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

First Pages, First Promises: A Two-Night Mini

First Pages, First Promises: A Two-Night Mini

Starts: September 26, 2023

Why Horror: A Two-Part Mini on Haunted Tales for MG Readers

Why Horror: A Two-Part Mini on Haunted Tales for MG Readers

Starts: September 26, 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

School Visits: Spotlight on Students and Storytellers

School Visits: Spotlight on Students and Storytellers

Starts: October 3, 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

Muslim Storytellers: A Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing

Muslim Storytellers: A Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing

Starts: October 17, 2023

Making Magic: Writing and Refining Fantastical and Otherworldly Stories

Making Magic: Writing and Refining Fantastical and Otherworldly Stories

Starts: October 23, 2023

Disability Representation in Books for Kids: A Two-Night Mini

Disability Representation in Books for Kids: A Two-Night Mini

Starts: October 23, 2023

Levity & Humor: Infusing the Right Level of Funny in Your Chapter Book, MG or YA Novel

Levity & Humor: Infusing the Right Level of Funny in Your Chapter Book, MG or YA Novel

Starts: October 26, 2023

Rainbow Retreat: An In-Community Experience for Creatives

Rainbow Retreat: An In-Community Experience for Creatives

Starts: November 2, 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

2023 Jewish Symposium: Writing Jewish Novels, Finding Jewish Joy

2023 Jewish Symposium: Writing Jewish Novels, Finding Jewish Joy

Starts: November 12, 2023

Relationships in MG & YA Novels: An Online Course with Editor Kat Brzozowski

Relationships in MG & YA Novels: An Online Course with Editor Kat Brzozowski

Starts: November 28, 2023

Marketing Opportunities for Storytellers: A Two Night Mini

Marketing Opportunities for Storytellers: A Two Night Mini

Starts: November 28, 2023

Writing Poetry to Empower: A Two-Night Mini

Writing Poetry to Empower: A Two-Night Mini

Starts: December 11, 2023

Intro to Writing Short Fiction: A Two-Night Mini for MG & YA Authors

Intro to Writing Short Fiction: A Two-Night Mini for MG & YA Authors

Starts: January 23, 2024

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

3 Ideas for Your Comedy Writing Toolbox

3 Ideas for Your Comedy Writing Toolbox

5 Reasons Middle Grade Readers Want (And Deserve) Horror

5 Reasons Middle Grade Readers Want (And Deserve) Horror

10 Essential Steps to Convert a Graphic Novel Script Into Compelling Panels

10 Essential Steps to Convert a Graphic Novel Script Into Compelling Panels

Podcast: Chris Baron And Rajani LaRocca

Podcast: Chris Baron And Rajani LaRocca

Get Involved at the Highlights Foundation

Stories from Our Highlights Foundation Alumni

Celebration Station: Spring 2023

Celebration Station: Spring 2023

Celebrating Hanh Bui’s Book Birthday!

Celebrating Hanh Bui’s Book Birthday!

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

Workshops for Writers & Illustrators

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

New to the Highlights Foundation? Try these:

About Children's Publishing | 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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