Makers Plus Membership
Learn how to create children's books from award-winning authors and illustrators.
Do you have an idea for a children's book but don't know where to start? Maybe you've made a story, but you aren't sure if it's good enough? Or perhaps you're struggling to find time for your creativity?
Inside Storyteller Academy, award-winning authors and illustrators teach you their tips and techniques so that you can save time. Our curriculum takes you from having an idea to getting an agent and publishing your book.
With 24/7 access to classes and resources, you are free to learn, grow and create anywhere, at your own pace, however it fits into your schedule.
Your Top Foundational Courses
Writing Picture Book Manuscripts
Jim Averbeck, Award-Winning Picture Book Author
- Learn how to turn your idea into a picture book manuscript.
- Generate new story ideas when you don't have any.
- Get unstuck and prepare for publication with powerful revision.
Crafting Picture Book Stories & Dummies
Arree Chung, Award-Winning Children's Book Author/Illustrator
- Discover a story structure for picture books that works.
- Understand the relationship between text and illustrations in modern picture books.
- Learn the formatting and visual storytelling for a picture book.
Submission Ready
Ariel Richardson and Melissa Manlove, Editors at Chronicle Books
- Learn what children's book editors are looking to acquire.
- Hands-on writing and revising to polish your story.
- Avoid submission mistakes and submit your story to publishers with confidence.
Drawing 1
Alex Leon, Painter and Artist
- Overcome your fear of drawing by learning how to draw with simple shapes.
- Unlock your creativity by learning how to draw out of your head.
- Learn how to draw characters and backgrounds to start telling your stories visually.
Character Design
Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Award-Winning Author/Illustrator
- Create characters that pop off your page.
- Beginning and advanced artists learn how to design characters for children's books.
- Learn how to draw expressive characters with consistency.
Your Top Advanced Courses
Self-Publishing Children's Books
Darcy Pattison, Award-Winning Children's Book Author
- Self-publish your children's book with success.
- Learn proven marketing techniques to scale your sales.
- Turn your story ideas into a thriving book business.
Rhyming Picture Books
Baptiste and Miranda Paul, Award-Winning Children's Book Authors
- Write rhyme that editors and readers will love.
- Learn the technical aspects of rhythm and rhyme.
- Create rhythm and rhyme without sacrificing story.
Plotting Your MG Novel
Katherine Jacobs, Editor at Zonderkids
- Outline a successful plot structure for your story idea.
- Revise your middle grade manuscript to strengthen your plot.
- Develop marketable middle grade novels with confidence.
Writing the MG Fantasy Novel
Sage Blackwood, Award-Winning Children's Book Author
- Discover a narrative voice for a successful middle grade novel.
- Develop plot, characters, and dialogue to write your novel.
- Build a fantasy world with rich storytelling.
Illustration 1
Julie Downing and Isabella Kung, Children's Book Authors/Illustrators
- Learn the creative process of illustrating, composing, and storytelling for children's books.
- Develop an illustration roadmap for your children's book.
- Submit confidentally with strong illustrations for your portfolio.
Our full library contains 17 signature courses on writing, illustrating, and publishing for beginner through advanced creators. In addition to the above foundational and advanced courses you also receive:
- Illustration 2
- Drawing 2
- Graphic Novels
- Illustrating with Collage
- Picture Book Wordsmith
- Picture Book Production Design
Our Most Popular Mini-Classes
Membership Bonuses
Live Q&A with Editors and Art Directors
You're invited to attend live “Ask Me Anything” sessions with industry editors and art directors so that you can get all of your publishing questions answered. Exclusive: member-only events!
Live Open Critiques & Work Sessions
Twice per month, you're invited to attend our dedicated community creative time followed by open critique groups. Attendance flexibility allows you to carve out time to work and receive valuable critiques without the long term commitment of a critique group that might not always fit into your changing schedule.
12 Live Workshops per Year
Each month, you're invited to attend our mini-class live review. Connect live with other creatives, ask the instructor your questions, and have a chance at getting your work critiqued.
Choose Your Plan
Monthly Membership
- All access to 17 signature courses on writing, illustrating, and publishing children's books.
- All access to 36 craft-based self-study mini-classes.
- Step-by-step guides, checklists, and workbooks to help you through the creative process.
- Connect with fellow storytellers and keep tabs on the industry.
- BONUS: Live Q&A sessions with Editors and Art Directors.
- BONUS: Invitation to create dates and open critiques twice per month.
- BONUS: Invitations to 1 live review (workshop) for a mini-class per month.
