster introduces Storyteller Academy Vanessa Brantley-Newton, the award-winning illustrator of nearly 100 children's books. Vanessa teaches Character Design and mentors a critique group. There is a book giveaway included.
Advice on How to Query Agents From Agents
Agents of Storyteller Academy students give advice on how to query agents with your picture book. Myrna Foster is giving away a copy of LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss's debut picture book, I LOVE ME!
Student Success Stories: Joana Pastro
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Joana Pastro about signing with Natascha Morris at Bookends Literary Agency, and about her plan for her debut picture book. This post includes a giveaway of Joana's debut, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS.
Advice on How to Query Agents From Students
Storyteller Academy students give advice on how to query agents with your picture book. Giveaway of two students' picture books included.
Student Success Stories: AJ Irving
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student AJ Irving about signing with Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary and about her plan for her debut picture book. This post includes a giveaway of AJ's debut, DANCE LIKE A LEAF.
Events You Don't Want to Miss
Myrna Foster shares upcoming Storyteller Academy events and links to Arree's free Creativity Camp for kids.
Student Success Stories: Teresa Robeson Wins the APALA Award
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Teresa Robeson about winning the Asian/Pacific American Award. This post includes a giveaway of Teresa's award-winning debut and her second picture book.
Building an Author Website with Ken Lamug
Myrna Foster shares some tips from Building an Author Website with Ken Lamug. This intensive is currently free if you sign up for Bluehost through our affiliate link.
Student Success Stories: Sue Macartney
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Sue Macartney. This post includes a giveaway of Sue's picture book, BENJAMIN'S BLUE FEET.
Student Success Stories: Charlotte Watson Sherman
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Charlotte Watson Sherman. This post includes a giveaway of Charlotte's picture book with Akem, BROWN SUGAR BABE.
How to Escalate a Picture Book Problem Using Story Loops
Myrna Foster explains how to use story loops and shares a video of Arree describing how he used story loops to escalate the emotion in his picture book.
Instructor Stories: Marcie Colleen
Myrna Foster introduces Marcie Colleen as the instructor for Crafting a Strong Beginning. This post includes a picture book giveaway.
Five Tips for Attending a Big Conference
Myrna Foster shares three tips for decreasing your anxiety and having a great time at a big conference (especially for introverts).
Five Tips for Critique Groups
Myrna Foster shares five tips for making your critique group successful.
Instructor Stories: Alex Leon
Myrna Foster introduces Alex Leon, who teaches Drawing 2: Drawing in 3-D. Alex also teaches the live workshops for Drawing 1: Drawing Mental Models. This post includes a $20 Amazon gift card giveaway.
Instructor Stories: Melissa Manlove
Myrna Foster introduces Melissa Manlove, who teaches Submission Ready with Ariel Richardson. Melissa will also be teaching a second class later this year. This post includes a Chronicle Books giveaway.
Student Success Stories: Rita Lorraine Hubbard
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Rita Lorraine Hubbard. This post includes a giveaway of Rita's picture book with Oge Mora, THE OLDEST STUDENT.
Our Favorite 2019 Picture Books
Myrna Foster and Arree Chung share their favorite picture books from 2019.
How to Tell Stories That Are Uniquely Yours
Myrna Foster talks about how to mine your childhood for the emotional truths that can make your story unique. She shares some advice from Arree Chung on mining childhood fantasies..
Gratitude Helps You Feel Happy and Creative
Myrna Foster talks about identifying your people angels and expressing gratitude improves your quality of life.
Two Editors Talk Comp Titles for Picture Books
Myrna Foster shares a highlight from Submission Ready of Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson discussing comp titles. They talk about how to find them and use them in submissions.
Student Success Stories: Sharon Langley
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Sharon Langley. This post includes a giveaway of Sharon's debut picture book, A RIDE TO REMEMBER.
Develop Healthy Creative Habits
Myrna Foster talks about how taking Arree Chung's class helped her develop healthier creative habits and work smarter.
What Is Fear Keeping You From Doing?
Myrna Foster shares some thoughts on how fear stops progression, suggesting you only grow when you step outside your comfort zone.
Student Success Stories: Adriana Hernández Bergstrom
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Adriana Hernández Bergstrom. This post includes a giveaway of a picture book that Adriana illustrated, BOOMER AT YOUR SERVICE.
Can You Write a Rhyming Picture Book?
Myrna Foster shares a checklist for writing rhyming picture books and a highlight of Melissa Manlove talking about rhyming picture books at the last Black Friday Bootcamp.
Student Success Stories: Teresa Robeson
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Teresa Robeson. This post includes a giveaway of Teresa's debut picture book, QUEEN OF PHYSICS.
When You Feel Like Giving Up
Myrna Foster shares Brené Brown's, “Why Your Critics Aren't The Ones Who Count” and shares some buffers for helping creatives.
Student Success Stories: Ken Lamug
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Ken Lamug. This post includes a giveaway of Ken's latest picture book, GHASTLY GHOSTS, and one of his graphic novels.
Three Ways to Tackle Your Next Picture Book Revision
Myrna Foster shares three ways to tackle a difficult picture book revision, including Arree Chung's Clarifying Questions and Jim Averbeck's Hierarchy of Revision.
Student Success Stories: Mirka Hokkanen
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Mirka Hokkanen about how she uses printmaking, watercolors, and Procreate for her illustrations. This post includes a giveaway of Mirka's debut picture book.
A Choose Your Own Adventure Approach to Achieving Your Dreams
Myrna Foster shares Stephen Suneier's TED Talk, “How to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals” and a personal experience about overcoming limiting beliefs.
Five Page Turns for Picture Book Writers and Illustrators
Myrna Foster shares five different ways to turn your idea into a picture book.
