Write your story with the same Creative Process used by
award-winning children’s books authors and illustrators.
(Even if this is your first time writing . . . you don't know how to draw . . . or you feel like you NEVER have time.)
Quick Question . . .
Do you dream of writing a children's book but struggle with self-doubt or feeling lost?
Are you . . .
- a dreamer who longs to write or illustrate children's books but also has to maintain a “real job.”
- a parent deep in the trenches, spending hours reading children's books, and needing to tuck anything for yourself inside a hectic schedule.
- an educator who knows exactly what types of books the classroom (and world) needs.
- a writer or artist who wants to hone your skills for the children's market.
Did you know?
Taking courses on writing and illustrating puts you in the top 3% of people trying to get their children's book published.
Your dream of writing a children's book is achievable.
Don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise (including yourself).
How do I get my stories Published?
You’ve got an idea for a children’s book but where do you go from there? Unfortunately, having an idea isn’t enough. Dreaming about making a children's book isn’t going to make it a reality.
So how do published authors & Illustrators transform their ideas into award-winning picture books? They use a creative process to create stories and rely on a creative community for feedback and revision.
Mastering the creative process with a community of creative people is the most effective way to transform your ideas into award-winning children’s books.
Storytellers aren’t born, they're created.
We collected the creative processes that help storytellers create award-winning books that kids, parents, editors, and agents LOVE and BUY.
Introducing the Makers Self-Study Membership!
Inside the Makers Self-Study Membership, you’ll learn the Creative Processes behind award-winning children’s books taught by professional authors, illustrators, agents, and editors from the children’s book industry.
You will have 24/7 access to classes and resources at your fingertips. So if you're ready to make your children's book dream into a reality, join us inside Makers Self-Study.
– Bonnie Kelso, author/illustrator of Nudi Gill: Poison Powerhouse of the Sea
– Laurie Elmquist, author of City Baby
Learn anywhere, anytime.
With two membership levels, you can select the one that is exactly right for your goals and your schedule.
What's included in your membership:
20+ Signature Courses on writing, illustrating, and publishing children's books
Create your children's book with the creative processes of award-winning authors/illustrators.
What are your creative goals? Whether you're a beginner or more advanced, each course at Storyteller Academy is designed to help you with a specific goal. Choose your course and start learning. Each signature course takes a deep dive into the creative process with six learning modules, printable handouts, guides, and resources.
Clear action items following each lesson (homework!) allow you to implement the lessons through your story immediately.
The best part . . . all the lessons are pre-recorded and available to watch 24/7, as many times as you like, for the duration of your membership.
Never fall behind or miss a replay window again.
Foundational and Advanced Courses
Say goodbye to feeling stuck and wondering what to do next.
Our foundational courses will help you build a solid foundation for storytelling. You’ll learn how to develop ideas, write manuscripts, make dummies, create characters, and submit your book. And if you are ready to take your work to the next level, we've got advanced courses ready. You’ll learn everything from how to craft your voice, how to write rhymes, how to illustrate, how to create graphic novels, and more!
40+ craft-based mini-classes
Our on-demand 42 craft-based mini-classes are bite-sized, skill-based courses designed to focus on a specific element of writing, illustrating, or business. Most mini-classes are about a hour long, allowing you to elevate your skills in manageable chunks of time.
All of these classes are pre-recorded and available on-demand.
Did you know?
66% of authors also
work a day job?
*data as of 2017
Do you have time for this?
You are busy. You barely have time for the things you NEED to do, let alone the things you WANT to do, especially when the thing you want to do is follow a creative dream that you may or may not have even told anyone about.
We built Makers Self-study for YOU.
But here is another little tip we've learned over the years. Your dream is patient. You don't need to put unnecessary pressure on yourself.
There is no time limit.
If you can only give yourself a couple of hours on the weekends, then do that. If you have the summer free, create then. Give your dream the time you have, when you have it. It's not going anywhere, and it's totally worth it.
Start your journey today.
Monthly Membership
COURSES:
- Instant on-demand access to 10 Foundational courses and 11 Advanced courses on writing, illustrating, and publishing children’s books
- Instant, on-demand access to 42 craft-based, supplemental mini-classes
- Time saving checklists and worksheets to guide you through the creative process
COMMUNITY:
- 24/7 access to a knowledgeable, supportive community of fellow storytellers.
$30/month
Annual Membership
- Everything on monthly membership
- Get a FREE How to Write or Illustrate Children's Books workbook
- Save up to 2 months worth of membership
$300/annual
($25/month)
What's Possible?
“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
– Cathy Wu, winner of Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award for 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
With the Makers Self-Study membership, you take courses at your convenience, and are able to create children's books with the time you have.
In fact, having a membership will save you time! No more searching the internet for the answers to your questions. No more worrying over coordinating schedules to make live events happen.
We don't lie to you. Writing children's books is not easy. It takes time, creativity, and thought, but it is a skill you can learn.
If you have a story and the desire to bring it to life, then your story will be good enough.
Inside the Makers Self-Study 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 Self-Study membership was built to give you access to all of 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 Self-Study 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 Self-Study members do not have this feature. If you would like more support, you can purchase more direct feedback through a written critique, a 30-minute one-on-one critique, or you can upgrade to Makers Pro.
You get access to our 21 signature courses and 42 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:
Build a Lead Magnet
Build and Test FB Ads
Character Design
Crafting Picture Book Stories
Drawing 1: Drawing with Mental Models
Drawing 2: Drawing in 3-D
Find and Build Your Audience
Graphic Novels
Hire a VA and Build a Team
Illustrating with Collage
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:
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
Find My Art Style
How to Query Agents
Illustrating Novelty and Board Books
Illustrating Early Readers
Illustrating Middle Grade Covers
Making Comics
Meterology
Middle Grade Novel in Verse
Nailing Your Middle Grade Voice
Nonfiction Picture Books
Overcoming Fear
Painting People with Acrylics
Perspective and Point of View
Photoshop Basics
Picture Book Story Frameworks
Pitch Your Story
Presenting a Winning Portfolio
Picture Book Biographies
Revise Your Novel
Social Media
School Visit Presentations
Storytelling in Rhyme
Symbolism & Storytelling
Textures in Your Illustrations
Unlock Your Maker Mindset
Watercolors
Writing Chapter Books
Writing Early Readers
Writing For the Educational Market
Writing Humor
Writing Natural Rhyme That Sells
Writing Nature with All 5 Senses
Writing Voice
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