$35/monthly
Annual Membership
Save $70
and get a FREE How to Write or Illustrate Children's Books Workbook
- Get instant access to our 17 signature courses on writing, illustrating, and publishing children's books.
- All access to 36 craft-based self-study mini-classes.
- Step-by-step guides, checklists, and workbooks to help you through the creative process.
- Connect with fellow storytellers and keep tabs on the industry.
- BONUS: Live Q&A sessions with Editors and Art Directors.
- BONUS: Invitation to create dates and open critiques twice per month.
- BONUS: Invitations to 1 live review (workshop) for a mini-class per month.
$350/annually
Testimonials
“Being a part of such an amazing group keeps me moving toward my goals. There is such a wide variety of course selections. I want to learn it all. But I struggled with finding the time for the workshops within my time zone. Suddenly I was able to take all the courses I wanted at my own pace.”
– Dorothy Wawa, Children's Book Author
“I am grateful to Storyteller Academy for carving a clear path that showed me that my lifelong dream is tangible with actionable steps and building supportive relationships.”
– LaTonya Jackson, Author-Illustrator
– Cathy Wu, winner of Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award for 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
With the Makers Plus membership, you take courses at your convenience, and are able to create books with the time you have.
You will get unstuck by finding the information you need and save time.
Inside the Makers Plus membership you'll discover what makes a great story and how to improve your story.
You'll sharpen your creative skills and turn your hobby of writing or drawing into a life-long successful career.
You will learn how to write and illustrate children's books.
You'll also learn how to get an agent, self-publish, and build a successful business.
Basically, it's everything you need to know. All in one place.
Occasionally we sell our individual courses, but the Makers Plus membership was built to give you access to all the information you need, whenever you need it.
Each course you take, every skill you master, will leave you hungry for the next one.
Our signature courses dive deep into the craft of writing and illustrating. Each course contains pre-recorded lessons and handouts designed to improve your craft one module at a time.
Our mini-classes are bite-sized, skill-based courses designed to focus on a specific element of writing, illustrating, or business. Ranging from 30 minutes to 8 hours, depending on the topic, mini-classes are pre-recorded and available on-demand.
All of Storyteller Academy’s courses can be accessed ONLINE. We recommend that you have a personal computer or tablet for an optimal experience.
While Makers Plus is completely online to allow for unrestricted access to resources, technology does come with the potential for headaches.
Our student support team will walk you through any technical knowledge you need to know. Our staff is there to answer questions whenever they arise.
You can cancel anytime. And there's a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. You can sign up to renew monthly or annually.
Makers Plus members can submit their work for review for the 12 monthly mini-class live reviews. But there is no guarantee that your work will be chosen. If you would like more support, you can purchase more direct feedback through a written critique or a 30-minute one-on-one critique.
You get access to our 17 signature courses and 36 mini-classes. You'll also receive access to all NEW courses and mini-classes as they are released throughout the year for as along you are member.
Signature Courses:
Character Design
Crafting Picture Book Stories
Drawing 1: Drawing with Mental Models
Drawing 2: Drawing in 3-D
Graphic Novels
Illustrating with Collage (NEW!)
Illustration 1
Illustration 2
Making Picture Book Dummies
Picture Book Production Design
Picture Book Wordsmith
Plotting your MG Novel
Rhyming Picture Books
Self-Publishing Children's Books
Submission Ready
Writing Picture Book Manuscripts
Writing the Middle-Grade Fantasy Novel
Mini-Classes:
***All in BOLD will have LIVE reviews this 2022.
Adobe Illustrator
Best Creative Year Ever
Build an Author Business
Building an Author Website
Crafting a Strong Beginning
Creating Atmosphere
Creating Characters
Creative Focus and Habits
Drawing People for Children's Books (NEW August)
Find My Art Style
How to Query Agents
Illustrating Middle Grade Covers (NEW September)
Illustrating Novelty and Board Books
Making Comics
Meterology 101
Nailing Your Middle Grade Voice
Nonfiction Picture Books
Overcoming Fear (NEW December)
Painting People with Acrylics
Perspective and Point of View
Photoshop Basics
Picture Book Biographies
Picture Book Story Frameworks
Pitch Your Story
Presenting a Winning Portfolio (REVISIT November)
Revising Your Novel
School Visit Presentations
Social Media
Storytelling in Rhyme
Symbolism & Storytelling
Textures in Your Illustrations
Unlock Your Maker Mindset
Watercolors
Writing Chapter Books
Writing Early Readers
Writing Humor
Writing Natural Rhyme That Sells
Writing Nature with All 5 Senses (NEW October)
Writing Voice
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