Overview Online Weekend Intensive Gearing up to work on any genre of middle grade or young adult novel in 2024? Then join authors Sona Charaipotra, Dante Medema, and guest Trisha Tobias to set goals and build the roadmap to your finished draft, with an eye toward the business of publishing. This online weekend intensive will […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Dialogue has the ability to amplify your characters' voices, bring authenticity to your settings, and seriously unlock the pace and beats of your plot. Join award-winning authors Nora Shalaway Carpenter and Mitali Perkins for this short course focused on getting the most out of your novel's dialogue. Tuesday, February […]
Join this 3-night/4-day writing retreat designed for authors who are crafting books for kids and teens that center their lived experiences in areas of trauma, mental health, grief, and beyond. About the Program We believe there is hope in harnessing the transformative power of storytelling. Explore therapeutic writing techniques that enable you to create narratives […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Novelists and Graphic Novelists, join Julie C. Dao and Wendy Xu for time to create and connect during a retreat built just for you. A Working Retreat is lightly structured with one lecture each day, informal conversations, optional consultations with faculty, and plenty of time to create in the comfort […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Do you have an idea for a graphic novel for kids or teens? Or do you have an idea, and you're wondering if the graphic novel form is the right medium to tell it? Join Emily Rosenthal and Cynthia Yuan Cheng to begin your journey of transforming ideas into […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Join Debbi Michiko Florence, Kashmira Sheth, and guests for time to create and connect during this "Working Retreat." A “Working Retreat” is lightly structured with one lecture each day, informal conversations, optional consultations with faculty, and plenty of time to create in the comfort and care of the Highlights Foundation retreat […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Creative thinking and storytelling go together like, well, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Mike Ciccotello! This dynamic duo of real-life brainstorming partners will showcase the many ways you can brainstorm characters and concepts for picture books, getting you from stuck-->idea-->outline (or first draft!) more quickly. This program is a great fit […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Have you ever searched the internet for "picture book word count," and found advice that conflicts even with itself—offering more exceptions than it does rules? Have you gotten feedback from editors or agents that your picture book manuscript is "too long for today's market"—but you're not sure exactly what […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Plot is the engine that drives your story. A well-crafted plot keeps readers hooked, propels your characters forward, and brings your world to life. However, starting to plot a new novel or fixing holes in an existing outline can be a difficult process, especially if you're new to plotting […]
Overview A 4-Week Online Course Each novel begins with a new idea, a new page, a new chapter, and countless choices about character, plot, and pacing. This course is designed with those choices in mind. Work with celebrated novelists, Rajani LaRocca, Leah Henderson, and Chris Tebbetts to begin (or begin again) your novel in 2025. […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Picture book journeys aren’t one size fits all, and that’s a good thing! Join children’s book author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and literary agent Rachel Orr to celebrate alternative approaches to picture book structures. This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions […]
Join hosts Grace Lin and Debbi Michiko Florence and fellow storytellers for this in-community retreat where much of the time is for your own creativity.
Overview An Online Course with Pre-recorded & Written Lectures, Writing Exercises, and Live Discussions with Q&A Are you ready to do a deep, deep dive into picture book structure? This online course with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen features pre-recorded and/or written lectures, along with assignments for each letter of the "Picture Book Alphabet," plus weekly LIVE Zoom […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Beginning illustrators can join children’s book author/illustrator Courtney Pippin-Mathur to talk about approaches to using different media (traditional and/or digital) in your illustrations with examples from classic and contemporary illustrators. Special guest Aram Kim will join us the second day for ten tips about submitting work to an art director (traditional and/or digital) and […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Picture books speak to young readers like nothing else. Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction; lyrical, humorous, serious, or anything in between, this retreat is meant for you. Join fiction and nonfiction picture book authors Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Rob Sanders along with their guest Kaz Windness to immerse yourself in […]
