Middle Grade Fiction First Pages with Alyssa Eisner Henkin
June 1st, 2023 - June 26th, 2023
with Alyssa Eisner Henkin
You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Alyssa 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 Alyssa 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 writers who are querying or preparing to do so.
Focus: Children's - Middle Grade - Contemporary fiction - Children'…
Group size: 7 writers
Submissions: <p>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.</p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">Changes and Withdrawals Policy: </span></p><ul><li>2 months or more ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited the full amount of the workshop, less a $15 change fee.</li><li>Under 2 months to 15 days ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited for the full workshop cost less a $15 charge if we are able to replace you. If we can't replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop cost.</li><li>Withdrawals within 2 weeks of a workshop start will not be credited even if you are able to be replaced. Your payment will go towards our scholarship program. </li></ul>
Fee
Members: $115; Non-members: $137
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 Alyssa Eisner Henkin
Alyssa grew up outside of Philadelphia, PA, where her earliest years were spent reading and acting out classic children’s book series. After graduation from Penn and The Radcliffe Publishing Course, Alyssa landed her dream job in editorial at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. She proceeded to spend her twenties there learning the industry from the wisest of colleagues. In late 2006, she heeded her inner entrepreneur and became a literary agent. The next fourteen year at Trident Media Group were spent building a list of bestselling and award-winning kidlit authors.
In early 2021, Alyssa took the ultimate entrepreneurial leap and launched Birch Path Literary, named for the fabled thoroughfare in her beloved Anne of Green Gables. The agency provides a compass to guide authors and illustrator through the intricate, everchanging and ultimately verdant publishing landscape. Alyssa represents R.J. Palacio, Julie Berry, Ruth Behar, Lisa Greenwald, Jen Bryant and many other talented kidlit authors and illustrators. She is currently seeking more author-illustrator who marry wit and whimsy, more conversation-starting nonfiction, and more YA (and the occasional adult) romcom brimming with regional and ethnic flavors.