The Graphic Novel: Workshop For Writers
Sundays, Feb 22, 2026, TIME – Sunday, June 14, 2026
3:00-4:30 PM EST | Online | Workshop recorded
Level: All levels
Instructors: Elizabeth Bicknell & Eugene Yelchin
Cost: $3200
Registration opens December 1, 2025
Have you always wanted to write a graphic novel, but don’t know the first thing about writing one?
Graphic novels keep readers of all levels engaged and entertained. And as writers that is exactly what we want to do.
Our graphic novel intensive is designed for both authors and author/illustrators who wish to develop their graphic novel writing skills and write a graphic novel with the support of expert mentors.
Join Elizabeth Bicknell, faculty member and former Executive Editorial Director of Candlewick and award-winning author illustrator Eugene Yeltsin for this unique opportunity to plot, lay out, and write the script for a complete graphic novel. Liz has edited multiple graphic novels, including Eugene’s recent graphic novel memoir, I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This, which has received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, and Horn Book.
Over the course of four months, Elizabeth and Eugene will walk you through the elements, scripting, and structure needed to craft a graphic novel. You’ll look closely at the genre — studying both the art and the writing. You’ll brainstorm, narrow in on an idea with your mentors, and then you’ll work independently with mentor check-ins.
This is an intensive workshop. Please be sure you’ve put aside time (we suggest 20-25 hours per month) for writing and/or drawing .
Who is this writing workshop for?
Authors who want to explore graphic novel writing.
Authors who have a story for a graphic novel but don’t know how or where to start.
Authors looking to expand their toolkit and add a new genre to their repertoire.
Artists who want to write a graphic novel.
Picture book illustrators looking to expand their portfolios and explore older content.
Authors and illustrators who have written graphic novels, but who wish to elevate their craft through mentorship.
You’ll Complete This Workshop With:
A full outline of your graphic novel.
The first 15 panels of your graphic novel completed (if you are an author/illustrator).
Story boards for your first 15 panels as well as a complete manuscript (if you are an author).
A better understanding of the graphic novel genre and how you can apply all the skills you’ve gained in this workshop to other projects.
Workshop Details
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This course runs over five months and is divided into two sections.
The first section: five lectures on the rise to prominence of graphic novels over the last 50 years. The focus will be on nonfiction topics, especially biography, politics, and history, both in adult and children’s publishing.
The second section: two group discussion sessions per month with at least one, one-on-one meeting per month. These personalized meetings will keep participants on track and provide the scaffolding needed to complete the project.
All formal workshops will be recorded, however we expect participants to attend all group meetings.
You must dedicate at least 20 hours of writing/illustrating time per month. Writing a graphic novel requires planning and plotting.
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When you register, you will be asked to answer three questions. Authors must submit a writing sample, and artists will be asked to share a link or upload their portfolio so our instructors can understand where you are in your craft journey.
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Meetings are in 2026 and will take place on Sundays at 3:00 PM EST. We will schedule two group meetings in both April and May. Dates are still TBD
Meeting Dates:
February 22
March 1March 1 - March 14 initial check-ins with writers/illustrators.
March 15
March 22
March 29March 29 - April 12 Check-ins
April 12 - group presentationsMay 10 - Submit to Liz and Eugene
June 7 - Deadline for revisions
June 14 - Final gathering and final presentation
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Liz Bicknell has worked as an editor, publisher, and mentor for more than 30 years. As Executive Editorial Director at Candlewick Press, she acquired and edited books for young readers of all ages, from board books to picture books to graphic novels to YA fiction and nonfiction, working with such luminaries as M. T. Anderson, Lauren Child, Carson Ellis, Ekua Holmes, Jon Klassen, Stephan Pastis, Laura Amy Schlitz, Carole Boston Weatherford, Allan Wolf, and Eugene Yelchin. Books edited by Liz have won a National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Honor, National Jewish Book Award, Coretta Scott King Author Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and many others.
Eugene Yelchin is a painter, designer, and a writer / illustrator of books for young readers. His many accolades include a Newbery Honor, National Book Award Finalist, a Sydney Taylor Award, Golden and Crystal Kite Awards, a National Jewish Book Award, and the Tomie DePaola Award. His books have been included in Best Books of the Year lists by the New York Times, People Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and have been translated into fourteen languages. With a graduate degree in film production from the University of Southern California, Yelchin teaches screenwriting, character design, and sequential storytelling at the Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. For more information, please visit eugeneyelchin.com.