Welcome to the Whole Novel Workshop: A Virtual Course for Middle Grade and Young Adult Writers
May 7 - July 16, 2025
Online
- $2,199.00 – Program Price
OVERVIEW:
Welcome to this Multi-Month Online Course with a Full Novel Critique!
The Highlights Foundation Whole Novel Workshop offers you the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and a private consultation provided. This online program is for any writer of a middle grade or young adult novel.
Out of respect for others who are on the waitlist, we ask that you please complete this registration process within 2 weeks of being offered acceptance. Choose the payment option that works best for you and your budget, or contact us to set up a personalized payment plan.
KEY DATES:
- Live sessions Wednesdays 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern: May 7 – June 11, and July 9+16
- Lectures: May 7, May 14, May 21, May 28
- Peer to Peer Workshopping: June 4, June 11
- Final Presentations: July 9, July 16
- All lectures are recorded for those who cannot attend live.
- Complete manuscript submissions due between May 28 – June 5
- Feedback letters delivered to writers by July 16
- 60-minute, 1:1 Private Zoom Consultation: Scheduled at a mutually convenient time, July 16 – July 21
The cost of the full course (including live sessions, feedback letter, 1:1 consultation, workshopping, and writing exercises) is $2,199. Please note that once your submission has been turned into faculty you are subject to a $1,100 cancellation fee should you decide to leave the course for any reason. You will still receive your 1:1 feedback.
FEEDBACK EXPECTED:
- You will spend time with peers in small groups discussing and workshopping select writing assignments from the virtual classroom. You will be expected to read and engage with these short submissions. (Word count will be limited with ample time to read and prepare.) Submissions for peer groups due by May 28.
- You will be thoughtfully paired with a faculty reader who will offer written insights and questions about your drafted novel (up to 80,000 words), and help you prioritize goals. You will receive this written feedback along with a private consultation to discuss feedback and goals by July 16.
- You will have a 60-minute private consultation with your reader to discuss feedback, revisions, and next steps.
- Informal feedback will occur throughout the presentations.
Tentative Online Agenda
*Faculty may adjust the flow of lectures based on the needs of novelists in the course.
- By May 21 you will be invited into our virtual classroom where you can introduce yourself to fellow novelists, access the Zoom link for live sessions, and review related resources (including the Highlights Foundation’s community standards.)
- Presentations will be recorded. (Please note that 1:1 consultations and small group workshopping will not be recorded.)
(All times Eastern)
PART ONE: Craft Presentations
- Presentation One (May 7 at 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern): Timelines, Storyboards, & Back Outlining with Alisa Alering
- Presentation Two (May 14 at 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern): The Power of Language (First Page to Last) with Gloria Muñoz
- Presentation Three (May 21 at 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern): Crafting Multi-Dimensional Characters with Nikki Shannon Smith
- Presentation Four (May 28 at 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern): Who Tells the Story? Point of View with Lyn Miller-Lachmann
PART TWO: Submissions & Peer Groups, facilitated by the Highlights Foundation
- Whole Novel Submissions due May 28 – June 5
- First 15 pages for peer groups due May 28
Peer Group One (June 4 at 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern) Overview + 1 discussion
Peer Group Two (June 11 at 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern) 3 discussions
PART THREE: Revision, Feedback, and Q & A
- Presentation Five (July 9 at 7:30pm- 8:30pm Eastern) Revision & Preparing for your feedback letter & processing feedback with Ashley Hope Pérez
- Presentation Six (July 16 at 7:30pm- 8:30pm Eastern) Accountability, Setting Goals, and Making Progress Independently with Eric Bell
1:1 Consultation: Scheduled at a mutually convenient time between July 16 – 21 (60-minutes) via Zoom.
A note about workshop agendas and how they change and evolve.
COMMITMENT REQUIRED FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE:
In addition to the deadlines and presentations (see above) participants will be asked to reserve time to work on their novels, commit to small group discussions, and schedule one, 60-minute, 1:1 consultation with their faculty reader.
Aside from the 1:1 sessions and the small groups sessions, we will make every effort to record and post presentations in the virtual classroom within 24-hours from the end of their live session. You will have access to all recordings in the virtual classroom until August 31, 2025.
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:
Your novel can make a big impact on a child’s life. This workshop helps you take steps toward bringing it to market in a way that is authentic to your voice and your story, because that is just what your reader needs.
Why do we mention this? Learn about the Highlights Foundation mission.
TESTIMONIALS:
“The faculty was amazing! Each and every one willingly shared their knowledge and showed so much support to all of the workshop participants. They offered great suggestions to make our novels stronger and showed genuine care for our entire group. Fantastic experience!”
“The faculty were warm, inspiring, wise, encouraging, helpful, and funny. The workshops were as inspiring and as helpful as the presenters. I couldn’t have asked for more!”
“The faculty were awesome. I’ve been through an MFA program in creative writing, so I know top-notch writing instructors when I see them. Learned some very valuable things about my writing at Highlights.”