Latinx Writers: A Virtual Symposium 2020
With Alexandra Villasante, Mia García, Maika Moulite, Maritza Moulite, Emma Otheguy, NoNieqa Ramos, Mark Oshiro, Joanna Cárdenas, Nancy Mercado and Jennifer Rofé
September 15 - October 15, 2020
- $399.00 – Program Price
Online Symposium Info:
This virtual workshop, an entry in our “Essential Conversations” series, is an in-community intensive experience for Latinx writers.
Each week there will be:
- A LIVE Zoom session with lectures, panels, interviews and open Q&A’s.
- A pre-recorded lecture followed by craft exercises.
- A small group roundtable where writers will come together to share work and discuss.
What You’ll Learn and Experience:
During the symposium, you will:
- Take part in a broad forum on Latinx children’s and young adult literature. The symposium is designed to be an exchange of ideas between participants and faculty.
- Hear a series of faculty lectures, where faculty will speak both from their expertise in the world of writing and publishing for children and from their experience as Latinx book creators in the industry.
- Discuss the many diverse Latinx identities and the unique challenges in publishing.
- Be inspired by fellow Latinx creators.
- Discuss how to generate authentic characters, details, and connections.
- Take time to reflect, connect, and experiment.
- Explore the Latinx experience in children’s book writing and publishing.
- What stories do today’s children need from Latinx book creators and about Latinx people?
- What stories speak to our varied experiences?
- How can we diversify the existing body of Latinx children’s literature?
Join Us If:
- You are Latinx. This program is designed to be an exchange of ideas and a place to connect in community.
- You write picture books, middle grade novels or young adult novels. This program is open to all Latinx kidlit creatives regardless of genre or age you are creating for.
- You work in children’s publishing. This “Essential Conversations” course will be stronger with voices from all sides of Latinx publishing.
Preliminary Agenda
Note: Each week has two parts – part one is a pre-recorded session and part two is a live session.
In addition to the LIVE and pre-recorded lectures, there will be bonus material posted in the virtual classroom and discussion threads in the community forum.
Week 1: Identity
Tuesday, September 15:
Pre-recorded video, available by 9 am Eastern
- Opening keynote: Mark Oshiro, Identity & Story
- Writing Prompt #1 + Resources
Sunday, September 20:
LIVE Zoom session, 5pm Eastern
- Meet-and-greet
- Opening panel: The Intersectionality of Latinx Identity
Week 2: Craft
Tuesday, September 22:
Pre-recorded video, available by 9am Eastern
- Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite in Conversation
- Cafe Chat
- Writing Prompt #2 + Resources
Sunday, September 27:
LIVE Zoom session, 3pm Eastern (please note changed time.)
- Small Group Roundtable Celebration of Prompt #1 or #2: read aloud and discussion
- Faculty lecture
Week 3: Publishing & Marketing
Tuesday, September 29:
Pre-recorded video, available by 9am Eastern
- Interviews with agent Jennifer Rofé, and editors Joanna Cárdenas and Nancy Mercado
- Writing Prompt #3: Pitches, Queries, Synopses, and Marketing Plans
Sunday, October 4:
LIVE Zoom session, 5pm Eastern
- Small Group Roundtable discussions on queries, synopses, and more
- Path to Publishing: A discussion on the publishing industry, what happens before and after the book deal
Week 4: Mental Health/Self Care
Tuesday, October 6:
Pre-recorded video, available by 9am Eastern
- NoNieqa Ramos & Emma Otheguy on Mental Health through Publication Process
- How to Build Your Story Altar
- Writing prompt #4 + additional resources
Sunday, October 11:
LIVE Zoom sessions, 5 pm Eastern
- Guided mediation with NoNieqa Ramos
- A Deeper Conversation on Sustained Mental Health in Publishing
Week 5: Finale
Please note day-of-the-week and time changes for this week!
Thursday, October 15:
LIVE Zoom session, 7pm Eastern
- Open Mic
- Final Faculty Q & A
Friday, October 16:
Final content posted in the virtual classroom
There will be options for additional paid one-to-one critiques and business or marketing consultations following the one-month intensive.
Resources:
Las Musas are Latinx authors whose racial, ethnic, and cultural identities are as diverse as their writing. Meet them at http://lasmusasbooks.com.
Latinx in Kid Lit explores the world of Latinx YA, MG and children’s literature.
Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, a virtual celebration of Latinx KidLit authors, illustrators, and books.
TheLatinoAuthor.com provides a platform for Latino writers / Hispanic writers, Latino authors / Hispanic authors, and All readers to come together around the world.
The Latina Book Club website features interviews, book reviews, excerpts, book of the month, books of the year, and more.
Latinx in Publishing is a network of book professionals committed to supporting and increasing the number of Latino/a/x in the publishing industry, as well as promoting literature by, for, and about Latino/a/x people.
La Bloga, The world’s longest-established Chicana Chicano, Latina Latino literary blog.
About the Leader
Categories : Almost ready to submit, Career Building Blocks, Chapter Books and Early Readers, Creator Self-Care and Development, Essential Conversations, Expanding Careers or Genres, Fiction, Idea, Just Getting Started, Kidlit Professional, Nonfiction, Novels, Online, Picture Books, Poetry, Pre-Published Author or Illustrator, Published, Revising, Specialty or Other, Working on a draft