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the kidlit lab

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Wanting to write a children's book is a fun dream. But it doesn't have to stay one. 

Wanting to write a children's book is a fun dream. But it doesn't have to stay one. 

Do you have an awesome children's book idea in your head that you can't stop thinking about? Are you curious about what editors and publishers are looking for in the KidLit market? Have you written a draft but feel like it's missing something? 

Its time. let's write that book.

the masterclass is here to help.

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This is your one-stop shop to get your dream of writing a children's picture book out of your head and onto the page—and with expert interviews, in-depth teachings, free downloads and live coaching from me, I'm going to walk with you every step of the way. 



Welcome to
The KidLit Lab's Manuscript Masterclass

Ready to pursue your dream?

At some point in the kidlit journey, we all realize that writing for children is a whole lot harder than it looks. Maybe you...

At some point in the kidlit journey, we all realize that writing for children is a whole lot harder than it looks. Maybe you...

Know you have a solid idea, but don't know where to begin. How do you format it? How many words should it be? How should it start? Should you rhyme? Repeat? How do you write a powerful ending?

Have a manuscript but you want to improve it so it's ready for publication. Writing isn't like math, you don't just do 2+2=4 and know you have the right answer. How do you know what will have a child reading your book again and again? 

Have many ideas but don't know which one to pursue. How do you know which one the market needs? Which ones are editors looking for? What would be most helpful to the readers you want to reach? 

Know you're sitting on a gold mine of a manuscript but don't know what to do next. How do you find an illustrator? What are your publishing options besides going to the local Kinkos?

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I'm a bestselling, award-winning children's picture book author, and I want to help you. Plus, as the Co-founder and Executive Director of Risen Motherhood, I see hundreds of the best children's books each year and I evaluate them to decide what to recommend to the hundreds of thousands of moms in the RM community, and what goes back on the shelf. I love books, and I might just love seeing books come to life even more.

I've written three children's books: the bestselling, "Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer," which was the winner of the Christianity Today's Children and Youth Book of the Year, and a finalist for the ECPA's Children's Book of the Year; the bestselling, "Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God's Image In Every Person," and "A World Wonder."


I'm Laura and I'm here to answer your children's book questions. 

i'm here to help.

I've been writing stories for as long as I can remember. In fact, in first grade, I won my first writing award after I entered my story, "Mackenzie's Dog Goldie" in an AT&T writing contest. I still have the certificate and ribbon. (I'm thinking about putting them up on my office wall.) I had no idea the foreshadowing that would play into my future career. Childhood-me would be shocked and impressed that today I've made those dreams a reality. I get emails and DM's every week from people just like you who are looking for advice and help at various stages of their author journey, but typically their questions require more than what a quick email or DM can accomplish. That's exactly why I built this masterclass to answer the most common questions people have (and the ones they haven't thought of yet). Think of this like my brain in a bottle, the Manuscript Masterclass takes all my best tips and brings them straight to you. 

"With each new module drop, I raced to soak up her expertise! The content was formatted into doable steps and weekly goals so that it didn’t seem overwhelming; I’ve truly never had so much fun with writing!"

-kay

I couldn’t get enough of Laura’s teaching!

The KidLit Lab's Manuscript Masterclass

introducing...

Your one-stop shop for writing the children's book you've always dreamed of. 

We'll start things off with an overview of the Christian Kid's Book world - giving you the foundation to start off right. By the end of this module, you'll:
  • Know general requirements for children's picture books.
  • Understand the current KidLit landscape.
  • Discover where you, as a Christian writer, can make an impact. 
Next we'll move into the content sieve. Whether you have one half-baked idea or 100 solid ones, I'll help you find the right topic to pursue next and build a foundation to set you up for success when you start the first draft. By the end of this module, you'll:
  • Have a solid list of topics that you can turn into book manuscripts.
  • Know which one is the best one to pursue for your next draft.
  • Understand how to weave a uniquely Christian worldview into your story and make it theologically accurate.
  • Know how to develop characters and settings in a way that's believable and compelling for a child's imagination. 

A Look Inside The Manuscript Masterclass

The KidLit World

The Prep

module 1

Module 2

If writing is revision, revision is writing. No draft is perfect right out of the gate, so it's here that I'll teach you the top techniques editors and authors use to cut the fluff and make your manuscript soar. By the end of this module, you'll:
  • Know the top things to avoid that make editors cringe. 
  • Understand the correct formatting for a children's book.
  • Understand pacing and page turns.
  • Select a solid title.
  • Ensure you have a tight thread to pull through the manuscript.
  • Have a solid manuscript that's ready for publication. 

