A 3 Week ONLINE MG/YA Workshop
Mondays, November 6th, 13th & 20th
All Levels
There’s nothing quite as rewarding as writing stories for children. These narratives hold the power to inspire, educate, and entertain in a time where young people need that more than ever. Yet no matter the genre, actually putting pen to paper and crafting a compelling novel is much easier said than done. How do I make my characters interesting? Where should the book begin? Why is my plot full of more holes than Swiss cheese? And of course, let’s not forget how tricky it can be to get past the gatekeepers in traditional publishing, should that be your desired route to publication.
This course will explore the key ingredients that will help you create a standout children’s middle grade or young adult story. Wether you are starting a new project or revising an existing one, we will begin with character motivations and move on to setting, worldbuilding, dialogue, and eventually traditional publishing prep as you develop the skills to tackle children’s books across any genre and feel much more confident in your work. Not to mention, you will have the opportunity to read some really fun excerpts from bestselling and award-winning children’s authors like James Ponti, Karina Evans, Lora Senf, Maya Prasad, and Judy Lin.
Whether you prefer to meticulously plot out novels or write from the seat of your pants, the mix of workshops, lectures, and independent study you will engage in will impart a fresh perspective on writing for children, but also just writing in general. No matter your areas of interest, this course is where you belong. You don’t have to navigate writing a book alone.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur ONLINE via Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
George Jreije is the Lebanese-American author of the Shad Hadid children's series as well as the upcoming graphic novel, Tarik’s Bazaar Adventure, both having sold at auction to HarperCollins. He has also written short stories published in collaboration with UNICEF and various educational publishers. Currently, George is serving as the inaugural author-in-residence for the historic Concord Library in Massachusetts. He has been a featured speaker at WorldCon, Maine's Reading Round Up, SCBWI regional conferences, Elixir Writing Retreats, and much more. When not writing, George enjoys mentoring other writers, scouring the world for delicious food, and messing with new yoga poses.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Meghan Sterling at programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
$95 Members/$125 Nonmembers
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one partial scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Contact Meghan at programs@mainewriters.org to see if the scholarship is still available. Application Due on October 15th at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION