Explore storytelling through words and illustrations to create beautiful picture books that captivate readers.

Creating a picture book is a delicate marriage between words and images. From the outside, a finished book will appear effortless, beautifully balanced and flawless. Behind closed doors, the process of such a marriage is brutal yet sensitive, frustrating yet so rewarding when it comes together. How does a creator find this delicate balance? This interactive workshop will provide you with a unique opportunity to explore the perspectives of both the author and the illustrator, and discover the magic that happens when these two creative pursuits come together.

Through writing prompts, tasks, and activities, you will explore your writing style, sentence structure, and character development, as well as engaging in a character creation drawing exercise. You will have the chance to apply these to your own stories or start a new one from scratch, learning about the creative process and the current publishing industry from Mandy's 15+ years of experience. Please bring along a story or idea that you would like to work on, a notebook, lead pencil and any drawing materials that you would like to use.

Participants will learn more about:

• The relationship between author, publisher and illustrator. How do you initially get your work in front of publishers?
• Finding the music in your manuscript – beat, rhythm and structure, to make your manuscript sing
• What does it mean as an author to leave room for the illustrator?
• What are subtexts and the benefits of adding these in the images
• The process of creating a picture book from manuscript, storyboards, rough drawings, final art, design and the finished book.

Members $130 / Non-members $205
Venue: State Library of South Australia

—Not a Writers SA member? Members receive more than 30% off the full price of this workshop, you’ll also get a free 20 minute consult, expert advice about your career and your work, and join a community of like-minded creatives. Join now for as little as $60! 

—We strongly recommend all staff, speakers, and attendees of in-person events be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You cannot attend if you are unwell or you or a close family member test positive to Covid-19 in the five days prior to this event. See our full policy here.

—Writers SA members must be logged in to receive the member discount. If you would like to use a workshop credit to book in, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the workshop commencement date. Our staff don’t work full time and we don’t want you to miss out!

—If you are a member of another state based writers centre, SCBWI SA or Editors SA, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the program commencement date to get a code for the member price.

—Writers SA provides complimentary membership for First Nations writers and for writers experiencing economic hardship. Please contact [email protected] to redeem.

About Mandy Foot

Mandy Foot thrives on finding the balance between words and pictures as an award-winning, best-selling author and illustrator of more than 27 books. She considers herself an adventure illustrator, where every manuscript is an opportunity to explore. She is an ambassador for Raising Literacy Australia and the SA SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator. Mandy still loves to paint traditionally, particularly animals and in watercolour, marvelling at all the happy accidents this medium creates. Her books include the heart-warming Joey and Riley, Lucy and Copper and the recently CBCA Shortlisted for Early Childhood, Bev and Kev.

Awards

'Bev and Kev' - written by Katrina Germein. Published by Little Book Press. SHORTLISTED - CBCA Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, Early Childhood, 2023.

'The Last Dragon' - written by Charles Massy, illustrated by myself. Published by the National Library of Australia. WINNER - ACT Notables Awards, Children's Book 2021, (big press category).

'Warna Manda Baby Earth Walk' - written by Susan Betts, co-illustrated by myself and Susan. Published by Little Book Press. SHORTLISTED - The Karajia Award for Childrens' Literature, The Wilderness Society, 2022.

'Joey and Riley' - written and illustrated by myself. Published by Hachette Australia. WINNER - Little Pink Dog Books Authostrator Award 2021.

'Hush Say the Stars' - written by Margaret Spurling, illustrated by myself. Published by Little Book Press. SHORTLISTED - Speech Pathology Awards 2019.