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Home / Programs / Salon Series / Picture Books 101: Writing for Kids When You Aren’t One with Author Megan Reid & Agent Wendi Gu

Picture Books 101: Writing for Kids When You Aren’t One with Author Megan Reid & Agent Wendi Gu

At this salon, Girls Write Now mentor and author Megan Reid, along with her literary agent Wendi Gu, shared the magic of writing for elementary school kids as an adult, and the process of transforming research into writing kids will care about! We learned about the importance of style, understanding our audience, and working with an illustrator to turn words into imagery. Plus, we got insider tips on how to break into publishing and pave the way for a new generation of writers.

WRITING PROMPT

Find a research or news article and then write the story specifically for kids.  Salon participants used the following paragraph from a Rolling Stone Article: 

UPDATE: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Thursday delivered a powerful response to Rep. Ted Yoho’s failed attempt to apologize for verbally assaulting the congresswoman outside the Capitol earlier this week.

Speaking from the floor of the House of Representatives, Ocasio-Cortez expounded on the pattern of harassment and dehumanizing language men like Yoho routinely direct toward she and other women around America. “This is not new,” she said, “and that is the problem.”

“Mr. Yoho mentioned that he has a wife and two daughters,” she continued. “I am two years younger than Mr. Yoho’s youngest daughter. I am someone’s daughter, too. My father, thankfully, is not alive to see how Mr. Yoho treated his daughter. My mother got to see Mr. Yoho’s disrespect on the floor of this House toward me on television. I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter, and they did not raise me to accept abuse from men.’

After receiving her M.A. in English Literature, Megan Reid acquired and edited several bestselling and award-winning books as an editor at Simon and Schuster’s Touchstone and Emily Bestler Books imprints. In 2017, she joined FX Networks as a development and literary executive working on drama, comedy, animated, and limited series, with a specialty in adaptation. A graduate of Northern Arizona University and The Ohio State University, she’s written for The Believer, BuzzFeed,  Bustle, and FastCompany, among others. She published her first picture book biography in 2020, and has followed it with non-fiction for adults, middle-graders, and another picture book title. She lives with her (tiny, very silly) dog, Luna, and a collection of wilted houseplants.

Wendi Gu is privileged to represent a talented range of award-winning and bestselling children’s books authors and illustrators. For all children’s books categories, from picture books to young adult, Wendi values emotional stories filled with lyricism and heart. She is drawn toward books that help dismantle stereotypes about mental health, ability and race. As the daughter of immigrants, she sees special importance in stories about migration and displacement, especially as they relate to friendship and family. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and spent many of her summers with her grandparents in China. She attended Northwestern University where she studied Creative Writing. She lives in Brooklyn with her spouse and dog named Beanie Gu.

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Presenting Girls Write Now Live: Unmuted Spring Performance Series!

Join Girls Write Now mentees and mentors and special guest honorees for a boundary-pushing performance series! This season, we’re proud to bring you eight shows—March 12, March 26, April 9, April 23, May 7, May 18, May 21 and June 11. Register now to join us in celebrating the power of shared stories!

Life Resources and Events

At Girls Write Now, we work to challenge and change the systemic racism and inequality by breaking down the barriers of race and poverty to elevate the voices of girls and gender nonconforming youth who are too often not heard—or worse, silenced. From mental and emotional wellness to advocating for racial justice, we are here to support you individually and as a community through our robust programming. Check out our calendar to see our current offerings or visit our Life Resources page to support you during this time.

Friday Night Salon with Janice Nimura

Join us on Friday, March 19, 6-7:30 PM ET for a Journaling for the Future: Archiving Your Story with Janice Nimura!

We’re Hiring!

Looking for more purpose-driven work in the new year? Check out available roles to join the team! 

GIVE. WRITE. NOW. And Thank you!!

Girls Write Now’s services are more essential than ever before—serving the hardest hit communities—and many of our young women and gender nonconforming youth have themselves become essential workers to help their families. They carry an enormous burden and face devastating loss, slipping further into poverty. To meet the need, we have enriched and extended our programs, leading the historical transition to virtual learning.

Get Involved!

Are you a licensed mental health professional who’d love to work with our community of writers and creatives? We’re seeking volunteer Wellness Advisors. Get more info & apply here!

Relive the Girls (Re)Write Now Awards

If you missed the awards, you can still watch it! Relive this revolutionary night of mini–master classes with honorees on empathy, art, activism & humor and Girls Write Now mentees on writing with purpose, climate justice & self-care. 

Writing from our Future Leaders

Taking Our Place in History: the Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology was published with support from Dutton and Amazon Literary Partnership, available for purchase from McNally Jackson Books and anywhere ebooks are sold!

Girls Write Now in the News

Girls Write Now’s work has recently been featured by the National Endowment for the Arts, Time Out New York, NYXT and more!

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