3,675 Days: My Picture Book Journey in Numbers
Heidi King has written many books for adults but Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American MaVynee Betsch is her first for children. In this workshop, King presents a timeline of her process for narrative nonfiction, highlighting challenges she experienced (getting an agent, imposter syndrome, the revision process, working with an editor, etc.) in the six years it took to bring the book to publication. She’ll also explore techniques for knowing what to leave in/what to leave out and finding hidden figures that keep children, parents, librarians, and teachers turning the pages. There will be time for a Q&A—no question off limits, especially for those starting the process for the first time.
When Research Does the Writing
In many ways writing a narrative nonfiction children’s picture book is much harder than fiction because of all those darn facts. In this workshop, King shares tips and tricks so that the research simplifies the writing process. Where to look, what to leave in/leave out, identifying well-chosen details, deciding what information goes into the story and what goes into the author’s notes, and how to compile research to share with the illustrator are among the topics covered.
The Glory and Wonder of It All: Building a Classroom Culture of Inquiry and Research
Nonfiction has long gotten a bad rap as boring and inferior to fiction. In reality, truth is stranger than fiction, and it can excite and inspire young readers in the same way as traditional picture books. This is a three-part workshop series; each session can also stand alone.
It Begins with a Book
In this multi-part session, Heidi King walks through the process of creating a narrative nonfiction picture book. Included are techniques that can be adapted to engage wonder and instill confidence in children as they learn how to choose the right topic, build a body of research, ask questions like a pro, and master the writing process. With handouts that match STEAM activities to educational standards, this workshop provides stackable projects for a weeks-long cross-disciplined curriculum that culminates with each child creating an actual hardbound picture book.
Building a Classroom Culture of Inquiry and Research
Session two outlines ten distinct ways that teachers for all grades and subjects can build a classroom culture of inquiry and research. Steps include creating wonder labs, tying curriculum to local culture and community, and integrating collaboration into projects. Believing that every day in a classroom should be a day of glory and wonder, this workshop is a wake-up call to do away with mediocre instruction and level up by creating a classroom that welcomes failure, encourages creativity, and inspires curiosity.
The Glory and Wonder of It All
The last workshop is an inspirational therapy session to remind teachers of the glory and wonder of working with children. By discussing the ups and downs of her writing life and its many correlations with the teaching profession, King hopes to motivate teachers to embrace the power they have to influence the future. Like teachers King experiences failure, rejection, stress, pressure, and imposter syndrome on a daily basis. Using examples from her books and latest manuscript, she’ll discuss how she handles these all-too-common issues while striving to inspire and connect with children through stories that matter.