Polish and Shine

module four

Now that you've got your idea and researched it to the moon and back, you're ready to write your first draft. This is where most of us usually lose steam on an idea—but not today! By the end of this module you'll: 
  • Understand how to write a snappy opening and satisfying ending
  • Know how to keep momentum and tension through the middle
  • Understand when to use lyric, rhythm, and rhyme—and when not to
  • Know exactly what to do when you get stuck (It happens to all of us!) 

Draft the Draft

module 3

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SEEING YOUR IDEA BECOME REALITY. HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

EXPERT INTERVIEW: 



CATALINA echeverri ON WORKING WITH AN ILLUSTRATOR
THE ICONIC ILLUSTRATOR OF THE TALES THAT TELL THE TRUTH SERIES

EXPERT INTERVIEW: 



HUNTER BELESS ON PREP AND RESEARCH - Author of "Read It, See It, Say, It, Sing It," and "Amy Carmichael: The Brown Eyed Girl Who Learned to Pray"

EXPERT INTERVIEW: 



Melissa Kruger on Writing First Drafts, Author of "Wherever You Go I Want You To Know,"and other children's books

Note: Due to the structure of the course, I am unable to offer feedback or editing on your specific manuscript / story ideas. If this is a key component for you, check out my 1:1 coaching calls!

EXPERT INTERVIEW: 

Dorena williamson on editing and polishing the draft
Author of "colorful,"and other children's books

The goal of this masterclass is for you to write an incredible manuscript for your children's book, but I know ultimately, what you want to see is that book in a child's hands.* Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging. We're going to do a flyover of publishing options so you can map out your next step. By the end of this module, you'll: 
  • Understand your options for a path to publishing and which one is right for you. 
  • Hear from an editor at a major Christian publishing house about what they're looking for and how to catch their eye. 
  • Gain gospel-centered encouragement for how to steward your gifts and dreams to the glory of God. 

What Now?

module 5

EXPERT INTERVIEWs: 



Amy Gannett on Writing for Children to the Glory of God
Founder of tiny theologians

Kyle Hatfield on Traditional Publishing,* editor at Harvest House Publishers

*Note: As mentioned, this e-course is for writing and honing in on an incredible children's book manuscript, therefore we will not be covering publishing in-depth. But because I am asked this question so often, I wanted to include an interview with a publisher to understand what a path to traditional publishing looks like. We will discuss this further (and other paths to publishing) in the module. 

Every week, after you work through the module, you can come hang with me at our live group coaching calls and we'll discuss all your burning questions. After the April masterclass, I'm phasing out the live group coaching. So if this is something you want, get in on it now!

Plus, I'll hold live calls, giving you direct access to ask all your questions. (But this is the very last time!)

and that's not all...

While I'll be your guide every step of the way, I'm also bringing in my talented friends to share their expertise. 

In The KidLit Lab, you'll hear from: 

catalina echeverri, illustrator of the tales that tell the truth series

kyle hatfield, editor at harvest house publishers

Amy gannett, author and founder of tiny theologians

hunter beless, author and founder of journeywomen

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Melissa kruger,  VP at TGC and author of "wherever you go, i want you to know"

dorena williamson, Author of "colorful" and other children's books

bonus!

"The course is informative and encouraging. Laura is knowledgable, fun, and honest while also providing great interviews with fellow KidLit colleagues."

"I enjoyed every minute spent working through the masterclass!"

Kendra P.

"This course was so helpful to provide the beginnings of a framework for me to approach my writing."

"Laura strikes just the right balance between giving instruction, being informative and providing inspiration."

Sandra M.

yes, it really works

"Laura is like a big sister who's been there before, warmly guiding you through every module."

"Makes your manuscripts 100% better!"

Michelle R.

Not sure it's for you?  

See where you land below and find out. 

Sure is! Book ideas are everywhere, if you only know where to look. And I'm going to teach you exactly that. 



I don't have any book ideas—just a dream to write—is this course for me? 

I'm a dreamer!

What if I have a completed manuscript already? Will this course still help me? 

Absolutely! It doesn't matter where you are in your children's book journey, there are always ways to improve and strengthen your draft. Plus, we're going to bring in real authors and other professionals from the industry that you can learn from—I'm sharing all my secret sources from my past years of experience as a published author. 


I already wrote my children's book.

While you can think of The Lab as a 101 for writing a great children's manuscript, there are always new things to learn. If you're looking to learn some new skills or still feel a bit uncertain about writing a strong manuscript, then yes! But if you're whipping out kid's books and have several pub deals, this might not be the right course for you.

Is this masterclass only for new authors? What if I've already been published?

I'm an experienced author.

I only want to write a book if I can be traditionally published. Will this course help?

I understand this! Yet the reality is there is no silver-bullet to getting traditionally published. But you can ask any editor at any publishing house—the place to begin is with an excellent story idea and solid manuscript. Without it, there's no chance. Lucky for you, that's exactly what we're going to work on in the KidLit Lab!


i really want a book deal. 

