How to Write a Children's Book with Lisa Lerner

*Cancelled* SATURDAY, Oct. 4th|As the brilliant Madeleine L'Engle said, "You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grownups, then you write it for children."

Writing for kids is deeply impactful. Think back to your own childhood. Most likely, you were obsessed with the hero of a book, and you loved that book because it was hilarious, or thrilling, or made you feel as though you weren’t a weirdo living on the wrong planet. Maybe it taught you things you didn’t realize were possible. Maybe it even helped you survive. Human brains are wired for story, and story is the path to comfort and change. Now more than ever, kids need the stories that only you can tell.

In the first hour of the workshop, I will go over the general kid-lit rules, give info about the current market as well as a brief overview of paths to publishing. The last hour of the workshop will be writing to prompts and Q&A. Bring your story ideas and burning questions!!

Workshop level: best for beginners or writers new to the children's literature genre

Long ago, Lisa Lerner was a professional rubber stamp cutter, children’s party entertainer, and NYC performance artist. Since then, Lisa has been writing children’s stories for educational publishers such as Scholastic, McGraw Hill, and IXL for more than 25 years. She is also the author of JUST LIKE BEAUTY which became a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and is now in development as a movie shooting in 2025. When she is not secretly writing her next adult novel, she is a proud member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, a juror for the annual Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, and a trustee on the board of the Kingston Public Library. Visit www.lisalerner.com for student testimonials and a glimpse into Lisa’s past and present lives.