Member registration opens
June 18th at 08:00 (EDT).
Non-member registration opens
July 16th at 08:00 (EDT).
You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Kesia 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 Kesia 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 YA workshop per season. Fall season includes workshops beginning Aug 13th - Dec 31st 2025. If there is space in a workshop 1 month prior to it starting, you may register for a second workshop.<br></p>
Who this workshop is for: <p>This workshop is best suited to writers who are querying, preparing to query, or for agented writers who are looking for a high level educational event. <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>
Members: $135; Non-members: $158
Kesia Lupo joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2024 after 11 years working across the publishing industry. She started out as an editorial assistant at Pan Macmillan London in 2013, transitioning to children’s fiction in 2015 when she moved to Chicken House (a UK imprint of Scholastic), where she worked her way up from junior to senior editor. Here she acquired and edited bestselling, internationally successful and prize-winning fiction for middle-grade and YA readers. In 2023 she transitioned over to the US and agenting, working with the Bindery Agency before finding a home with DMLA.