I have one dream. And that is to write a book. I particularly would want to be an author of a children’s book. It wouldn’t hurt, too, if I make the illustrations as well. I see no problem, though, if it’s a collaboration between me and any of my sons.
I find this illusion nearing its reality when I heard of a storywriting workshop to be conducted by Dr. Joem Antonio, a published children’s author and a father of two.
I would want to write a children’s book because I believe there are so many lessons learned to share. Dr. Antonio affirms, saying that “People want to impart a good number of lessons they’ve learned to [those] younger than them.”
Dr. Joem Antonio reading a book to his daughter.
To address this, he designed a three-hour crash course called How to Create your Own Children’s Storybook. He has since taught the course at a number of venues, most notably at Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street, where many book lovers frequent. Participants of the crash course included parents, teachers, uncles, and aunts. They all share the same aspiration- to make storybooks for the children around them.
Most of these attendees had no experience in creative writing or visual art. But they all loved kids, and that was enough to motivate them to learn storywriting and illustration for children. They learned the methods and tools that would help them create a 32-page children’s storybook.
The how to write, I guess, can be taught. But I doubt myself if I could make a decent drawing. Dr. Antonio says he’s no good at it, either. He may have a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and six Palanca Awards, but he claims that his hand always betrays him. Things changed, though, when he learned how to draw on the computer using a commonly-available program. “[The tools] you need to create your own children’s storybook are most likely in your computer already,” he notes.
Sa Tapat ng Tindahan ni Mang Teban illustrator, Jomike Tejido (L), and writer, Joem Antonio (R).
Past students of the course have asked for more in-depth training, so Dr. Antonio designed three more modules on children’s storywriting, illustration, and book layout in greater detail. Together with the crash course, the four modules form the Children’s Storybook Series, with 12 hours of training in total.
He offers these courses and more through Storywriting School, a learning community of teachers and students of storywriting. For more details, you may visit www.storywritingschool.com.
So you want to be an author of your own storybook for children, please find schedule and place of workshop here. As for me, I will surely find time for this.
Better reserve a seat now.
I’d love to write children’s books too! Oh I’m just not sure if I can. 😀 Thanks for sharing, I’ll try enrolling Elijah if he’s old enough.
Will also try with my kids. Thanks for dropping by. And but of course you can write!
I want to write books too! But not children’s books. I got some in mind and nakakatuwa, reading your posts solidifies what I want to do, among other things!
Then good luck to us! Will visit bookstores from time to time to check if our books are on display na 🙂
This is actually good for the young ones who would love to write in the future! Oh I wish I can actually write one good children’s book just for my twins.
You could surely write with the so many cute discoveries and hmms and ahhs of your twins.
Wow! This is wonderful! When I was younger I used to ‘create’ books and illustrate them; I always dreamed of being a writer. Perhaps now I can make my childhood fantasies a reality?
Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Haha, same here. Creating my own books. Now I see my boy doing the same. Let’s make our dreams into reality.
That is such a great goal to have for yourself! This seems like the right way to get started too! I love how there are opportunities for us to learn how to do the dream that we want. I hope you get around to it one day!
Thank you and I really hope I can have my own book someday. And yes, thank you to all workshops and generous individuals who would love to share their talent and knowledge. They give hope and light to others who do not know how to start.
Cool! I once had crazy dream of writing comic books and storybooks for kids. What sparked my love for reading were the storybooks borrowed from a kinakapatid when I was very young. I loved the stories and, of course, the illustrations that further sparked my imagination.
Haha. I love reAding illustrated books, perhaps because it’s more colorful and I can easily understand the ploy. I hope you still have that dream to write one. Good luck to us should you want to pursue it still.
I also dream of writing a book. I’m not sure though if I could do illustrations. My cousins have written children’s books and I enjoy reading these kind of books. My nephew who is 5 months old also loves our book reading sessions and I actually want to write a book about him.
That’s cool– write a book about your loved ones, particularly your nephew. He would surely appreciate it and same with his parents.
I am dreaming of publishing a book too. This time, i think i would start with wattpad. I will visit the link you have provided. Wanted to join the class. 🙂
Great! See you in one of the classes. And yes, perhaps I start with wattpad, too. Thanks for the tip!
The writing part is easy, and can easily be corrected for spelling and grammatical error. But drawing? I guess need to find time for his workshop 🙂
That’s also my concern. We could always ask the editor for some help. But drawing takes time..
This is so interesting. Though, I’m not into children’s story coz I never grew up with that set up. I find it a good bonding for parents and children. It will save them money instead of buying a book and the best thing, you as a parent is the author of the book. And for sure you will only give the best story to your kids.
That’s a nice proposal. And you’re right, we parents only want the best story for our kids, though I would want them as well to have a taste of not so good stories so they would know the difference between the two.
Awesome concept! I think it would be cool for kids to do this for themselves too!!!
Yes, teaching them young is a nice idea especially if they have the interest to write a book.
Thanks for sharing this.Being a mother and copy writer, this is very high on my wish list
You are welcome. This is also part of my wish list. Good luck to us