Picture Book Authors and Illustrators: A Generative Retreat

In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat

Picture book writers and illustrators are invited to carve out dedicated time for their creative work at this special retreat designed just for them. Join fiction and nonfiction author Darcy Pattison, author/illustrator Leslie Helakoski, and featured guests including editor Matt Phipps for an immersive experience centered on picture books. Expect presentations, read alouds, small group conversations about your work, and plenty of time to focus on your own projects. We encourage you to bring several stories at different stages of drafting and revision.

This in-person retreat is intended for picture book writers and illustrators who already have at least one draft of a manuscript or a dummy.

Small group discussions are designed to help move your project toward completion.

Lodging and meals are included.

No submission is required. Please bring your projects with you to the program.

Begins at 5:30pm Eastern on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Ends after lunch on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

Creative work takes time, space, and support. This retreat brings picture book creators together in community, offering a focused environment for writers and illustrators to develop their work.

At the center of the retreat is the work itself. Your days will be spent making progress on individual projects, whether that means sketching in the Art Coop, drafting new text on the porch of your cabin, or returning to revisions your work-in-progress has been waiting for.

Throughout the retreat, you’ll learn from Darcy Pattison, Leslie Helakoski, and guests including editor Matt Phipps. Their presentations will explore the craft of creating picture books that children, and readers of all ages, will love. In round table groups, you’ll be asked to bring copies of a work-in-progress for discussion, and you’ll have time to revise your story between sessions.

It’s a Great Fit If…

• You are a picture book creative at any stage and in any style. This workshop welcomes both beginning and experienced picture book writers and illustrators, with at least one completed draft of a manuscript or dummy as the key requirement.
• You write or illustrate fiction or nonfiction picture books. With faculty and guests working across a range of mediums and genres, you’re likely to find guidance that can help take your project further.
• You enjoy talking about stories with other picture book creatives. Bring your current manuscript to be read aloud during facilitated roundtable discussions, where you can gather ideas and feedback in a supportive setting.
• You want a retreat where you can truly get to work. This is not a lecture-based program; it is a working retreat that combines learning opportunities with generous time for your own projects, plus generative writing exercises and informal connection over meals and gatherings.

Feedback Expected

Each author and/or illustrator will meet with a faculty mentor for a consultation about their stories. These consultations will include time to discuss where you are in the process and ideas for next steps in drafting, revisions, and/or submissions. No written feedback will be provided.

You will also receive feedback from faculty and fellow storytellers during round table discussions of your work-in-progress.

Additional informal feedback opportunities will be available during generative creative exercises and through conversations with fellow attendees.

There will be an optional office hour with editor Matt Phipps for questions and idea sharing.

As an in-person event at our Retreat Center, this gathering offers the chance to step away from everyday routines and fully experience the retreat. It is important to note that this is not a jam-packed workshop; rather, it is a working retreat that balances learning with ample time to retreat and focus on your own projects.

Our mission is to positively impact children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves. Picture books are a cherished part of many children’s lives, and this workshop is designed to support and inspire you as you create one for children.