What You’ll Learn

• Work with our talented group of mentors to explore factual writing through a range of topics, including nonfiction voice, biography, memoir, nature writing, science writing, and narrative nonfiction.
• Your mentor will help guide you in your revisions or explore story ideas during daily one-to-one sessions.
• Develop necessary research and interview skills.
• Explore today’s magazine and trade-book markets.
• Investigate visual design through illustration and photography.
• Connect with acquiring editors.

Who Should Attend

Anyone who has an interest in writing nonfiction for children. Attendees will submit a picture book manuscript, the first chapter of a longer piece of nonfiction (2,000 words max), or a book or magazine proposal. (Note: Proposals must include sample writing.)

Agenda

• Understanding What Readers Want
• Writing Inspiration: Using Mentor Texts
• The Art of Biography, Short Form and Long
• Secrets to Breaking into Print
• The Extreme Sport of Research
• The Art and Craft of Narrative Nonfiction
• Using Investigative Journalism to Research Your Story
• Exploring Photography and Visual Design
• Questions Are More Important than Answers
• Beginnings: How to Set the Trap That Will Entice Young Readers
• Mining Personal Experiences to Enliven Nonfiction
• World Building in History: Identifying Sources, Reading Against the Grain, and Finding the Heart of the Moment
• What Are Acquiring Editors Looking For?
• A History of Writing History: What Works, What Doesn’t, What Might, and Why?
• The Art of Biography, Short Form and Long

Resources

12 signs that you are destined to write middle grade nonfiction
Interview with Carole Boston Weatherford from NCTE Language Arts.
Theme in Narrative Nonfiction
STEAMing Into Nonfiction
Seven Ways to Make Your Nonfiction Stand Out
The hard-but-satisfying work of creative nonfiction
True Storytelling

Testimonials

“The faculty was outstanding in every regard. Their insight, kindness, generosity, approachability, and availability was beyond anything I’ve ever experienced at a writing conference.”

“Master Class in Nonfiction was taught by the best professionals in the field, who are committed to their craft and genuinely care about teaching and sharing their expertise. The curriculum was very well structured. The one-on-one meetings were tailored to fit individual student needs. The class size was small and intimate. Overall, I learned a lot and continue to benefit from the knowledge I gained at the workshop. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning how to write nonfiction from practicing professionals in the industry.”

“On day one of the workshop, I knew I had made the right decision. With insights from expert presenters, incredible feedback from a dedicated mentor, inspiration from other attendees, and just enough time to write and reflect, I came out of the workshop with not only new insights into how to polish my current manuscripts but also a new picture book idea and first draft.”— Read more about attendee Erica Swallow’s experience at the 2017 Master Class in Writing Nonfiction.