Overview

A Six-Week Online Course

Mold your middle grade or young adult novel, or novel in verse, into the story only you can tell, with senior literary agent, freelance editor, and author Linda Epstein. This program includes pre-recorded lectures, live discussion, writing exercises, two included 1:1 meetings with Linda to discuss your work in progress, and two optional post-course critique opportunities for written feedback.

• Pre-recorded lectures released on Fridays before the next live class
• Live sessions via Zoom (with discussion/Q & A and writing exercises to complement and deepen learning from the pre-recorded lectures) on Thursdays (May 9, 16, 23, 30, and June 6 & 13) from 7pm – 8pm Eastern
• Written feedback on a 5-page submission from the opening chapter of your work in progress  (Submission due May 9)
• A 1:1, 20-minute consultation with Linda Epstein to discuss your submission/feedback & set goals at the beginning of course (May 10-20)
• A second 1:1, 20-minute consultation with Linda Epstein to discuss progress at the end of course, no written feedback (June 7-17)
• Two optional post-course critiques are available at an additional cost (details below) for your query letter and/or review of ten pages of your project
• You will have access to the materials (including recordings) until July 31, 2024
• 20 participants max

From the Faculty:

“One thing is everyone learns differently, right? So I feel like this model gives multiple points of access to the information. I really want anyone to be able to get something from it. So, you have the videos. You have talking to a human being. Handouts. I have a couple of things that aren’t videos that are just like PowerPoints, right? So there’s like you can read stuff, you can talk to someone and you can watch something. You can listen. So there are multiple points of access. “—Linda Epstein

Feedback Expected

• Weekly Q & A at the LIVE sessions to discuss questions related to recorded lectures.
• Weekly sharing and discussions at LIVE sessions, with writing exercises.
• Written feedback on a 5-page submission (due May 9) before the first LIVE session.
• Two 1:1, 20-minute consultations with Linda Epstein: one to discuss submission/ written feedback & set goals at the beginning of the course (May 10 – 20), and one to discuss progress at the end of course (June 7 – 17).
• Two OPTIONAL written critiques will be available at an additional cost after the course.  Those submissions are due by July 10, and written feedback will be returned within 4 – 6 weeks. You can select one (or both) for feedback: up to 10 pages of your work-in-progress, and/or your query letter.

Do I need to have a novel in progress to take this course? Not at all! If you are in the planning/idea stages, you will still gain valuable insight from this course. Please note that submissions and writing exercises can be adapted to fit your needs.

It’s a Great Fit If…

• You’re a novelist or verse novelist of middle grade or young adult books looking to acquire comprehensive tools and guidance to help you craft your novel.
• You’re pre-published, or just starting out. This program will help get you on a path to completing your first draft. Please know that having some idea of your work in progress (and ideally some pages drafted) will give you the maximum benefit in this program.
• You’re a published novelist who wants to take your writing back to the bare bones. We all start at the beginning with each new project. This course can help you explore new and different ways of crafting your story.
• You’d like a high level of engagement with fellow writers and faculty so that you can explore new ideas.
• You work well in a hybrid-learning model with expectations of watching the pre-recorded lectures, and attending the LIVE writing exercises and discussions.

Do I need to have a novel in progress to take this course? Not at all! If you are in the planning/idea stages, you will still gain valuable insight from this course. Please note that submissions and writing exercises can be adapted to fit your needs.

Tentative Agenda

Pre-Workshop

• At registration: you will submit a brief survey of your goals for the course.
• Suggested reading list to come.
• On May 2: you will be invited to join the virtual classroom where you will find the Highlights Foundation Community Standards, your course syllabus, a welcome video from Linda Epstein, and submission instructions.
• Between May 2 – May 9: 5-page submission from the opening chapter of your novel is due (for first 1:1 meeting with Linda)

All Times are Eastern Standard Time.  Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.

How It Impacts Kids

The story only you can tell can make a big impact on a child or young adult’s life. This workshop helps you take steps toward shaping it into the best novel it can be.

Testimonials from Our Community

“I learned a lot about character development. The course was organized well. Incredibly helpful!”

“Linda was generous, as well as setting clear boundaries. She expressed her intent for the workshop and had clearly been very thoughtful and deliberate in her design. She was warm, funny, inclusive and prepared. Really excellent.”

“Linda Epstein was fabulous. She really created an inclusive and warm atmosphere, while always also focusing on professionalism. She is eloquent and insightful and open minded.”

Resources

• 3 Questions With Author, Editor and Agent Linda Epstein About Shape Your Story
• #HFGather: Sarah Aronson and Linda Epstein Talk Feedback and Process
• Mining Our Personal Fascinations for Story Material
• Linda Epstein: Identity as Fairy Dust
• Chris Tebbetts: using Visual Outlining with Your Novel Draft
• Podcast: An Na and Lilliam Rivera on Writing Novels