Workshops

Writing for the Educational Market 2018 | June 24 – June 28, 2018

Would you like to have editors actually contacting you and asking you to write for them? Welcome to the educational market!

If the words “educational market” make you think of boring workbooks and textbooks, it’s time to think again! Today’s educational publishers are eager to see lively nonfiction, fast-paced fiction, poetry, and more. The rules for educational writing are different, but the end result is creative, exciting, and kid-pleasing.

Whether your interest is straight informational nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, fiction, or poetry, this workshop will help you find your niche in the educational market. We’ll demystify the concept of reading levels, and we’ll practice writing and editing to match assigned grade levels. We’ll learn how to rewrite in response to editor requests. We’ll look at making nonfiction interesting, finding an age-appropriate hook, finding quick but reliable research sources, and even working with photos. We’ll lead you through entry points, including writing single-title books, pitching a series, and writing test passages.

Join us for

• Market-specific information;
• Brainstorming techniques;
• Plenty of hands-on writing; and
• Practice at producing submissions packages.
• BONUS: Opportunities to interact with editors at educational publishing companies

Welcome to the educational market!

Faculty blog posts
Paula Morrow: Those Pesky Specs!
Paula Morrow: Thinking for Three
Jan Fields: Putting the Fun In
Jan Fields: Choose Your Own Writing Adventure
Julia Garstecki: Breaking Into the Educational Market

Sample schedule (from 2017)
Sunday
Evening
Appetizers & Dinner
After dinner: welcome and introductions

Monday
Morning
Breakfast
Part 1: All About Educational Nonfiction
Part 2: More Nonfiction: Steps to Success

Afternoon
Lunch
Meeting the Markets: Parts of Your Introductory Packet
Guest editor discussion
Building Resumes/Cover Letters

Evening
Appetizers & Dinner

Tuesday
Morning
Breakfast
Adding Humor to Fiction and Nonfiction
Responding to Editorial Feedback

Afternoon
Lunch
Guest editor discussion
Small Group Writing and Critiques
One-on-one Consultations

Evening
Appetizers & Dinner

Wednesday
Morning
Breakfast
Part 1: Educational Fiction
Part 2: More Fiction

Afternoon
Lunch
Poetry
Small Group Writing and Critiques
One-on-one consultations

Evening
Appetizers & Dinner

Thursday
Morning
Breakfast
Series Writing
Using Curriculum Standards
Networking, Money/Invoicing/Taxes, Open Q&A

Afternoon
Lunch & farewells

Faculty & Special Guests

Jan Fields

Paula Morrow

Karl Jones

Sandra K. Athans

Bridget O’Brien

"Great opportunity to hear from a variety of experts and specialists who had so much to offer including concrete support and contacts."

"Jan & Paula were the best. They were a great balance, both knowledgeable, approachable and obviously the best in the business."

"The perfect tag team! Infinitely qualified and approachable."

"Jan and Paula are wonderful speakers, teachers, mentors and fun to hang out with. I absolutely loved my time with them. I could not have asked for better speakers."

"This is a fantastic workshop. I came not knowing how the educational market works. And now I know exactly what to do to find work for hire, write book proposals, work for book packagers, etc."