How to get started on your children’s book with Laura Dockrill and Alex T. Smith

Learn tips and techniques from the people behind fabulous children’s books including the CLAUDE series, Darcy Burdock and Tape

Curated and hosted by children’s author Laura Dockrill, this fabulous day of talks is suitable for writers and writer/illustrators of all levels who want to learn how to create original stories from scratch. You’ll learn how to develop a writing style that people can engage with, as well as how to bring words and images together into compelling narratives. Crucially, you’ll also learn lots of confidence-boosting tips to help you unlock your creativity and get started on your own project.

Content

• Children’s writer Laura Dockrill, author of the much-loved Darcy Burdock books, advises how to find your ‘inner child’ and develop a distinctive writing voice
• Author and illustrator Alex T. Smith, whose books includes the CLAUDE series, on how to bring together words and pictures in books for young people
• Teen fiction writer Hayley Long, author of the Lottie Biggs series, discusses how to explore different themes and topics in children’s writing
• Author and illustrator Sarah McIntyre reveals how much more is involved in creating books for children – and how this can inspire further work
• Steven Camden (AKA Polarbear), author of Tape and It’s About Love, discusses how to tease characters into life and take inspiration from the world around you

Curator profile

Laura Dockrill is a writer, illustrator and performance poet whose work includes the much-loved Darcy Burdock books for children. Named one of the top ten literary talents by The Times, Laura’s energy and enthusiasm shines through in both her writing and teaching style. Find out more about Laura on her website.

Speaker profiles

Sarah McIntyre is the award-winning creator of books such as Dinosaur Police, There’s a Shark in the Bath, and Vern and Lettuce. She collaborated with David O’Connell on Jampires and with Philip Reeve on illustrated chapter books including Oliver and the Seawigs, Cakes in Space and Pugs of the Frozen North. Visit her website and blog here.

Alex T. Smith is the creator of the CLAUDE fiction series for early readers. Most recently Alex has reimagined Dodie Smith’s ‘The Hundred and One Dalmatians’ for it’s special 60th Anniversary edition, created new covers for Eva Ibbotson’s reissued spooky back catalogue, and has put the finishing touches to his 11th picture book.

Hayley Long has always loved words. Before writing her own, she taught English in Brussels, London, Cardiff and Norwich. It was while she was teaching in Cardiff that she wrote Lottie Biggs is not Mad. This was awarded the White Raven label for outstanding children’s literature by the International Youth Library in Munich.

Steven Camden’s debut young adult novel Tape was published worldwide in January 2014 by HarperCollins to rave reviews and his second novel, ‘It’s All About Love, published in June 2015, was Book of the Month for The Guardian. You can find him on Twitter here.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website