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

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Workshops

Upcoming Workshops

Type

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Experience Level

Point in the Process

Season

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February 24, 2021 - 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 partnership with the Highlights Foundation, The Brown Bookshelf presents this year-long program set to amplify Black stories, with a focus on supporting Black storytellers while confronting industry challenges and fostering change. Download a press release. […]

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On Demand

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) May 6 June 3 July 1 August 5 September 2 October 7 COVID Reschedule/Refund Policy What’s the difference between Highlights Foundation workshop types? LENGTH: You can complete this program at your own pace, but you […]

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May 24, 2021 - 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, three chef-prepared meals per day, and a peaceful setting that lets you focus solely on your work. Availability is varied Monday, May 24 through Friday, June 25.  Please note your desired arrival/departure days in the […]

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June 01, 2021 - December 31, 2021

Muslim Storytellers Fellowship

We are now accepting applications for a two-year fellowship in children's literature for Muslim Storytellers. The fellowship is funded by a grant with the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art’s (DDFIA) Building Bridges Program. The mission of the Building Bridges Program is to support national efforts, working with U.S. Muslims, to increase mutual understanding and […]

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June 17, 2021 - 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 benefit from the gift of time: time to create and time to dream. That’s why we developed a program called “Unworkshops” that gives you the opportunity to create your own retreat. In an “Unworkshop,” time […]

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June 24, 2021 - 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 week) Weekly assignments and resources (including craft assignments, peer feedback, and discussion in the virtual classroom; time commitment required can vary) Live Zoom sessions (5 evening lectures; approximately 1 - 2 hours in length depending […]

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July 04, 2021 - August 05, 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 classroom. There are weekly live office hours via Zoom for Q&A on Thursdays at 7pm Eastern. There are optional weekly, live small group meetings during weeks 2, 3, & 4 to informally share work. Additional […]

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July 08, 2021 - July 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 community with: opportunities for learning, feedback, and interaction (detailed agenda below) ample self-paced time to make progress on a project, or play with your creativity Submit your work for 1:1 feedback from your faculty reader […]

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July 10, 2021 - July 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 you wish for $150 per night). Meal service begins with dinner on your arrival day, and ends with lunch on your departure day. Please note your desired arrival and departure days in the comments section […]

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July 12, 2021 - July 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 community with: opportunities for learning, feedback, and interaction (detailed agenda below) ample self-paced time to make progress on a project, or play with your creativity Submit your work for 1:1 feedback from your faculty reader […]

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July 16, 2021 - July 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 community with: opportunities for learning, feedback, and interaction (detailed agenda below) play with words and materials to inspire your work ample self-paced time to make progress on a project PARTICIPANT CAP: 24 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? […]

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July 18, 2021 - July 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 you wish for $150 per night). Meal service begins with dinner on your arrival day, and ends with lunch on your departure day. Please note your desired arrival and departure days in the comments section […]

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July 25, 2021 - July 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, and ends with lunch on your departure day. If you have any questions, email contact@highlightsfoundation.org. Your own personal retreat in a picturesque setting. No distractions, nothing to worry about. We’ll provide you with comfortable lodging, […]

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July 26, 2021 - 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 sessions on July 30 and August 9 to discuss recorded material, review exercises, and provide an open Q & A Written feedback on the first 40 pages of your novel + a 20 minute 1:1 […]

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August 03, 2021 - 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 5-day retreat intensive in-person at our Retreat Center (9/26-9/30) instead of participating from home. See more about this option or register here. Online learning includes presentations, writing exercises, faculty consultations and feedback, and encouraged peer-to-peer […]

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August 05, 2021 - August 09, 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 time to relax, retreat, and work on your own writing. (If you are looking for the ONLINE version of this course, please click here.) Begins at 5:30pm Eastern on Thursday, August 5, 2021 Ends at […]

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August 08, 2021 - October 09, 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; one-week intensive workshop (October 3-9) with feedback and mentorship Online Preparation activities are noted in the agenda, with firm deadlines Post-workshop: an optional in-person retreat weekend to meet fellow writers from the program (extra cost) […]

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August 09, 2021 - August 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 you are looking for the in-person version of this course, please click here.) The virtual classroom includes: recorded lectures, printed resources, writing prompts, and a discussion board to engage with fellow writers Written feedback + […]

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August 12, 2021 - August 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, add an extra night(s) if you wish for $150 per night). Meal service begins with dinner on your arrival day, and ends with lunch on your departure day. If you have questions, email contact@highlightsfoundation.org. Your […]

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August 18, 2021 - August 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 with lunch on your departure day. If you have questions, email contact@highlightsfoundation.org. Your own personal retreat in a picturesque setting. No distractions, nothing to worry about. We’ll provide you with comfortable lodging, three chef-prepared meals […]

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August 28, 2021 - August 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, and work on your own writing. Begins at 5:30pm Eastern on Saturday, August 28, 2021 Ends at 1:00pm Eastern on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 PARTICIPANT CAP: 20 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? Do you remember the first time you […]

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September 09, 2021 - September 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 book series, with: Live sessions via Zoom (full schedule below) Writing exercises Discussions in the virtual classroom PARTICIPANT CAP: 20 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? There are many ways that writers come to the idea of writing […]

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September 12, 2021 - September 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, editor review, round table critiques, and ample time to work on your own writing PARTICIPANT CAP: 14 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? Everyone loves picture books! But writing stories that sell means going beyond a fun idea. […]

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September 19, 2021 - September 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 at our Retreat Center with lectures, writing exercises, faculty consultations, and ample time to relax, retreat, and work on your own writing Begins at 5:30pm Eastern on Sunday, September 19 Ends at 1:00pm Eastern on […]

Waitlisted
September 22, 2021 - 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 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? At the end of this course, you will understand how the children’s book publishing industry works, including writing, revising, submitting, publishing, and marketing a book for children, teens, or young adults. You'll […]

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September 22, 2021 - 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 and structured assignments Weekly online group chats with your instructor and one phone consultation about your book project. Community interaction and goal-setting PARTICIPANT CAP: 16 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? The course is divided into 8 sessions: […]

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September 27, 2021 - September 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 (detailed agenda below) Self-paced time to make progress on your novel in verse PARTICIPANT CAP: 16 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? You’ve drafted your novel in verse! You’ve read many verse novels! You want to engage in […]

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September 29, 2021 - 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, discussions, writing exercises, and one workshopping opportunity PARTICIPANT CAP: 16 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? What is an image system? An image system is the family of images (metaphors, similes, symbols, etc.) an author chooses to showcase […]

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September 30, 2021 - 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 writing exercises Ample self-paced time to make progress on a project, or play with your creativity 1:1 feedback from editor Kat Brzozowski on your cover letter, synopsis, and the first 10 pages of your novel […]

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October 03, 2021 - October 06, 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 relax, retreat, and work on your own writing. Begins at 5:30pm Eastern on Sunday, October 3, 2021 Ends at 1:00pm Eastern on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 PARTICIPANT CAP: 16 WHY THIS WORKSHOP: A well-told true story can […]

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October 19, 2021 - 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 scheduled at your convenience with valuable faculty manuscript and dummy feedback/critique Focused studio time on Thursday evenings PARTICIPANT CAP: 20 WHY THIS WORKSHOP? A tightly revised manuscript, guided by art, can tell a story with […]

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On Demand

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" course consisting of 12 pre-recorded, guided meditations and a 12-page meditation guide. Your registration includes a pdf of the meditation guide and six-months of access to the 12 videos included in this package. What You'll […]

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