Co-Authoring a Novel: A Two-Night Mini on Writing Collaboration

August 15 - 17, 2022

  • $59.00 – Program Price

OVERVIEW:

A Two-Night Mini Online Course

Sharing the publishing journey can also be a gratifying experience, especially if it’s with someone whose artistic values align with yours. Join Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt, co-authors of the critically-acclaimed YA novel Does My Body Offend You?, to learn more about collaborative approaches to writing and publishing.

This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions offering limited interaction with the community, but loads of information.

  • Monday, August 15, 2022 (7pm – 8:15pm EST)
  • Wednesday, August 17, 2022 (7pm – 8:15pm EST)
  • Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the chat
  • Optional post-course critique opportunity available for an additional cost (details below)

Feedback Expected:

  • None included in the course. There will be limited interaction in the chat feature of the webinar-style program.
  • An optional, post-course critique opportunity is available for an additional cost of $100. This critique includes written feedback on your opening scene (up to 5 pages). Written feedback will be provided within 4 – 6 weeks of submission. Spots are limited to the first twenty writers who submit. Details will be released during the final night of the course for this optional paid critique.

WHY THIS WORKSHOP?

We’re often told writing is a solitary business.  But it doesn’t have to be!  Co-writing a book can create a story with rich layers and diverse perspectives.

Sharing the publishing journey can also be a gratifying experience, especially if it’s with someone whose artistic values align with yours.

Learn from Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt, critique-partners turned co-authors of the critically-acclaimed YA novel Does My Body Offend You?.  It sold in a two-book preempt deal to Penguin Random House.

Explore:

  • How to select an idea that lends itself to collaboration
  • How to set up workflow, expectations, and communication
  • Strategies for building a powerful collaborative structure and creating a world guide
  • How to critique, deliver, and receive feedback from and with your collaborator
  • The co-author agreement, agents, submissions, and book/film/tv contracts
  • And, most importantly, the secret to collaborative work: checking your ego at the door!

IT’S A GREAT FIT FOR:

  • Middle grade or young adult novelists who are interested in exploring how to collaborate on a novel (even if you don’t have a co-writer… yet).
  • Writers looking for inspiration. The foundations of working collaboratively lend themselves to all writing: idea generation, structure, and more.
  • You’re looking for something short, sweet, and smart! This is not a full workshop; it is two 75-minute sessions with limited engagement meant to explore successful ways to co-write a novel.

TENTATIVE AGENDA:

At registration: You will receive a Zoom link to use for each night of the course.

Part One: Monday, August 15, 2022 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)

  • Getting Started
    • Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt‘s journey
    • Selecting Ideas
    • Narrative structures to explore
    • Setting up workflow, expectations, and communication
  • Reflection: Your ideal writing partner (bring this to the next class)
  • Q & A

Part Two: Wednesday, August 17, 2022 (7pm-8:15pm EST)

  • Collaboration
    • Who? Selecting your partner.
    • How? The co-author agreement, agents, submissions, book/film/tv contracts, and more.
  • Q & A
  • Information about optional critiques

Optional, After-Course Critique: An optional, post-course critique opportunity is available for an additional cost of $100. This critique includes written feedback on your opening scene (up to 5 pages). Written feedback will be provided within 4 – 6 weeks of submission. Spots are limited to the first twenty writers who submit. Details will be released during the final night of the course for this optional paid critique.

Please note: 
If you’re unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through September 30, 2022.

The Highlights Foundation strives for a safe and inclusive environment. You will have access to our Community Standards prior to the workshop where we ask for your respectful engagement with fellow creatives, including our faculty and staff.

HOW IT IMPACTS KIDS:

Kids and teens deserve engaging stories. Collaborative books can create a story with rich layers and diverse perspectives.

RESOURCES:

Friends, Activists, and Now Co-Authors
Creative Collaboration: Making Art Together, with Trust & Respect
Fresh Voices: Marya Cuevas and Marie Marquardt
Marie Marquardt on grief, friendship and the power of stories in ‘Flight Season’
Mayra Cuevas’ website
Marie Marquardt’s website

Why do we mention this? Learn about the Highlights Foundation mission.

 

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