You could just hire an editor to polish up your manuscript, but through the KidLit Lab, you'll learn the skills for yourself. Saving you time and money in the long run. 

there's no formula, but I can give you loads of tips and tricks to write a winning manuscript from the get-go

let me, help you, help you

It was such a gift to be able to talk through the content with Laura, who is absolutely lovely and has so many compelling thoughts. I have come away inspired and would totally recommend this course.

Rebekah T.

"I am so happy
I signed up."

The KidLit Manuscript Masterclass is the only one of its kind. You'll...

Gain clarity on what makes a good idea and what you should set aside

Understand the requirements, standards, and best practices for Christian KidLit

Know how to research and vet a topic idea so you can be as true and accurate as possible

Have go-to strategies for when the draft isn't working

Learn techniques for editing and polishing your draft

Know what it looks like to find and work with an illustrator

Discover clarity on what to do with your manuscript once it's complete

Receive encouragement on what it looks like to write for God's glory and steward your gifts faithfully

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We're all incredible writers in our heads. Let me help you be incredible on the page.  

Try The KidLit Lab's Manuscript Manuscript for 7 days, risk free.

I want you to be 100% confident when you invest in The KidLit Lab. That’s why I'm offering you a 7-day money back guarantee! If you're feeling like the course isn't helping you in your book writing journey, you're free to cancel, no questions asked. 

money back 
guarantee

100%

I'm busy! How much time will this take? 

The KidLit Lab will run for four weeks. You can expect the content to take about 30 min - 1 hour to get through each week, plus, my hope is that you'll also take time to implement what you're learning on the fly. In addition, there will be a 1 hour live group coaching call each week (my last time offering it!). BUT I don't want time to be a barrier so you can absolutely go at your own pace. You'll have access to the course long after the five weeks are over, so you can take your time (and still hop on the group calls or watch the replays!), re-listen to the material, and implement as it works for your life. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course?

Lifetime access! Once you purchase, you can go back and watch it as much as you'd like for the lifetime of the course. You'll also get access to any future new content for free, if it's added.

Will you offer feedback on my manuscript / story ideas during the course? 

While I would love to, I'm just not able to do this due to time constraints. If you'd like me to offer a personalized review of a manuscript or other feedback, your best best is to book a 1:1 coaching call with me, here.

Does this cohort give me 1:1 access to Laura?

This cohort is designed for group coaching at this time. If you'd like to meet with me 1:1 you can do that here. You will definitely have time to ask me your questions and I'll be highly available to you throughout the course!

When exactly is this thing? 

The next masterclass begins on April 22, 2024 and enrollment begins on April 1, 2024. Spots are limited, so join the waitlist to make sure you don't miss the sign up!

If I'm not able to enroll now, will it come back in the future?

Potentially. I run every course on a case-by-case basis, and currently don't have dates set when I will run in again. This is your best chance to get in the class at the lowest price AND it's your last time to get the class with live group coaching. After this one, it's going away.

Is the course-self paced?

Technically, yes! But because I want you to learn as much as possible, I'm only going to be granting access to one to two modules at a time. I'll be dripping out content each week so that we can work together, discussing what you're learning during the four weekly live group coaching calls. My hope is this will allow you to practice what you're learning along with each module, then be able to ask me specific questions related to that week's content during our live calls.

What if I purchase The KidLit Lab's course and realize it's not for me?

No problem! I'm offering a a 7-day money back guarantee! I want you to be 100% confident when you invest in The KidLit Lab. If you enroll and realize it's not for you, I'll refund it.

Do I need to buy anything extra once I purchase?

Nope! It's all included. 

Is this for children's fiction or nonfiction?

Both! There will be all sorts of information and tips for anyone who wants to write for children, no matter their genre. 

Do I have to be a Christian to take this? 

Nope! You can think of this a bit like “faith-based." While I think what sets this course apart is the fact that we're coming at the topic from a Christian angle, it's not heavy-handed and anyone can learn from it. 

Is this the same thing as Story School?

Nope! Story School is an upcoming course I’m creating for children ages 8–13 to learn to write children’s picture books. It will have most of what I’m teaching in the Manuscript Masterclass, but at a more foundational level and won’t include as much about the kidlit landscape or publishing. I’m hoping it’ll be out by summer 2024, just in time to fill the lazy, hazy days of summer or use in a fall homeschool curriculum. 

"Your downloadable resources were wonderful—worth the cost of the course alone! I will refer back your teaching in this course for years to come." 

Kate M.

"I couldn't believe how much insider knowledge I gained."

let's talk.

I completely understand. Feel free to send me an email with any questions you have!

Still on the fence?