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I am teaching an online class through the Loft Literary Center beginning on February 2, 2015. Here is the description:

Many consider ages 8–12, “the middle grades,” to be a golden age for readers. Their novels include classics like Charlotte’s Web, the Ramona series, and the earliest adventures of Harry Potter. Most Newbery winners also fall into this category. In this class, we will explore some of the qualities that make a book a hit with young readers, with an emphasis on developing a character-driven story. Topics covered include creating a main character kids want to chase through the pages of a novel, avoiding stereotypes and cliches, and being attentive to the inner life of a middle grade novel. Participants will have an opportunity to share their work and get feedback from their peers as well as from the teaching artist.

And here are answers to commonly asked questions:

• The class is completely online and mostly asynchronous. We do have weekly live chats to check in but the meat of the class is in the online readings and discussion forums. (We use the Moodle platform, but don’t worry if that doesn’t mean anything to you.)
• There is a chance to share works in progress with the rest of the class; you also get private feedback from me on about 10 pages of writing.
• The class is listed as “intermediate” primarily because of the expectation that writers are familiar with (if not steeped in) middle grade books, but if you have not read a lot you can catch up by familiarizing yourself with at least some of the following books. Most are Newberry medalists or honorees, so look on that bookshelf if your bookstore or library has one! These are not assigned class readings, but I use them as examples throughout the class (this is a partial list):
  • Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (and others in the Ramona series) – Beverly Cleary
  • Bud, not Buddy – Christopher Paul Curtis
  • Harriet the Spy – Louise Fitzhugh
  • The Giver – Lois Lowry
  • Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH – Robert C. O’Brien
  • Hatchet – Gary Paulsen
  • From the Mixed Up Files of Basil E. Frankweiler – E. L. Konigsberg
  • The Westing Game – Ellen Raskin
  • Holes – Louis Sachar
  • Maniac Magee – Jerry Spinelli
  • When You Reach Me – Rebecca Stead
  • Charlotte’s Web – E.B.White

  We also all read one recent book recommended and voted on by the class, and I try to get the author to join us for a chat.

Sign up for the class here!

• https://www.loft.org/classes/detail/?loft_product_id=96091

It’s finally here! A few months ago I flew out to Denver and joined Craftsy.com, an online learning community, to share my knowledge and love of picture book making. My class, The Art of the Picture Book, will be available online on March 18th! To celebrate the release date, I am giving away a free class!

All you have to do, is follow this link and enter your name and e-mail address.

The class is available to you indefinitely. Once you sign up, you have access to the information and activities forever!

This is a great class for those of you who want to make picture books but aren’t sure how to get started. It’s also great for younger students who enjoy storytelling and drawing.

Good luck to you!

Hi Readers, I’m planning an upcoming class on Adobe Illustrator and I could use your help. I’ve got a super quick two part illustrator question for anyone who has tried to learn Illustrator on their own but for one reason or another got tripped up or frustrated and decided to put it aside for now

 Super Quick Two Part Illustrator Question

1.  What was your stumbling block?

2.  What were you using to learn the program?

• A – A book
• B- Online tutorial
• C – Took a class
• D – Classes? We don’t need no stinking classes!

Thanks for you help and please leave your answers in the comment section.

_________________________________________________________________

Bob Ostrom is an award winner illustrator who also teaches Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign in Raleigh NC and for some strange reason has chosen to use third person for this author bio. If you are interested in taking a class with me or an online tutoring session please visit the classes page on this site or use the contact page to reach me for more info.

The post Super Quick Two Part Illustrator Question appeared first on Illustration.

Although the national networks do not seem to be aware of this, school is back in session in Texas. Students returned to classes in the last week or so in many states. As a matter of fact, school librarians are already busy with book talks. One posted a tweet that she made certain every student had a book before he or she left the library. Wow! Of course, public librarians are switching from SRP to back to school mode as well, packing bags of books and applications for library cards to take to schools in their area.

But what about you? Are you ready for school? Have you looked at the courses YALSA is offering online for the fall?  Check out the offerings here:

http://tinyurl.com/c9wjjw

YALSA continues to offer courses to meet the needs of its members. So, if there is a burning issue or topic you think needs to be covered in YALSA’s continuing education, let us know by taking our Future Topics survey. In the meantime, think of taking some time to add to your knowledge base.

I'm excited to announce a new online class, and this time I'm co-teaching. Lisa Bullard is a Minneapolis writer and teacher who also has extensive experience in the publishing industry. We have decided to join forces to offer a three-week online course that will guide writers through the process of creating a submissions plan for their children's book manuscript. It's for writers who have written, revised, polished, and then thought..."Now what do I do with it? How do I know who to submit it to?"

This is not a writing course. You will learn, instead, how to pinpoint the most appropriate publishers for your particular project, and you'll also work on a cover letter, query letter, or proposal (depending on what your project is and who you're submitting it to).

I've really loved teaching online courses this year, and I'm looking forward to taking it a notch further and collaborating. I'm methodical about publisher research because I don't find it easy. Lisa has a marketing and publishing background and brings all sorts of good inside info to the table. All students will get plenty of personal feedback from both Lisa and me, and I think it's going to be terrific.

For more info, check out  this page on my site. From there, you can get to course details, bios of Lisa and me, previous student feedback, and registration. Thanks! Let us know if you have any questions about the course.

 

I'm now taking registration for the next session of my online class: Writing Children's Nonfiction Books for the Educational Market.  In this class, you will learn about the educational market and how it differs from the trade market. You will learn how to put together an introductory packet to send to publishers. We'll work on the various components of that packet so that by the end of the month, you have packets ready to pop in the mail. You'll also learn how to deal with some of the practical issues of educational writers: research, dealing with editors, finding expert consultants, etc. Then, once the class is over, you can join (if you like) the "post-grad" blog community The Guppy Pond (members only), where you can continue to chat and get feedback from other writers hoping to or starting to write for the educational market.

My first session, back in January, filled up and had a waiting list. This session is partially filled already with people from that waiting list, but there are still some spots open.

This online class will run from March 10 - April 4, with new material and homework daily, Monday through Friday. You can read complete class info here, and you can read feedback from students in the first session here. Then, if you think this class is a good fit for you, you can register here. 

Hope to work with some of you!

Anastasia Suen has the Nonfiction Monday wrap-up.