3529 - Summer Writing School: Picture Books

Delivery Options IN-CLASS

Course Description

Creating a good picture book requires the storytelling ability of a novelist and the touch of a poet. In this intensive course, learn from the example of contemporary picture-book authors and the experience of the instructor. Structure, subject matter, relating story to illustration, and many other subjects will be discussed.
Participants will be asked to bring one story to class (helpful suggestions will be sent beforehand) and also to write during the week. The class will be visited by an experienced children's editor from a major publishing house and by a published illustrator who has worked with many different authors. We'll have fun, share in the joy of picture books, and come out with two or three manuscripts.

Summer Writing School courses are applicable to the Certificate in Creative Writing.

Learning Outcomes

Identify and create compelling stories that appeal to child readers.
Know how to tell an engaging story in a few words.
Understand the balance between words and pictures.
Emerge with the polished draft of your own picture book.
Structure a text to publishers' standards.

This course may be applied towards the SCS Certificate(s) in

Creative Writing : Elective Courses

Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in

3529 - 010

Spring/Summer - 26

IN-CLASS

Available

In-Class

M, T, W, Th, F

10:00AM to 4:00PM

Jul 06, 2026 to Jul 10, 2026

Schedule and Location

View Details

20.0

St. George Campus

IN-CLASS

Flat Fee non-credit

$699.00

Section Notes

Enrolment is open until June 26th. If you have difficulty registering, please contact our Enrolment and Learner Services team at 416-978-2400.

Submission Requirements: The submission should be a draft of a picture book (maximum 1000 words). Submissions will be posted on Quercus for your instructor and classmates to view, and distributed one week before the course begins. Please read all submissions, make notes, and be prepared to workshop before the first day of class.
Instructions: Your submission must be email to by 9:00AM June 24th to scs.writing@utoronto.ca with the subject line and file saved as a Word Doc: First initial, Last name_Course Code (ex.: J, Smith_3529-010).

Summer Writing School Schedule:
Mon 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 2:30PM Instructor Readings 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Tue 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 3:30PM
Wed 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 2:30PM Panel Discussion 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Thu 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 3:30PM
Fri 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 2:30PM Student Readings 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Withdrawal & Accessibility:
Deadline to withdraw from The U of T Summer Writing School is 4:00PM Friday, June 27th. To withdraw, please email learn@utoronto.ca.
For accessibility information, please email: scs.accessibility@utoronto.ca.

Textbooks are not required for this course.

This in-class course uses Quercus (UofT Learning Management Engine) to post course materials.

Go here for information on when you will receive your access information.

For technical requirements, please go here.