Intimate and inspiring workshops for children's authors and illustrators.

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 Upcoming Retreats:

 

February 24 - November 30, 2021

The Brown Bookshelf Presents: Amplify Black Stories 2021

A Year of Connection for Black Storytellers & Bridge-Building for Children’s Book Publishing Teams to Amplify Black Stories   In…
Register
All genres
Career Building Blocks
Creator Self-Care and Development
Essential Conversations
Online
April 15 - December 31, 2021

Seize the Reader: Writing for Emotional Impact in MG and YA Novels, An On Demand Online Course

TYPE: Online (On-demand, self-paced, with monthly live office hours) Here are the dates for upcoming live office hours (12-1pm Eastern)…
Register
Novels
Online
Online On Demand
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Writing Craft
May 24 - June 25, 2021

Personal Retreat: 3+ Nights between May 24 – June 25

Your own personal retreat in a picturesque setting. No distractions, nothing to worry about. We’ll provide you with comfortable lodging,…
Register
In-Person
Retreat Only
Unworkshop
June 17 - December 12, 2021

Personal Retreats 3+ Nights

Imagine your own private retreat in a picturesque setting – currently just $149/day! We believe all writers and artists can…
Register
In-Person
June-Aug
Retreat Only
Sept-Dec
Unworkshop
June 24 - August 12, 2021

So You Want to be an Author/Illustrator?

TYPE & LENGTH: 8-week, facilitated online workshop with: Self-paced recordings and resources (minimum of 1.5 hours of content provided per…
Register
Expanding Careers or Genres
Idea
Illustration Craft
June-Aug
Just Getting Started
Online
Picture Books
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Writing Craft
July 4 - August 5, 2021

Picture Book Character A-Z Online Course

TYPE & LENGTH: This 5-week online course is largely self-paced, with new content and assignments released weekly in our virtual…
Register
June-Aug
Just Getting Started
Online
Picture Books
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Writing Craft
July 8 - 11, 2021

Online Summer Camp in Fiction: Explore, Play, and Inspire

TYPE & LENGTH: A four day, online intensive (Thursday, July 8 through Sunday, July 11) centered on mentorship, inspiration, and…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Chapter Books and Early Readers
Expanding Careers or Genres
Fiction
Idea
June-Aug
Just Getting Started
Novels
Online
Picture Books
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Published
Revising
Summer Camp Comprehensives
The Business of Publishing
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
July 10 - 15, 2021

Personal Retreat July 10 – 15, 2021

Saturday, July 10 - Thursday, July 15, 2021 (choose 3 nights; $500, and if desired, add an extra night(s) if…
Register
In-Person
June-Aug
Retreat Only
Unworkshop
July 12 - 15, 2021

Online Summer Camp in Nonfiction: Explore, Dig Deep, Inspire

TYPE & LENGTH: A four day, online intensive (Monday, July 12 through Thursday, July 15) centered on mentorship, inspiration, and…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Expanding Careers or Genres
Idea
June-Aug
Just Getting Started
Nonfiction
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Published
Revising
Summer Camp Comprehensives
The Business of Publishing
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
July 16 - 18, 2021

Online Summer Camp in Illustration: A Weekend Intensive in Artistic Inspiration

TYPE & LENGTH: A three day, online intensive (Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18) centered on mentorship, inspiration, and…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Expanding Careers or Genres
Idea
Illustration Craft
June-Aug
Just Getting Started
Online
Picture Books
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Published
Revising
Summer Camp Comprehensives
The Business of Publishing
July 18 - 22, 2021

Personal Retreat July 18 – 22, 2021

Sunday, July 18 - Thursday, July 22, 2021 (choose 3 nights; $500, and if desired, add an extra night if…
Register
In-Person
June-Aug
Retreat Only
Unworkshop
July 25 - 28, 2021

Personal Retreat July 25 – 28, 2021

Sunday, July 25 - Wednesday, July 28, 2021 (3 nights; $500). Meal service begins with dinner on your arrival day,…
Register
In-Person
June-Aug
Retreat Only
Unworkshop
July 26 - August 20, 2021

Novelists at Work: Crafting Your Pitch to Sell Your Story

TYPE & LENGTH: Online recordings released on July 26 and August 2 with lectures and writing prompts Two live Zoom…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
June-Aug
Novels
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
The Business of Publishing
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
August 3 - September 30, 2021

Revision Retreat: A Multi-Month Program for All Writers

TYPE & LENGTH: This is an online program, but for an extra cost, you can choose to spend the final…
Register
All genres
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Chapter Books and Early Readers
Novels
Online
Picture Books
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Published
Revising
Sept-Dec
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
August 5 - 9, 2021

Writing Science and Nature for Kids and Teens In-person Retreat and Workshop

TYPE & LENGTH: 5 days, in-person at our Retreat Center with lectures, writing exercises, faculty consultations and feedback, with ample…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Expanding Careers or Genres
Fiction
Idea
In-Person
June-Aug
Just Getting Started
Nonfiction
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Specialty or Other
The Business of Publishing
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
August 8 - October 9, 2021

The Whole Novel Workshop: Historical Fiction

TYPE & LENGTH: Pre-retreat live Zoom Office Hours on 4 Sundays in August and 1 in September (7pm Eastern) Online;…
REGISTER
June-Aug
Novels
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Sept-Dec
Writing Craft
August 9 - 23, 2021

