Today

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

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A Six-Week Online Course with Pre-recorded Lectures, and Live Discussion/Q & A/Writing Exercises Mold your middle grade or young adult novel into the story only you can tell, with senior literary agent and writer Linda Epstein. Pre-recorded lectures released on Fridays (March 3, 17, 24; April 7, 14, 21)  Live sessions via Zoom (with discussion/Q […]

$699

Emotions in Nonfiction Picture Books: A Two-Night Mini

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Join children’s book author Heidi E.Y. Stemple and editor Eileen Robinson to explore the many ways to infuse emotion into your nonfiction picture book, and hook and inspire your readers. Tuesday, March 14 (7pm – 8:15pm EST) Thursday, March 16 (7pm – 8:15pm EST) Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the […]

$59

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

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview Multi-Week Online Course Join novelist Jennifer Gennari for this six-week online course to build the skills needed to revise and enrich your novel. The course features live sessions with faculty, structured assignments, community interaction, and goal-setting. Live Lectures (with closed captioning) Tuesdays at 7-8pm EST (March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4 & […]

$599

Whole Novel Genre Fiction: A Virtual Course for Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Novelists

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview Multi-Month Online Course with a Full Novel Critique Included The Highlights Foundation Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and a private consultation provided. This online program in particular is for writers of science […]

$2199

The Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Registration Is Still Available for This Course We had our first session with introductions on February 28.  Course materials and content (including a recording of the first live session) are available in the online classroom now.  Our next live session is Tuesday, March 14.  Feel free to join us until then! When you register, a […]

$499

Getting to Know Your Character

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview Multi-Week Online Course Characters are the foundation for every aspect of your story. They’re also the vehicle through which readers will connect with your story. Use this course to deepen your understanding of your characters in picture books through novels to unlock secrets and make decisions about point of view, plot, pacing and more. […]

$599

Begin Your Chapter Book, Middle Grade, or YA Novel

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A Two-Week Online Course Quite often, issues with a story in progress can be traced back to its beginning. In this course, Alicia D. Williams, Erin Dionne, and Chris Tebbetts will explore how your first pages and early choices can kickstart your chapter book, middle grade novel, or young adult novel, and help you navigate […]

$499

Create Your Novel’s Style Guide: A Two-Night Mini

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Novelists, join us for two evening sessions to develop your book’s editorial style guide so you can keep details clear, concise, and consistent as you revise. This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions offering limited interaction with loads of […]

$59

Free #HFGather: 2023 Scholarship Celebration and Information Session

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

The Highlights Foundation team will gather to celebrate and launch the 2023 Scholarship application season. If you'd like to apply for a scholarship, join us for: Information about the scholarships available Details about the process of applying, including deadlines The webinar will be recorded and made available after the session if you can't join us […]

Free

Giving and Receiving Feedback on Novels (A Two-Night Mini Course)

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Novelists need feedback on their work to deepen revisions and enrich characters, plot, and pacing. In this course, novelists and real-life feedback partners Diana Ma and Christina Scheuer dig into the fundamentals of giving and receiving feedback, and explore how creating relationships and participating in reciprocal feedback cycles can […]

$59

Read Like a Writer (A One-Night Mini Course)

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A One-Night Mini Online Course Writers fill their wells with stories: stories from the everyday happenings around them, and stories from fellow writers. Middle grade author Eric Bell asks, "Do you read like a writer?" We invite beginning writers to join Eric for a fun, webinar-style class on ways to improve your writing through […]

$39

Non-Traditional Picture Book Structure (A Two-Night Mini Course)

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Picture book journeys aren’t one size fits all, and that’s a good thing! Join children’s book author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and literary agent Rachel Orr to celebrate alternative approaches to picture book structures. This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions […]

$59

Diving Into Picture Books: Format, Structure, and Practice

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A Short Intensive Online Course Thinking about writing a picture book, but don’t know where to start? Already started a picture book and feeling stuck? Join author Nikki Shannon Smith to kickstart your picture book project, with an overview of picture book formats and structures, plus strategies for idea implementation, drafting, and revising. This […]

$349

Seize the Reader: Writing for Emotional Impact

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview Online, On-Demand Self-Paced Course Included are 4 pre-recorded online sessions you can access on-demand for up to 6 months from the date of your registration Imagine your reader cemented in place by your story, unable to move until they reach the end. Imagine your reader racing to place your book into the hands of […]

$129

Picture Book A to Z: CHARACTER

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview Whether your picture book is character-driven or plot-driven, character anchors the story. This on-demand course is designed to give you tools and knowledge to develop strong characters that your readers will love. Online, On-Demand Self-Paced Course Five chapters of prepared online lessons that you can access on-demand for up to 6 months from the […]

$259

Picture Book A to Z: PLOTTING

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview Take this deep, deep dive into picture book structure with lessons on each letter of the “Picture Book Alphabet” designed by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. This on-demand course is designed to give you tools and knowledge to plot your picture books with care. Online, On-Demand Self-Paced Course Included are five chapters prepared online lessons that you […]

$259

Getting Your Middle Grade or Young Adult Novel Unstuck

Online 392 Boyds Mills Road, Milanville, PA

Overview A Self-Paced, Online On-Demand Course Seven (7) pre-recorded online sessions you can access on-demand for up to six (6) months from the date of your registration. A 20-minute Zoom call with Erin or Chris after you register. Optional monthly office hours on the first Tuesday of each month from 7-8pm EST for up to […]

$199

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

Our Mission in Action

Scholarships
Equity & Inclusion in Kidlit
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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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