Quebec Writers' Federation Workshops

Fall Session 2010

An exploration of the art of writing for children, from picture books to first novels.

The Canadian children's book market has expanded like wildfire over the last twenty years. Small independent book publishers have published innovative, original and exciting books for children written and illustrated by Canadian authors and illustrators, as well as selling rights around the world. The Canada Council has been funding author tours all across Canada in libraries and schools. It is a lively and vibrant industry. The competition is fierce and publishing technology is changing constantly.

The creation of a book for children is deceptively simple. So simple that it is quite difficult. How do you convey emotion, develop characters and plot, inspire and captivate children in perhaps ten, one hundred or six hundred words? How does writing for children compare with writing for adults?

Writers of picture books for children need a rich visual counterpoint in order to pare down a story to its essentials while retaining rhythm, poetic images, humour, plot and a child's vision of the world. Images in a picture book add multi–layered dimensions and a visual vocabulary to a story by contributing details and sub–plots, and revealing the characters' emotions through body language and facial expression.

Bring one or two of your all-time favorite picture books to the first meeting. For each book, be prepared to present it, read a short passage and explain why it appeals to you.

Bring writing materials. We will be doing short writing exercises that will test your imagination, creativity and awake the visual awareness of childhood.

If you have a picture book manuscript in progress that you would like to submit for discussion and comments, please send a copy (two pages maximum) to [ admin AT QWF DOT org ] by November 12. The subject line should read "For Marie-Louise Gay."

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