ASA Picture Book Masterclass with Erica Wagner and Craig Smith

Date & Time
Saturday 2 May, 10am-1pm AEST

Saturday 23 May, 10am-1pm AEST

Saturday 13 June, 10am-1pm AEST

Saturday 4 July, 10am-1pm AEST

Prices $595 members / $995 non-members

About the course

Have you been thinking of writing and/or illustrating your own picture book for children?

Join us for this series of practical workshops with publishing consultant, Erica Wagner, who has worked as an editor and publisher for over 32 years, and children’s book illustrator, Craig Smith, who has illustrated over 400 titles for trade and educational publishers.

In exceptional value for money, this course not only includes four group sessions, it also provides three one-hour bonus sessions of one-to-one mentoring with Erica & Craig!

Over the duration of this course you will learn:

  • How to develop a story

  • The editing process

  • Storyboarding techniques

  • Working through drafts and roughs

  • Experimenting with style and voice

The group sessions will include extensive Q&A time with Erica, and insights into visualising stories from Craig, as well as group activities and discussions about key choices in the storytelling process, with the aim of developing your projects to a sophisticated level for submission to publishers.

Students who wish to participate in the course are required to email their story and/or a sample artwork for the workshop to programs@asauthors.org by Saturday 18 April to allow Erica and Craig time to review them.

Bonus support sessions must be completed in the 3 week gap between group sessions. These are organised directly with Erica and Craig and times are subject to their availability. Students are also entitled to submit one piece of work between group sessions.

About the presenters: Erica Wagner & Craig Smith

Erica Wagner has worked as an editor and publisher of books for children and young adults since 1988, including 10 years with Penguin Australia, one year starting up a children’s list for Duffy & Snellgrove and 20 years with Allen & Unwin, working with many of Australia’s finest writers and illustrators. She was awarded the Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship in 1999 and won the Dromkeen Medal in 2017 for her outstanding contribution to Australian children's publishing. In 2019 Erica worked with Johanna Bell to facilitate the inaugural Octopus Story Camp for Top End artists and writers. Erica is now a freelance publishing consultant with a focus on collaborative book development projects as well as a co-director of the micro publishing house Twelve Panels Press. www.ericawagner.com.au

Craig Smith is one of Australia's most prolific children's book illustrators, with over 400 books published. He has collaborated with many of Australia's most experienced writers and editors, including Doug MacLeod, Paul Jennings, Libby Gleeson, Duncan Ball, Emily Rodda, Gary Crew, Sally Morgan and Gillian Rubinstein. Craig's work over the last forty-two years has been acknowledged in the CBCA Book of the Year awards, as well as in children's choice awards around Australia. In 2011, Craig was awarded the biennial Euphemia Tanner Award, which recognised his distinguished services to children's literature and his encouragement of the joy of reading in children. www.craigsmithillustration.com

How to book

ASA members, log in to receive the member price.

Once booked in, the ASA will be in touch a little closer to the date to send you a Zoom videoconference invitation.