| 8:45 – 9:45 |
Taking Humor Seriously at Cricket Magazine Group – Alice Letvin
In its mission statement, Cricket pledges: “to sustain a lively, witty, and cheerful tone and a sense of humor” in its pages. Why is humor so important in connecting with children, and how can you develop your own funny bone? Alice will explore these questions through examples of the most successful humorous writing published in the Cricket magazines, in fiction, nonfiction, and verse. |
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10:00 – 11:30
(Choose one)
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"So Funny I Forgot to Laugh": Humor in Middle-Grade Fiction – Claudia Mills
In this session we'll study examples of humor in classic and recent children's middle-grade fiction to discover how successful authors make us smile, chuckle, chortle, and guffaw. We'll locate elements of humor both in the events that take place in stories and in characters' expressed reactions to these events, through inner monologue and dialogue. Hands-on exercises will involve brainstorming for sources of humor in our own lives and working with chosen scenes to bring out their hidden humor: Humor is everywhere!
A Day in the Life of a Practicing Poet – Frank Lloyd Kramer
We will look at all aspects of being a poet on a daily basis and investigate the writing process; when, where and how–editing, submitting, self-publishing and performing poetry. The emphasis will be on humor–turning everyday situations into funny, upbeat poems. We will share ideas and engage in a fun writing exercise!
Make Your Words Sing! Using Rhyme, Rhythm and Wordplay in Picture Books & Poetry Collections – Linda Ashman
Many editors say they don't want stories told in verse. What they really mean is they don't want BAD verse. In this session you'll learn how to avoid the "curse of the verse" through inspired word selection and attention to story and meter. We'll look at lots of examples (good and not-so-good!) and try some exercises of our own in a fun and supportive setting.
Children’s Magazines: How to be Funny, Charming, and Accurate—All At the Same Time! – Karen Kohn
In this session, you will see many types of magazine assignments, from feature articles, humor illustrations, and monthly serials to maps, diagrams, and activities. Get a behind-the-scenes description of how a monthly magazine is put together. Learn what age group your illustrations are best suited for and whether your style is better for fiction or nonfiction. You will learn what happens to the samples you send, what marketing approaches work, and the process by which an illustrator is chosen for an assignment. Follow many different artists through the entire illustration process from budgeting, assignment, and reference to sketches, revisions, final art, and billing. Learn how to be an Art Director’s favorite illustrator. Join us to see lots of inspiring illustrations from sketch to final art.
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1:15 – 2:45
(Choose one) |
The World of Carus Publishing – Alice Letvin
Carus Publishing offers an extensive range of publications for children through two book imprints, five fiction magazines, and eleven nonfiction magazines. In this session, Editorial Director Alice Letvin will give an overview and history of Carus Publishing. She will then describe the various magazines and book imprints, explaining their foci, target audiences, and submission procedures. Get the insider's view of this wide-ranging force in children's literature!
On the Menu: Themed Poetry and Delicious Fiction or Nonfiction, Generously Seasoned with Humor & Rhyme
– Phyllis Perry
In this session we'll explore the magazine and book markets for children's poetry and examine various examples of poetry anthologies and themed poetry collections. There will be time for participants to try their hand at some verse. Through studying examples, we'll also see see how adding a touch of humor lightens and brightens both nonfiction and fiction for children. Participants will be encouraged to do some quick writing of their own so that they can identify and share some of their humorous talents with other workshop members and receive feedback.
Rhyming Readers and Finding Your Funny Bone – Marjorie Blain Parker
In this double-focused session we'll first look at rhyme and word choice in early readers–what works and why. We'll try our hand at the word list exercises Marjorie uses when writing early readers–a terrific way to jump start your manuscript. Next on the menu–humor. You know that readers (and editors) LOVE humor, but you don't know how to be funny? Let's take a look at different types of humor, picture books that use them successfully, and ways to inject humor into a text. Let's find your funny bone!
Computer Enhanced Illustration – Eris Klein
Explore the computers creative potential for illustration. Not only will you learn about software, but also how to combine traditional techniques and materials with the computer. This is not about throwing out the old for the new, but learning how to enhance it!
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3:15 – 4:45
(Choose one) |
First Pages Manuscript Critique – Alice Letvin
Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall as an editor reads that crucial first page of your manuscript? In this session, you will see and hear an editor's initial reaction to actual first pages submitted by conference attendees.
Using Humor in "Serious" Young Adult Literature – Lauren Myracle
In this hands-on discussion and workshop, we will begin by examining how humor works. Expectation and denial, set-up and pay-off, locus and trigger—all of these techniques can be employed for comic effect, and by increasing our awareness of these mechanisms, we can be more deliberate about adding humor to our writing. We’ll consider the differences between "serious" fiction and lighter fiction, and we’ll explore how the introduction of humor into a serious piece might make the piece more effective. We’ll take a close look at comic passages in several contemporary YA novels, and, building on the concepts covered earlier in the session, we’ll analyze why those passages work. We’ll finish by applying our findings to our own works-in-progress, so come prepared to write. (Note: most fiction offers a blend of light and dark, and a single serious passage in a less-than-serious story can still benefit from a touch of humor. This workshop is for anyone interested in refining his or her comic instincts—don’t feel as if you have to be drafting the next 33 Snowfish or The Chocolate War!)
Group Portfolio Review and Critique – Karen Kohn and Eris Klein
The Truth and nothing but the Truth – that’s what this critique is all about. Artists know how expensive it is to produce, then promote their work. We’ve designed this critique to see if you’re barking up the wrong tree. Is your work better suited to educational publishing rather than trade books? Does your portfolio scream “greeting cards” instead of “children’s books”? Find out now before you spend any more money promoting the wrong work to the wrong clients!
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