Middle Grade Fiction First Pages with Catherine Laudone
April 19th, 2023 - May 15th, 2023
with Catherine Laudone
You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Catherine 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 Catherine 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.
Notes
Who this workshop is for: This workshop is a high-level educational event, best suited to agented writers and advanced 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 up to 3750 words (prose) or 2500 words (verse novels and graphic novels) 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 Catherine Laudone
Catherine is an editor at Paula Wiseman Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. She has ten years of experience in editing children’s books and has her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Catherine is actively acquiring picture books and middle grade with a special focus on finding stories featuring underrepresented voices. She is especially passionate about stories featuring neurodivergent and disabled characters. For picture books, she is drawn to classic-feeling, character-driven stories with a commercial hook. She loves clever twist endings, fresh spins on timeless themes, and characters that make you laugh or cry. For nonfiction picture books, she looks for biographies featuring diverse role models and untold real-life legends, and narrative nonfiction that makes history and facts accessible to young readers. For middle grade, she is primarily looking for coming-of-age stories with distinct narrative voices and a high concept premise. She will consider some historical, light fantasy, and mysteries as well. She is also open to considering middle grade graphic novels with themes and illustration styles similar to Shannon Hale’s Real Friends series, Alexis Castellanos’ Isla to Island, and Maggie Edkins Willis’ Smaller Sister. When not editing or writing, she enjoys baking, crocheting, and drinking chocolate tea while watching Gilmore Girls reruns. Learn more at catherinelaudone.com or follow her on Twitter: @CatherineLaud.
Schedule:
- Wed, April 19th - Writers submit
- Mon, May 8th - Critiques due
- Thurs, May 11th, 7:30-9:30 pm ET - Debrief call
- Mon, May 15th - Group closes