Big red dogs. A mouse saying good night to the room and the moon. Twelve little girls in two straight lines. The best children’s picture books evoke a sense of play and wonder, surprise and delight. They ask the tough questions (who wet Bear’s pants?) and provide the it’ll-all-be-okay reassurance second only to a loved one’s hug. And despite what many may think, they are notoriously hard to write.
In this class, we’ll explore modern picture books—the voices, the subtle tensions, the illustrative play, and most importantly, the readability. We’ll explore the fine line between the didactic and the dramatic. And we’ll go over common publishing questions — Do I need to illustrate my own book or hire an illustrator? How do you format a submission? Should I self-publish?
Come on over—It’s time for story time!
Lisa Bubert is a writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her pitched and published work has appeared in Longreads, Texas Monthly, The Rumpus, Business Insider, and more. Her story, “Kitten,” which appeared in Pidgeonholes, was nominated for Best Small Fictions 2020. Her story, “The Coma,” which appeared in the final issue of Natural Bridge journal, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
"Lisa Bubert's "The Business of Writing" was perhaps one of the most informative writing classes I've had. Beyond the business aspect, her knowledge of literature and writing technique is impressive."
"The Business of Creative Writing helped me navigate the process of submitting and searching for appropriate publications and agents. Lisa was so encouraging and inspiring."
"Lisa was super prepared. She learned about publishing through experience and was generous in sharing her knowledge. Would recommend highly to anyone interested in The Business of Writing."
