Storyteller Academy student Charlotte Watson Sherman shares some thoughts on perseverance. Book giveaway included!
Storyteller Academy student Charlotte Watson Sherman shares some thoughts on perseverance. Book giveaway included!
Darcy Pattison will be teaching Storyteller Academy's new Self-Publishing Children's Books course. Book giveaway included!
Myrna Foster introduces Baptiste Paul, an instructor for Storyteller Academy's new Rhyming Picture Books course. Book giveaway included!
Isabella Kung, one of our Illustration instructors, shares how she organizes her creative space and time. Book giveaway included!
Storyteller Academy's Myrna Foster breaks down the main challenges and twitter events kidlit creators can look forward to in the near future.
Storyteller Academy student Vicky Fang shares how she studied mentor texts of chapter books from Scholastic Branches to write a chapter book series that later sold to Scholastic Branches.
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster interviews Nadia Salomon about the release of her debut picture book, Goodnight Ganesha. This post includes a book giveaway and highlights from Nadia's book launch.
Storyteller Academy instructor and mentor Jim Averbeck explains how to find the right kind of mentor for your creative endeavors.
Picture book author Nadia Salomon uses Master Studies of mentor texts to write bedtime stories. Book giveaway included!
Storyteller Academy's COO Amy Flynn, Kristy Nuttall, and Janet Johnson share tips on how to apply feedback you receive in your critique group.
Storyteller Academy students and instructors share the obstacles they've overcome to reach success as children's book creators.
Julie Downing, one of our Illustration instructors, shares how she set up her art studio to work without distraction. Book giveaway included!
Myrna introduces Ken Lamug as the instructor for Storyteller Academy's upcoming course on graphic novels. Book giveaway included!
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster interviews Todd Sturgell about his debut picture book, Except Antartica. This success story includes a giveaway and QueryTracker information.
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster shares award-winning author/illustrator Arree Chung’s five storytelling techniques for writing great children’s books.
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster interviews Laurie Elmquist about the release of her third board book, City Baby. This post includes a board book giveaway.
Storyteller Academy’s Cindy Ritsko shares proven strategies from several authors and author/illustrators for overcoming the dreaded writer’s block.
Storyteller Academy’s Amy Flynn shares how she sets and tracks achievable goals to prioritize her writing time. Includes link to Amy’s goal planning template.
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster shares Arree Chung’s video of real publishing numbers and strategies, including his own recent royalty statements.
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster shares Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s video tour of her art studio and her tips for finding inspiration in your creative space.
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster shares creative entrepreneur Arree Chung’s mindset strategies to get over beat imposter syndrome and reach creative goals.
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster shares Arree Chung’s strategy (and examples from MIXED) for telling a picture book story. Picture book giveaway included.
Storyteller Academy’s Myrna Foster shares a Master Studies exercise to help you use mentor texts to improve your stories. Picture book giveaway included.
Do you ever get writer’s block? Storyteller Academy’s Amy Flynn shares six writing prompts that can help you overcome writer's block. Book giveaway included.
Arree Chung shares how you can use the five steps of design thinking to design the lifestyle you’ve always wanted and achieve your most ambitious goals.
Arree Chung shares tips and questions to help you make morning journaling one of the best habits you can adopt for productivity.
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Katy Tanis about illustration projects, book deals, critique groups, and other things. This post includes two book giveaways: I AM THE JUNGLE and LOVE IN THE WILD.
In this guest post from Abi Cushman, see an example of a great newsletter and enter to win her next picture book.
Share your 2020 wins, and get entered to win a picture book or query critique! Myrna Foster shares some creative mindset tips.
Myrna Foster shares networking advice for children's book writers and illustrators. This post includes a book giveaway.
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Lily LaMotte about her graphic novel This post includes a giveaway of Lily's debut book, MEASURING UP.
We're excited for this cover reveal of the first book in Ken Lamug's MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM graphic novel series: BORN TO BE BAD. Enter to win a copy!
Myrna Foster introduces the award-winning Ben Clanton. Ben taught our new “Creating Characters” mini-class. There is a book giveaway included.
