Middle Grade Fiction First Pages with Amy Fitzgerald
September 16th, 2024 - October 14th, 2024
with Emily M. Bailey
You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Amy 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 Amy 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.
<p>You may take one middle grade workshop per season. Fall season includes workshops beginning Aug 15 - Dec 31st, 2024. If there is space in a workshop 1 month prior to it starting, you may register for a second workshop.<br></p>
Notes
Who this workshop is for: <p>This workshop is for agented writers and advanced writers who are querying and getting requests for their fulls. No first drafts please.<br></p>
Focus: Children's - Middle Grade - Contemporary fiction - Children'…
Group size: 7 writers
Submissions: <p>There will be one submission of your first 3750 words of prose (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 $20 change fee.</li><li>Under 2 months to 14 days ahead of a workshop start: If we are able to replace you, you will be credited for the full workshop price less a $20 change fee. If we can't replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop cost. </li><li>Withdrawals within 14 days of a workshop start: If we can replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop price. If we cannot replace you, you will not receive a credit. Your fee will go towards our workshops and scholarships. </li></ul>
Fee
Members: $120; Non-members: $145
About Emily M. Bailey
Amy Fitzgerald is an editorial director of Carolrhoda Books/Lab at Lerner Publishing Group, where she acquires and edits the middle grade and YA novel list. She’s particularly looking for contemporary and historical fiction grounded in the real world (though a pinch of magic is often welcome). She loves stories that tackle the challenges, questions, and messes that kids face as they grow up. Her favorite stories address meaty themes in honest yet empowering ways. A 2022 PW Star Watch finalist, she lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.