2022 WVBF Writing Workshop with Ashley Belote

2022 West Virginia Book Festival Writing Workshop with Ashley Belote: Stories Through Words and Pictures: How to Craft a Children's Book
Ashley Belote, a native West Virginian from Preston County, will discuss the fundamentals of a good picture book narrative, including narrative structures, voice, tension, character development, and drafting and revising manuscripts. Belote will also incorporate elements of picture book illustration, including layout and design, composition, what constitutes a good page turn, and character development in art. Big picture themes will include the overall picture book process from idea to publication and her perspectives of working among the independent publishing world and with major publishing houses.

The presentation will include physical examples of good picture books that demonstrate the fundamentals above. She will discuss her creative process by showing sketches and manuscript drafts from her picture book projects. She will also answer questions about craft and the publishing industry in general. In closing, Belote will lead a couple of hands-on activities to get the participants' ideas flowing and learn fun ways to brainstorm. She looks forward to sharing her passion for picture books with those who share the same love of creating works for children to enjoy.

About Ashley
Ashley Belote is from Terra Alta, WV. She is the illustrator of FRANKENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021) and VALENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021). She is the author-illustrator of her solo debut early reader THE ME TREE (Penguin Workshop, 2021) and her solo debut picture book LISTEN UP, LOUELLA (Feiwel & Friends, 2022). She studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth. Ashley earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University and her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children’s literature and illustration course, The Whole Book Approach, through Simmons College at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. She also serves as the Illustrator Coordinator for the Carolinas chapter of SCBWI. Ashley is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency. Visit AshleyBelote.com to learn more. ​

This writing workshop is part of the 2022 West Virginia Book Festival and will take place in the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Find the most up-to-date room information here: http://www.wvbookfestival.org/schedule.html