Membership
2025 Registration Opens January 9th!
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on what makes a great read-aloud from longtime librarian and podcaster, Matthew C. Winner.
Don't Miss Another Year of 12 x 12!
Sign up for updates and be notified as soon as registration opens in January.
Plus, get a FREE webinar about what makes a great read-aloud from children’s librarian and podcaster, Matthew C. Winner.
2024 Registration closes February 29th!
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Join the 12x12 Challenge!
Shel Silverstein Membership
Shel SILVERstein Includes:
- 12 Webinars on craft and the business of writing picture books
- Private Membership Forum
- A professional critique of one of YOUR manuscripts when posted on the forum
- Peer feedback on manuscripts, queries, and pitches
- Opportunities to find critique partners
- Access to members-only Facebook Group
- Discounts on past 12 x 12 webinars, courses, and special events
- Accountability via monthly check-ins. Earn badges for writing and revising your picture book drafts
- SUPPORT from the friendliest writing community on Earth
$197
(30-day money back guarantee)
Little Golden Book Membership
Little GOLDen Book Includes:
- Everything in the Shel SILVERstein Level, PLUS...
- Above-the-slush pile opportunities to submit to one of two featured agents during the months of February - November.*
- Access to the Submission Station section of the 12 x 12 Forum
- Profiles and specialized guidelines monthly for Featured Agents
- Guidelines for submitting to one agent per month February - November
- Two BONUS webinars exclusively for GOLD members to polish their submission skills
- Private Facebook Group just for GOLD members to discussions submissions and ask questions
- Must be a Shel SILVERstein member in the immediate previous year to be eligible to apply for the GOLD level
$387
(No refunds. All sales final.)
GOLD spots filled for 2024.
*Not a guarantee of agent feedback.
Benefits of Joining
Our community is the beating heart of 12 x 12 and what distinguishes us from other writing groups. We’re more than colleagues – we’re friends and family. We are the people who “get you” and understand, deeply and reverently, what goes into creating and publishing picture books for children. In fact, community is so crucial to 12 x 12, we created a whole page to tell you more about it!
We know it can be intimidating to ask questions, post draft work for feedback, and share publishing knowledge when agents or editors are present. That’s why 12 x 12 is a creators-only community. We can commiserate and be candid without fear of repercussions in our careers.
If you’re an agent or editor interested in working with 12 x 12, please contact us.
What Our
Members Say
Benefits by Writing Stage
You have come to the right place to shave years off your learning curve! Our Founder, Julie Hedlund and all the seasoned members of 12 x 12 love to help new writers. You can ask any question without fear of it being considered too basic. In addition, we have the following resources available:
- An entire section of the Membership Forum dedicated to new writers, with pinned posts addressing common questions, as well as a place where you can ask your other questions.
- An area of the Forum dedicated to specific genres of picture books (fiction, nonfiction, rhyming, etc.). Here you’ll find tips for writing these types of books as well as resources and reading lists.
- Find critique partners. Some of the longest-running and most successful critique groups were formed in 12 x 12. Every year, new writers connect to each other via the Forum or Facebook group to exchange manuscripts and provide critiques.
- WRITING! It may seem obvious, but by joining 12 x 12, you are committing to doing the one thing that will advance your craft the most – writing consistently and building a body of work. X % of members say they write more than they would if they were not members.
Now that you know the basics, you’re ready to dig in deeper and hone your skills by getting more feedback on YOUR work. To do that, you’ll benefit from:
- A series of videos and instructions on how to give great critiques and receive feedback. (Insider tip: one of the best ways to improve your own writing is by critiquing others’.)
- The Manuscript Makeover section, where you can post your stories and get feedback from fellow members.
- A professional critique from one of our Critique Ninjas (professional, published, agented authors).
- The Art Notation Station. By now you’re probably using more art notes in your picture books, and you can get input on whether you are using them effectively in this section of the Forum.
You now have an impressive body of work (because you’ve been writing and revising regularly!), and you are ready to submit your polished manuscripts to agents and editors. You’ll find many resources in 12 x 12 to support you, including:
- The opportunity to enter the lottery for a Little Golden Book membership (after one year of membership), where you’ll get above-the-slush pile opportunities to submit to agents.
