Middle Grade with editor Catherine Laudone (Opening Pages) Winter 2026

<p>You may take one middle grade workshop per season. Winter season includes workshops with 'Winter' in the title. If there is space in a workshop 1 month prior to it starting, you may register for a second workshop.<br></p>

Submissions: <p>There will be one submission of your first 3750 words of prose, or 2500 words of verse (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: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">Changes and Withdrawals Policy:&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Members: $150; Non-members: $175

About Catherine Laudone

Catherine is a senior editor at Beach Lane Books / Simon & Schuster. She acquires and edits picture books and middle grade titles featuring underrepresented voices with a special focus on stories with neurodivergent and disabled main characters. Across the board, she loves stories about intergenerational relationships, family, friendship, community, identity, and the joy and wonder of being a child. Catherine is also a published author. Her picture book debut She Kept Dancing: The True Story of a Professional Dancer with a Limb Difference tells the story of coauthor Sydney Mesher, the first Radio City Rockette with a limb difference. She Kept Dancing is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and a 2025 Towner Award nominee. Catherine has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.  When not editing or writing, she enjoys baking, traveling, and playing with her cat Biscotti. To learn more, follow her on Instagram (@catherinelaudone) and visit www.catherinelaudone.com.