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Amanda Malek-Ahmadi about her picture book. This post includes a giveaway of Amanda's debut book, 10 BALLET DANCERS.
Myrna Foster introduces our new Nonfiction Picture Books mini-class instructor, the award-winning Miranda Paul.
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.
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.
Myrna Foster shares some tips from Jim Averbeck and herself on how to format your children's book manuscript for an agent or editor.
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.
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.
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.
Myrna Foster and Arree Chung give away books and open a discussion about supporting better race relations for our community.
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.
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!
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.
Storyteller Academy students give advice on how to query agents with your picture book. Giveaway of two students' picture books included.
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.
Myrna Foster shares upcoming Storyteller Academy events and links to Arree's free Creativity Camp for kids.
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.
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.
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Sue Macartney. This post includes a giveaway of Sue's picture book, BENJAMIN'S BLUE FEET.
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Charlotte Watson Sherman. This post includes a giveaway of Charlotte's picture book with Akem, BROWN SUGAR BABE.
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.
Myrna Foster introduces Marcie Colleen as the instructor for Crafting a Strong Beginning. This post includes a picture book giveaway.
Myrna Foster shares three tips for decreasing your anxiety and having a great time at a big conference (especially for introverts).
Myrna Foster shares five tips for making your critique group successful.
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.
Myrna Foster introduces Melissa Manlove, Executive Editor at Chronicle Books and Storyteller Instructor, with her two courses.
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.
Myrna Foster and Arree Chung share their favorite picture books from 2019.
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..
Myrna Foster talks about identifying your people angels and expressing gratitude improves your quality of life.
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.
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Sharon Langley. This post includes a giveaway of Sharon's debut picture book, A RIDE TO REMEMBER.
Myrna Foster talks about how taking Arree Chung's class helped her develop healthier creative habits and work smarter.
Myrna Foster shares some thoughts on how fear stops progression, suggesting you only grow when you step outside your comfort zone.
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.
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.
Myrna Foster interviews Storyteller Academy student Teresa Robeson. This post includes a giveaway of Teresa's debut picture book, QUEEN OF PHYSICS.
Myrna Foster shares Brené Brown's, “Why Your Critics Aren't The Ones Who Count” and shares some buffers for helping creatives.
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.
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.
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.
Myrna Foster shares Stephen Suneier's TED Talk, “How to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals” and a personal experience about overcoming limiting beliefs.
Myrna Foster shares five different ways to turn your idea into a picture book.
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.
Myrna Foster introduces Jessixa Bagley as the instructor for Watercolors with Jessixa Bagley. This post includes a book giveaway.
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.
Myrna Foster shares five different ways to turn your idea into a picture book.
Myrna Foster introduces Carter Higgins as the instructor for Writing Voice with Carter Higgins and Picture Book Wordsmith. This post includes a book giveaway.
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.
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.
Arree Chung shares the two sins of storytelling and the three most important things that he looks for in picture books.
Myrna Foster shares the step-by-step process for writing picture books that she's learned by taking Storyteller Academy classes.
Jim Averbeck shares tips (and visual examples) to help you tell the difference between a self-ended and a separate-ended picture book.
Myrna Foster introduces Kathryn Otoshi as the Storytelling and Symbolism intensive instructor. This post includes a book giveaway.
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.
Arree Chung talks about his experiences with SCBWI conferences and how attending them led to signing with his agent, Rubin Pfeffer.
Myrna Foster shares a video of Vanessa Brantley Newton teaching how she illustrates one kind of African American Hair.
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!
Arree Chung shares some publishing numbers to help demystify how to make an income as a creator of picture books.
Jim Averbeck shares tips on how to diversify your income as a children's book author/illustrator.
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.
Myrna Foster shares picture book revision tips, especially on reducing your word count, from Ariel Richardson and Melissa Manlove, two editors at Chronicle Books.
Myrna Foster shares tips for connecting with agents and editors before, during, and after conferences.
Myrna Foster introduces Kenard Pak as the Textures in Your Illustrations intensive instructor. This post includes a book giveaway.
Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson talk about when they want an author to just send a dummy.
Arree Chung shares tips so that you can have the best possible critique group experience.
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.
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.
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.