Get your children's book story idea out of your head and turn it into a book!

Makers Membership

A Makers Membership gives you everything
you need to write your story, connect with other authors
and illustrators, and get your book published.

Who is this membership for?

Do you feel like an imposter every time you think about writing your children's book? Maybe you wonder if you have the time or if you are actually capable of writing something worth publishing.

We'll let you in on a little secret. That is how everyone feels at the beginning of their creative journey. The very first step to actually turning your idea into a book, is believing that you can do it.

Everything you need to know past that is inside the Makers Membership. You'll fit right in here if you are . . .

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.
a current or former educator who knows exactly what types of books the classroom (and world) needs.
a professional writer or artist who wants to hone your skills for the children's market.

Learn anywhere, anytime.

With two membership levels, you can select the one that is exactly right for your goals and your schedule.

$750 / year

$ 75 / month

ENROLLMENT OPENS IN MAY 2023

Instant access to all of our 22 signature courses on writing and illustrating children's books.
All access to 38 craft-based self-study mini-classes with a live review every month.
Step-by-step guides, checklists, workbooks, and many other resources to help guide you through the creative process.
Annual Pitch Party to three industry agents.
Three Agent Series Workshops (with submission opportunities).
Three Ask-Me-Anything sessions with industry professionals (submission opportunities possible, but not guaranteed).
Virtual live workshops each term with opportunities to have your work critiqued.
A monthly mini-class live review.
First access to buy a place in a mentored critique group or one-on-one critiques with instructors.
Free placement in a peer critique group.
Access to our illustration and writing community of storytellers!
Free professional written critique (annual membership only)

$250/ year

$ 25 / month

All access to 21 signature courses on writing, illustrating, and publishing children's books.
All access to 38 craft-based self-study mini-classes.
Step-by-step guides, checklists, and workbooks to help you through the creative process.
Access to our illustration and writing community of storytellers!
Early access to buy a place in a mentored critique group or one-on-one critiques with instructors.
FREE How to Write or Illustrate Children's Book Workbook (for ANNUAL membership only)

Membership Perks

Courses

Access our entire library of in-depth signature courses and craft-based mini-classes.

BROWSE COURSE LIBRARY

Community

Connect with fellow storytellers and keep tabs on the industry.

EXCLUSIVES

Live Workshops

Live workshops will be held for select signature courses during each term. A couple of lucky participants will have their stories or artwork reviewed by the instructor, and everyone will get their questions answered!

BROWSE SIGNATURE COURSES

Critique Groups

Meet regularly and receive ongoing feedback from a group of peers. Join a critique group based on your individual writing style and level of experience.

Mini-Class Live Reviews

Members get a chance to have their work reviewed by the mini-class instructor live!

VIEW LIVE REVIEW SCHEDULE

Submission Opportunities

Each January you are invited to attend our annual Pitch Party with a panel of three agents.

Additionally, three times per year you're invited to attend our Agent Series with children's literary agents and submit to them above the slush!

LEARN MORE

Ask-Me-Anything Sessions

Three times per year you can attend live “Ask Me Anything” sessions with editors and art directors to get all your questions answered!

LEARN MORE

EXCLUSIVE

2023 Live Workshop Schedule

Term 1 2023

JANUARY 18 - MARCH 15

Illustration 1
Julie Downing & Isabella Kung

Revision Workshop Series (NEW)
Jim Averbeck

Submission Ready
Ariel Richardson & Melissa Manlove

Character Design
Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Self-Publishing Picture Books
Darcy Pattison

Crafting Picture Book Stories
Arree Chung

Plotting your MG Novel
Katherine Jacobs

Term 2 2023

May 31 - AUGUST 5

(Tentative)
Drawing 1
Alex Leon

Picture Book Wordsmith
Carter Higgins

Writing Picture Book Manuscripts
Jim Averbeck

Making Picture Book Dummies
Arree Chung

Illustration 2
Julie Downing & Isabella Kung

Rhyming Picture Books
Baptiste and Miranda Paul

Submission Workshop Series (NEW)
Amy Flynn, Cindy Leopold-Ritsko, and Myrna Foster

Illustration Revision Workshop Series (NEW)
Arree Chung

Term 3 2023

September 13 - November 18

(Tentative)
Drawing 2
Alex Leon

Graphic Novels
Ken Lamug

Writing Picture Book Manuscripts
Jim Averbeck

Picture Book Production Design
Arree Chung

Illustrating with Collage
Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Writing the MG Novel Fantasy
Sage Blackwood

Revision Workshop Series (NEW)
Carter Higgins

What courses do I get access to?

Check out our catalog of courses

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Makers Pro and Makers Self-Study?

As a Makers Pro member, you have access to our entire library of courses, live workshops, and events. You can go through any class as many times as you like for the duration of your membership. Additionally, if you are interested, we will place you in a peer critique group for free.

As a Makers Self-Study member, you have access to the same courses, content, and resources, but they are all self-study. Self-study means that you don't have access to live workshops, live classes, or peer critique group placement.

What's the difference between signature courses and mini-classes?

Our signature courses dive deep into the craft of writing and illustrating. Each course contains pre-recorded lessons, handouts, and action items designed to improve your craft. Our signature courses are available for self-study year-round for Makers Pro and Makers Self-Study members.

Our mini-classes are bite-sized, skill-based courses designed to focus on a specific element of writing, illustrating, or business. Ranging from 20 minutes to 120 minutes, depending on the topic, mini-classes are pre-recorded and available on-demand for all Makers Pro and Makers Self-Study members.

What's the difference between live workshops and live reviews?

Live workshops are held in each term for select signature courses. In a live workshop, students are invited to receive real-time feedback and Q&A time with the instructors. Feedback is not guaranteed. Live workshops and workshop replays are only available for Makers Pro members.

Live reviews are the same but for mini-classes. With each new mini-class that's released, one live review is held at the end of the term. We also revisit a few popular mini-classes each year to give students another live review for the class.

How often do you release new content?

Each year we release three to four new signature courses and 4-5 mini-classes.

If I join a Makers membership, how long does it last? If I don't think it is for me, can I cancel?

You can sign up for a monthly membership or save money by signing up for the full year. You can cancel a monthly membership anytime, but it will renew automatically if you don't cancel it. An annual membership lasts for 12 months. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee for either type of membership, so you can try it risk-free.

What does "self-study" mean?

Self-study means you don't have the live guidance or feedback from the instructor (or community) during workshops. You are watching the lessons and doing the assignments at your own pace, on your own time. It's the same content, and you can still email Storyteller Academy staff for help if you need it.

Which courses do you offer?

Check out our library of courses and mini-classes here.

Is this all online? What equipment do I need?

All of Storyteller Academy’s courses can be accessed online. We recommend you have a personal computer or tablet for optimal experience.

I need help, who can I speak to?

You can book a 30-minute live Zoom call with our team here, or you can send our support team an email at support@storytelleracademy.com.