Writing Science and Nature for Kids and Teens Online

TYPE & LENGTH: Two-week, online course with 5 live Zoom sessions plus pre-recorded content hosted in our virtual classroom (If…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Expanding Careers or Genres
Fiction
Idea
June-Aug
Just Getting Started
Nonfiction
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Specialty or Other
The Business of Publishing
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
August 12 - 15, 2021

Personal Retreat August 12 – 15, 2021

Thursday, August 12 - Sunday, August 15, 2021 (or choose 3 nights between Wednesday and Saturday, $500; and if desired,…
Register
In-Person
June-Aug
Retreat Only
Unworkshop
August 18 - 21, 2021

Personal Retreat August 18 – 21, 2021

Wednesday, August 18 - Saturday, August 21, 2021, $500 Meal service begins with dinner on your arrival day, and ends…
Register
In-Person
June-Aug
Retreat Only
Unworkshop
August 28 - 31, 2021

Writing First Chapter Books and Early Readers

TYPE & LENGTH: In-person at our Retreat Center with lectures, writing exercises, faculty consultations and feedback, with ample time to relax, retreat,…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Chapter Books and Early Readers
Expanding Careers or Genres
Idea
In-Person
June-Aug
Just Getting Started
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Published
Revising
The Business of Publishing
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
September 9 - 11, 2021

Chapter One: How to Begin Your Chapter Book Series

TYPE & LENGTH: A three day online intensive (September 9 - September 11) to learn how to start a chapter…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Chapter Books and Early Readers
Expanding Careers or Genres
Idea
Just Getting Started
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Published
Revising
Sept-Dec
The Business of Publishing
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
September 12 - 15, 2021

PB&J: Picture Books and All That Jazz

TYPE & LENGTH: In-person 4-day/3-night retreat & workshop Retreat includes all accommodations and meals Workshop includes faculty presentations, writing exercises,…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Idea
In-Person
Just Getting Started
Picture Books
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Sept-Dec
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
September 19 - 23, 2021

The Craft and Heart of Writing Poetry for Children

Please note: this course is full. Please click here to be placed on our waiting list. TYPE & LENGTH: In-person…
Join waiting list
In-Person
Poetry
Sept-Dec
Waitlisted
Writing Craft
September 22 - November 10, 2021

Line Editing Your MG or YA Novel (and Creating Your Book’s Style Guide!)

TYPE & LENGTH: An eight-week online course (September 22-November 10) featuring: Live lectures from faculty Pre-recorded lectures, resources to explore…
Register
Career Building Blocks
Novels
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Sept-Dec
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
September 22 - December 11, 2021

Crash Course in Children’s Publishing: Everything You Need to Know Online Course Sept-Dec 2021

TYPE: Online (Facilitated) COVID Reschedule/Refund Policy What’s the difference between Highlights Foundation workshop types? LENGTH: 10 weeks PARTICIPANT CAP: 40…
Register
Career Building Blocks
Just Getting Started
Online
Picture Books
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Sept-Dec
Specialty or Other
The Business of Publishing
Working on a draft
September 27 - 29, 2021

Novels in Verse Intensive: Expand! Grow! Reach!

TYPE & LENGTH: A three day, online intensive (September 27 – 29, 2021) with: Opportunities for learning, feedback, and interaction…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Novels in Verse
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Sept-Dec
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
Writing Intensive
September 29 - October 27, 2021

Creating an Image System That Works for Your Verse Novel

TYPE & LENGTH: Five-week, online course (September 29-October 27) Build your own image system through weekly Wednesday live Zoom lectures,…
Register
Expanding Careers or Genres
Novels in Verse
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Sept-Dec
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
September 30 - October 21, 2021

Relationships in Contemporary MG and YA Novels

TYPE & LENGTH: A four week online course (September 30-October 21), with: Weekly live sessions, Thursdays from 12-2pm Eastern Weekly…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Career Building Blocks
Idea
Just Getting Started
Novels
Online
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Sept-Dec
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
October 3 - 6, 2021

Telling It True: The Art of Storytelling in Narrative Nonfiction

TYPE & LENGTH: In-person at our Retreat Center with lectures, writing exercises, faculty consultations and feedback, with ample time to…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Expanding Careers or Genres
Idea
In-Person
Nonfiction
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Sept-Dec
Working on a draft
Writing Craft
October 19 - November 11, 2021

Submission-Ready with Heart: A Hands-On Workshop for Author/Illustrators

TYPE & LENGTH: Online (October 19-November 11) 3 week online course with live Zoom lectures on Tuesday evenings 1:1 sessions…
Register
Almost ready to submit
Expanding Careers or Genres
Illustration Craft
Online
Picture Books
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Revising
Sept-Dec
December 1 - 31, 2021

Meditations for Writers & Illustrators: An On Demand Course 2021

This is an on-demand course. You can begin it at any time. Online Course Info: This is an "on demand"…
Register
All genres
Creator Self-Care and Development
Online On Demand
Pre-Published Author or Illustrator
Published
“This workshop exceeded my greatest expectations—I am prepared to promote myself and my books to my market,
in a knowledgeable and fun way. Now I know the pitfalls
that may come my way, and the joys I’ll reap, if I promote myself well.”
- Elissa Elliott Rochester, MN

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