Workshops

Kids’ Book Revision Retreat 2013 | August 12 – August 17, 2013

Retreat Focus
In this working retreat, Harold Underdown, longtime editor and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books, and editor Eileen Robinson of f1rstpages.com and the recently launched Move Books, who jointly run kidsbookrevisions.com, will teach proven techniques for self-editing and revising and work with writers on their manuscripts. Mornings will be dedicated to revision techniques and afternoons to model critique groups, individual meetings, and writing time.

Participants will:

• learn about reader-response theory and how to use it to gain insights into a manuscript;
• explore ways to gain objectivity and more focused responses to manuscripts;
• try out a variety of techniques for self-editing, from big-picture revision down to copy-editing;
• work together in a model critique group, formed at the retreat from students with similar interests, to critique one another’s manuscripts;
• learn how to manage critique group dynamics to make them more productive;
• discover creative techniques, such as improvising new scenes or episodes as part of the revision process;
• take part in group discussions and share favorite techniques; and
• meet with an editor for individual consultations.

Writers with completed picture-book, nonfiction, or novel manuscripts may apply. Please send a sample of no more than 15 pages when you apply, accompanied by a synopsis for longer manuscripts. Six weeks before the retreat, writers will be asked to send up to 100 pages of their manuscript to enable Eileen and Harold to prepare their initial comments.

Faculty & Special Guests

Harold Underdown

Eileen Robinson

Stacy Whitman

Mary Colgan