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

Line Editing Your MG or YA Novel: An Online Course

Starts: September 17, 2024

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

Starts: September 17, 2024

Social and Emotional Themes in KidLit: A Two-Night Mini for Writers

Starts: September 23, 2024

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

Starts: September 24, 2024

Working Retreat: Novels in Verse

Starts: October 6, 2024

Crafting Meaningful Contemporary Novels: An Online Course with Editor Kat Brzozowski

Starts: October 8, 2024

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

Starts: October 15, 2024

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

Starts: October 17, 2024

Research Techniques: A Two-Night Mini

Starts: October 22, 2024

Marketing Opportunities for Storytellers: A Two Night Mini

Starts: November 12, 2024

Working Retreat: Revision

Starts: November 14, 2024

Free #HFGather: 2025 Scholarship Celebration and Information Session

Starts: January 15, 2025

Explore Our Novel Workshops

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.“