- Featured Agent posts on our blog. Even as a Silver member, you get access to our monthly profiles of 12 x 12 featured agents, which is extremely helpful as you build your submission list.
- Agent and editor webinars. At least once per year, we host an agent who provides insight into successful picture book submissions. You’ll also get discounts on previous 12 x 12 agent/editor webinars.
- The Query Corner and Pitch Practice sections of the Forum, where you can get feedback on your own queries and pitches, learn about the components of successful queries and pitches, and get information about special submission opportunities.
You’ve signed with an agent and/or gotten your first book deal! As you navigate this exciting new phase of your career, 12 x 12 can help you by:
- Celebrating you! You’ll be featured on our blog in our monthly Good News posts, AND you’ll get a “How I Got My Agent” feature on the blog and on our social media channels.
- Giving you a place to ask all your questions. The 12 x 12 membership includes many agented and multi-published members who are happy to share their experiences in our private Facebook group. Whether it’s questions about contracts or communication protocols with your agent, 12 x 12 members are there to help!
Congratulations! Your first picture book is coming soon. While this is a special and exciting time, it can also be confusing and a little bit scary. Never fear! Many 12 x 12 members have been there and are willing to share what worked for them. You’ll also be able to take advantage of these additional benefits:
- From the time your book is available for pre-order, it can go on our Bookshop page in all the relevant categories.
- You’ll receive a special celebratory shout-out on your book birthday – both on Twitter and Instagram. In addition, your book will be featured in our Good News post that month.
- Ask any and all questions you have about your debut year and activities in our Facebook group.
- Marketing, Platform, and Promotion webinars. We host one each year, and also get discounts on previous 12 x 12 marketing webinars.
- An entire Published Author Support section in the Membership Forum, where you can request reviews and ask members to request your book at their libraries. You can also post your cover reveals and book trailers, share marketing & promotion resources and ideas, and connect with member bloggers who feature picture book authors & illustrators.
- Published authors are eligible for consideration to be one of our monthly Book Chat guests, and most of them do feature debut authors.*
- Published authors are eligible to be a Featured Author on the 12 x 12 blog.**
*eligibility is not a guarantee of a spot as a Book Chat guest.
**eligibility is not a guarantee of a Featured Author spot.
***eligibility is not a guarantee of a Webinar Guest spot.
If you are a diverse author and/or illustrator, 12 x 12 is committed to your success and safety as a writer. Our active Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee continuously evaluates how we can improve our resources and services for diverse members. Here are the unique opportunities available:
- We have several Affinity Groups in the Membership Forum, led by members of the DEI committee, where folks who self-identify with that group can share their personal experiences with the craft and business of writing & illustrating picture books, including issues that impact those creators specifically.
- Bookshop lists featuring books from our diverse members, including distinct lists that feature books during heritage and history months. These are shared across our social media channels.
- 12 x 12 is global, with members that speak a multitude of languages! Our Bilingual/Multilingual section of the Forum provides a space to ask questions about language mixing and language use and post manuscripts for feedback written in languages other than English.
- Our scholarship program provides 12 x 12 tuition for diverse picture book creators each year
- The Membership Forum includes a section on Allyship where members can come to ask questions about being an ally and supporting diverse authors. The intent is to both educate our membership while preventing our diverse members from doing the emotional and intellectual labor of answering these questions.
Don’t think 12 x 12 can’t support you if you’re an illustrator! We have special resources just for you, including:
- The Illustration Station section of the Membership Forum, where you can post illustrations and/or dummies for feedback, connect and network with fellow illustrators, and ask questions/raise topics for discussion.
- Participation in 12 x 12 illustration challenges via social media.
*eligibility is not a guarantee of a spot as a Book Chat guest. **eligibility is not a guarantee of a Featured Author spot. ***eligibility is not a guarantee of a Webinar Guest spot.
12x12 Scholarships
Thanks to the generous support of the 12 x 12 community, the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge offers scholarships to qualified picture book writers to cover membership tuition. 12×12 scholarship program offers aid for individuals with financial challenges or those from diverse backgrounds.