Two Editors Talk About How Illustrators Are Chosen
Myrna Foster shares a highlight from Submission Ready of Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson discussing how editors work with art directors or designers to choose an illustrator for a picture book.
Instructor Stories: Jessixa Bagley
Myrna Foster introduces Jessixa Bagley as the instructor for Watercolors with Jessixa Bagley. This post includes a book giveaway.
Voice in Picture Books: Past vs. Present Tense
Myrna Foster defines and shares examples of past and present tense. She also shares a highlight from Submission Ready of Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson talking about how to transition from past to present tense in a biography.
What Do You Do with a Picture Book Idea?
Myrna Foster shares five different ways to turn your idea into a picture book.
Instructor Stories: Carter Higgins
Myrna Foster introduces Carter Higgins as the instructor for Writing Voice with Carter Higgins and Picture Book Wordsmith. This post includes a book giveaway.
How to Sell a Quiet Picture Book
Myrna Foster shares some insights from Jim Averbeck on quiet picture books, as well as some advice on incorporating multiple hooks from Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson.
Instructor Stories: Arree Chung
Myrna Foster introduces Arree Chung as the founder of Storyteller Academy and the instructor for Making Picture Book Dummies, Drawing 1, and Crafting Picture Book Stories. This post includes a book giveaway.
What Makes an Awesome Picture Book?
Arree Chung shares the two sins of storytelling and the three most important things that he looks for in picture books.
How to Write a Picture Book
Myrna Foster shares the step-by-step process for writing picture books that she's learned by taking Storyteller Academy classes.
Self-Ended vs. Separate-Ended Picture Books
Jim Averbeck shares tips (and visual examples) to help you tell the difference between a self-ended and a separate-ended picture book.
Instructor Stories: Kathryn Otoshi
Myrna Foster introduces Kathryn Otoshi as the Storytelling and Symbolism intensive instructor. This post includes a book giveaway.
Two Editors Talk Back Matter
Myrna Foster talks about nonfiction picture books and shares a highlight from Submission Ready of Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson giving advice on when to include back matter in a submission.
Plan on Attending Multiple SCBWI Conferences
Arree Chung talks about his experiences with SCBWI conferences and how attending them led to signing with his agent, Rubin Pfeffer.
Illustrating African American Hair with Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Myrna Foster shares a video of Vanessa Brantley Newton teaching how she illustrates one kind of African American Hair.
Student Success Stories: Abi Cushman
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Abi Cushman about how she got an agent and signed a two-book deal with Viking. This post includes a giveaway of an 8×10″ signed giclee print using archival inks on a cotton rag paper featuring a scene from SOAKED!
The Business of Selling Picture Books
Arree Chung shares some publishing numbers to help demystify how to make an income as a creator of picture books.
Diversify to Make a Living as a Children's Book Author
Jim Averbeck shares tips on how to diversify your income as a children's book author/illustrator.
Student Success Stories: Marla Lesage
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Marla Lesage about her unique path to getting her first picture book contract. This post includes a giveaway of Marla's debut picture book.
Picture Book Revision Tips From Two Editors
Myrna Foster shares picture book revision tips, especially on reducing your word count, from Ariel Richardson and Melissa Manlove, two editors at Chronicle Books.
Three Tips for Connecting with Agents and Editors Through Conferences
Myrna Foster shares tips for connecting with agents and editors before, during, and after conferences.
Instructor Stories: Kenard Pak
Myrna Foster introduces Kenard Pak as the Textures in Your Illustrations intensive instructor. This post includes a book giveaway.
When an Author Should Submit a Dummy
Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson talk about when they want an author to just send a dummy.
Optimize Your Critique Group Experience
Arree Chung shares tips so that you can have the best possible critique group experience.
Student Success Stories: Vicky Fang
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Vicky Fang about how, as a designer at Google, she felt compelled to create picture books that empower kids.
Develop a Picture Book Character From a Photo
Myrna Foster shares a video of Vanessa Brantley Newton teaching how she used a photo for reference to create the main character for THE KING OF KINDERGARTEN.
Make Your Picture Book Stand Out
Myrna Foster talks about the one thing she does before she gets too far into her process that she believes makes a difference in differentiating her manuscripts. She also shares a video highlight of Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson discussing how you can make your manuscript stand out, even if it's on a subject that's already been covered.
Student Success Stories: LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss about how and why she, as an engineer, felt compelled to create picture books.
How to Research Literary Agents
Myrna Foster shares her process for researching agents, especially agents who represent picture books.
How Editors Think
Myrna Foster shares a video highlight of Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson discussing how editors think and why response time are sometimes longer than we'd like them to be.
Student Success Stories: Elaine Kiely Kearns
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Isabella Kung about her picture book deal with Scholastic.
Popular Art Styles in Picture Book Illustration
Arree Chung shares examples of three main art styles from picture book illustrations.
Illustrating Skin Color with Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Myrna Foster shares a video of Vanessa Brantley Newton teaching how she gets skin color right.
Instructor Stories: Tim McCanna
Myrna Foster introduces Tim McCanna as the Storytelling in Rhyme intensive instructor. This post includes a book giveaway.
Two Editors Talk Mentor Texts and Multiple Hooks
Myrna Foster shares snippets from Storyteller Academy's Submission Ready class, where Chronicle Editors Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richarson talk about mentor texts and multiple hooks.
Free Picture Book Challenge
Myrna Foster introduces Jannie Ho as the Adobe Illustrator intensive instructor. This post includes a book giveaway.
Instructor Stories: Jannie Ho
Myrna Foster introduces Jannie Ho as the Adobe Illustrator intensive instructor. This post includes a book giveaway.
Student Success Stories: Isabella Kung
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Isabella Kung about her picture book deal with Scholastic.