Tell Your Story: Novels

Novels are an exciting genre in children’s literature, whether they are middle grade (ages 8-13) or  young adult (ages 13 and up.) There are seemingly endless novel categories, too: novels in verse, contemporary, horror, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery and narrative nonfiction.

Whatever your novel interest, we’ve got resources and workshops to help you begin, revise, plot, outline, receive feedback, develop characters and more.

No matter where you are on your journey, we’re glad you’re here.  We can give you the skills you need to create the very best novel for kids and teens.

Novel Workshops

Whole Novel Historical: A Virtual Course for Historical Novelists

Whole Novel Historical: A Virtual Course for Historical Novelists

Starts: June 15, 2023

Summer Camp in Fiction: Explore, Play, and Inspire

Summer Camp in Fiction: Explore, Play, and Inspire

Starts: July 7, 2023

Whole Novel Workshop: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists (August)

Whole Novel Workshop: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists (August)

Starts: August 17, 2023

Shape Your Story: A 6-Week Novel Intensive with Author & Agent Linda Epstein (Fall)

Shape Your Story: A 6-Week Novel Intensive with Author & Agent Linda Epstein (Fall)

Starts: August 24, 2023

Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Fall)

Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Fall)

Starts: September 20, 2023

Line Editing Your MG or YA Novel: An Online Course (Fall)

Line Editing Your MG or YA Novel: An Online Course (Fall)

Starts: September 27, 2023

Middle Grade Writers: A Generative Retreat Experience

Middle Grade Writers: A Generative Retreat Experience

Starts: October 1, 2023

Revising Your Novel in Verse: An Online Course

Revising Your Novel in Verse: An Online Course

Starts: October 4, 2023

The Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing (Fall)

The Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing (Fall)

Starts: October 4, 2023

Making Magic: Writing and Refining Fantastical and Otherworldly Stories

Making Magic: Writing and Refining Fantastical and Otherworldly Stories

Starts: October 23, 2023

Whole Novel Workshop: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists (November)

Whole Novel Workshop: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists (November)

Starts: November 5, 2023

Inspiring Children Through Story

“My picture book ... deals with parents separating. One little boy, who parents recently divorced, went to bed with [it] many nights. This deeply moved me to know this picture book helped this little boy.

"I tutor 2nd grade reluctant readers. My understanding of picture book structure and prose allows me to help them learn more than words. Rather than just read the story, we talk about it."

"You mean I get to keep this book forever?"

…Spoken by a child in tears who was gifted with one of my books at a school visit and had never owned a book before.

"When I hear kids giggle while I’m reading [my book] I feel like I’ve done the job I intended to do."

Novel Resources

Novels in Verse Are My Native Language: 3 Verse Novelists Share Their Passion for the Form

Novels in Verse Are My Native Language: 3 Verse Novelists Share Their Passion for the Form

Creating Memorable Characters Means Being Patient and Asking a Lot of Questions

Creating Memorable Characters Means Being Patient and Asking a Lot of Questions

Your Book’s First Editor Is You: Is It Too Soon for Line Editing?

Your Book’s First Editor Is You: Is It Too Soon for Line Editing?

The Sticky Note Approach to Revision

The Sticky Note Approach to Revision

Get Involved at the Highlights Foundation

Stories from Our Highlights Foundation Alumni

From Just Do It to Just Did It!

From Just Do It to Just Did It!

Congratulations to the 2023 ALA Award Winners

Congratulations to the 2023 ALA Award Winners

Sara Gómez Woolley, 2022 Resident Artist: #WhatIFound @HighlightsFound

Sara Gómez Woolley, 2022 Resident Artist: #WhatIFound @HighlightsFound

Uplifting Indigenous Storytellers on #GivingTuesday

Uplifting Indigenous Storytellers on #GivingTuesday

Workshops for Writers & Illustrators

> Online
> In-Person
> On-Demand (Self-Paced Online)

New to the Highlights Foundation? Try these:

The Crash Course | The Whole Novel Workshop | Summer Camp

Questions?

Need help deciding on a workshop?  Ask an ambassador!

Visiting Our Campus

Our campus (The Barn at Boyds Mills) is tucked away in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  It's a few hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, but worlds away from everyday life.

Line drawing of the Barn at Boyds Mills

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The Highlights Foundation positively impacts children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves.  Learn more about our impact.

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