Middle Grade Fiction First Pages, with Fiona Kenshole

June 6th, 2022 - July 1st, 2022

with Fiona Kenshole

Group started

In this intimate workshop, you'll receive a written critique of your opening 15 pages (3750 words) from literary agent Fiona Kenshole of Transatlantic agency plus get the opportunity to speak to Fiona individually in the live group call that follows critiques. You'll also exchange critiques within your group of up to 7 writers. 

Fiona is hungry for middle grade, especially funny stories, real children in magical worlds, and any kind of animal story. She's passionate about the natural world and saving the planet and looks for stories that chime with those beliefs, and she would especially love to find more native American writers. Yes please to a 21st century 101 Dalmatians or Charlotte’s Web. Black and Latinx environmentalists and crusaders would be terrific!

How it works

You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Fiona's will submit her notes near the critique deadline. After critiques are complete, we host a 2-hour group debrief, in which each writer gets 15 minutes of individual time with Allison to dig into feedback, brainstorm next steps, and discuss any writing questions. 

Our goal with these events is to help writers become stronger storytellers. That said, each opening pages event we offer also comes with a submission opportunity.

About the group workshop format

Participants should be sure they have at least 1 hour to give for critiquing each person's manuscript (plus reading time). Because this is a group of 7, this means you should have at least 6 hours available for your peers' stories.

This makes for an intense workload for the few weeks of peer critique. However, we've also found that this format accelerates learning because you are able to read a professional's feedback on each story you have read and critiqued, and you will listen to each one-on-one in the debrief. Many writers have told us that listening and learning from the professional's notes to others has been just as beneficial to their learning as the feedback on their own work.

We are pleased to offer a workshop spot free of charge to a writer of color or from a traditionally marginalized background.

Notes

Who this workshop is for: This workshop is best suited for writers querying, preparing to query, or who have an agent but are looking for a high level educational opportunity.

Focus: Children's - Middle Grade - Contemporary fiction - Children'…

Group size: 7 writers

Submissions: There will be one submission of your first 3750 words (approximately 15 pages) at the workshop start. Participants should also plan to share their pitch/short summary with their pages. Your pitch is not included in the word count and will not be critiqued.

Fee

Members: $105; Non-members: $127

We are pleased to offer a workshop spot free of charge to a writer of color or from a traditionally marginalized background. Applications for this scholarship have closed.

About Fiona Kenshole

Fiona Kenshole is a literary agent with the Transatlantic Agency, exclusively specializing in children’s books, from debuts to film deals. She is an accredited member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, representing picture books through to young adult. Fiona enjoys the editorial midwifery and career management part of being an agent, especially nurturing the creativity of her clients. She maintains close relationships with editors and publishers in New York, London, and Toronto, and film producers and agents in LA.

Fiona brings a lifetime of passion and experience of children's and YA books: She was still just a teen when she started working in a children’s bookshop. After graduating from Cambridge University she went on to spend 20 years as publishing director at Oxford University Press, Hodder (the UK arm of Little, Brown), and HarperCollins. Fiona has worked with major names and debut authors on both sides of the Atlantic: Her authors have won every major British children’s literary award and several have become million copy bestsellers. Fiona was nominated for “Editor of the Year” at the British Book Awards.

In 2004 she became Vice President of Development Acquisition at Laika Inc. and worked with directors, producers and screenwriters on three Oscar nominated films: THE BOXTROLLS, CORALINE and PARANORMAN.

She lives and works in Portland, Oregon, though her clients are scattered throughout the US and the rest of the world.

Schedule:

Mon, June 6th - Writers submit
Wed, June 22nd - Critiques due
Mon, June 27th, 5-7 pm ET - Debrief call
Fri, July 1st - Group officially closes