YA & MG Novel in Verse Workshop with Ellen Goff
May 13th, 2024 - August 23rd, 2024
with Ellen Goff
A three month workshop for writers seeking story-level and line-level feedback on their Novel in Verse projects to take their work to the next level.
In this workshop, you will work with agent, Ellen Goff from HG Literary, and a small group of writers (up to 4 others) on the first 90 poems (90 pages) of your novels in process, over two rounds. The workshop includes written feedback from Ellen and your peers, live calls to debrief each round, and a group discussion board where Ellen will answer questions.
The workshop begins with an introductory group call to meet the other members and discuss workshop expectations. You will then submit the first 45 poems/pages of your project for feedback, plus a short synopsis (this is for your readers and will not be critiqued). You have four weeks to read and post your written critiques of participants work. Round 1 critiques are followed by a group debrief call where you can dig into questions about the notes and/or brainstorm with Ellen about revisions. You will then have four weeks in which to revise. Round 2 follows, where you will submit either your next 45 poems/pages, a revision of your first round pages, or a mixture of the two, for peer and professional feedback. The group concludes with a second debrief call.
What to expect from your written critiques: Ellen will provide a detailed critique on your pages addressing character development, plot and story development, pacing, and poetry at the line-level, to take your project to the next level.
*This workshop has a zero tolerance policy against racist, sexist, harassing, or otherwise offensive behavior. Writers who engage in this behavior against the instructor or fellow writers, or present material that promotes this behavior, will be removed from the workshop without a refund.
<p>Writers may register for one YA workshop per season. The spring season runs from April 15th - August 14th. If spaces are available one month prior to a workshop starting, writers will be able to register for a second workshop.</p>
Notes
Who this workshop is for: <p>This workshop welcomes writers working on YA & MG fiction stories in verse.</p><p>Writers are expected to be at an intermediate level of verse novel writing craft or above. Writers may have achieved this through self-study of books and exercises, or organized instruction such as classes, workshops, or webinars. Writers should be familiar with elements of craft such as characterization, plot, internal arc, pacing and poetic convensions, in order to offer craft-rooted feedback to their peers.<br></p>
Focus: Children's - Middle Grade - Verse Novel - Children's - Youn…
Group size: 5 writers
Submissions: <p>Your opening 90 poems/pages over 2 rounds of 45 poems/pages each.</p><p>Verse specifics:</p><p>-- No more than one poem per page.</p><div>-- No multiple columns on each page (i.e. one column of stanzas), unless it's pertinent to the structure of a certain scene (ie dialogue depicted as two columns). </div><div><br></div><div>-- 1.5 spaced stanzas. </div><div><br></div><div>-- regular 12 point font unless pertinent to the visuals of the NIV in that scene </div><div><br></div><div><br style=""></div><p><b>Changes and Withdrawals Policy: </b><br></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: $475; Non-members: $525
About Ellen Goff
Ellen (she/her) graduated from The University of Chicago with a BA in English, a minor in Cinema and Media Studies, and a focus in Creative Writing. She has worked everywhere from The White House under the Obama administration to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At HG Literary, her client list consists of authors writing for all age groups, from picture books to middle grade to young adult, in both fiction and nonfiction. She also represents illustrators, for kidlit and adult projects, as well as graphic novelists. In addition to building her own domestic list, she is the Foreign Rights Manager of the company’s Children’s & YA list. For picture books, Ellen is looking for author-illustrators, and projects that highlight the sparse and simple. She is interested in all genres and formats of middle grade and YA, especially anything spooky, graphic novels, novels-in-verse, and projects that allow her to travel vicariously when she can’t make it to the airport herself. Ellen might be convinced on a nonfiction project if it involves food. She has a soft spot for southern stories that remind her of her home state of Kentucky, and is a sucker for a darn good love story. Ellen runs an active writing workshop and critique group in the heart of New York City.
Schedule:
Round 1: Round 2: