Writing Retreat for Jewish Kidlit Authors

TYPE & LENGTH:

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PARTICIPANT CAP:

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WHY THIS WORKSHOP?

Enjoy a loosely structured three-day winter writing retreat for Jewish authors writing for children and teens. Have an inclusive space to work on your middle grade or young adult novel, or picture books. Dig into your work-in-progress surrounded by others who are doing the same–your writing time for the weekend is your own. Gather together with others at meals to chat and share.

At this retreat you can expect to:

• Be in community with other Jewish writers
• Work on a self-directed project
• Gather for discussions during Lunch and Learning
• Share about your progress and process during Dinner and Dishing
• Have an opportunity to read aloud from your own work at the Schmooze and Share Open Readings (< 500 words or less)

Kosher meals can be ordered for those who request it during registration.

IT’S A GREAT FIT IF:

• You identify as Jewish and write for children (middle grade, young adult, and picture books) you are welcome to attend, regardless of whether your work might be considered “Jewish” or not.
• You think you’re not Jewish enough for this, you are Jewish enough.
• You think you’re too Jewish for this, you aren’t too Jewish.
• You are not yet published. You do not need to be a published author to attend this retreat.

TENTATIVE AGENDA:

• Each day we’ll gather for Lunch and Learning, where we’ll chat about general topics of interest to Jewish writers while we eat lunch.
• During our evening meal we’ll do some Dinner and Dishing, when we will share how our writing is going, what challenges are coming up, and the breakthroughs we’re having.
• Our evening activities, if you care to partake, will be a nice Schmooze & Share when we’ll all have the opportunity to read aloud from our work. Beer, wine, and soda are available and you can BYOB anything else you might want to drink.

HOW IT IMPACTS KIDS:

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HIGHLIGHTS FOUNDATION RESOURCES AND FAQS FOR WORKSHOPS:

• Why do we mention how workshops impact kids? Learn about the Highlights Foundation mission.
• COVID Reschedule/Refund Policy
  What’s the difference between Highlights Foundation workshop types?
• Trying to figure out how this course fits into your schedule? Read some ideas about planning for the right level of commitment.
• A note about workshop agendas and how they change and evolve.
• Nervous about critiques? See how the Highlights Foundation approaches the process here.

RELATED RESOURCES:

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FROM OUR COMMUNITY:

“This retreat was both a chance to spend hours alone, diving deep into my manuscript, and an opportunity for long conversations — both serious and silly — with other kidlit writers who share the varied experience of being Jewish.”