Middle Grade Fiction First Pages, with Emily Settle

June 24th, 2022 - July 22nd, 2022

with Emily Settle

Group started

Full - Please email support@inkedvoice.com for waitlist.

In this intimate workshop, you'll receive a written critique of your opening 15 pages (3750 words) from Associate Editor, Emily Settle at Macmillan Children's, plus get the opportunity to speak to Emily individually in the live group call that follows critiques. You'll also exchange critiques within your group of up to 7 writers. 

How it works

You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Emily 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 Emily 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.

Notes

Who this workshop is for: This workshop is best suited for agented writers and writers who are querying or preparing to do so.

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 spot free of charge to a writer from a historically marginalized group. Applications for this scholarship have closed.

About Emily Settle

Emily Settle (she/her) is an associate editor for Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. Born and raised in downstate New York, she studied journalism at Lehigh University and later earned an M.S. in Publishing from Pace University. When she's not reading or taking yet another picture of her calico cat, you can find her at the archery range attempting to be Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn.

Critique Style
I believe the editing process should be a conversation between author and editor. I'm not here to dictate how you should write your story—I just want to help you find any potential weaknesses and then help come up with solutions for making your book as strong as possible. I like to think of myself as the author's copilot! Generally, I start with big-picture elements—character development, overall story arc, etc.—and gradually pare down with each draft. And as a lifelong millennial fangirl, I do love to include reaction emojis and gifs in my notes, so please consider yourself warned!

Schedule:

Fri, June 24th- Submissions due
Wed, July 13th - Critiques due
Mon, July 18th, 5-7 pm ET- Debrief call
Fri, July 22nd - Group officially closes