CB/LMG with editor Jaime Gelman (Opening Pages) Winter 2026

February 11th, 2026 - March 13th, 2026

with Jaime Gelman

Not open yet

Member registration opens November 3rd at 09:00 (EST).
Non-member registration opens January 11th at 09:00 (EST).

You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Jaime 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 Jaime 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. 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>

Notes

Who this workshop is for: <p>This workshop is reserved for writers who are agented (for their children's writing) or those who are querying and receiving <b>multiple</b> <b>requests</b> for their fulls.<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, 2500 words of verse (approximately 15 pages), or graphic novel scripts (equivalent to 15 double-spaced Word 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>

Fee

Members: $150; Non-members: $175

About Jaime Gelman

Jaime is an Associate Editor at Little Bee Books, where she’s worked for
over 9 years on all things kids’ books, from board books, picture
books, and activity books to chapter books, middle grade, YA, and
graphic novels. In her free time, she reads copiously and plays ice
hockey. She studied English at Colgate University.

Schedule:

  • Wed, Feb 11th - Writers submit
  • Wed, March 4th - Critiques due
  • Wed, March 11th, 1-3 pm ET - Debrief call on Zoom
  • Fri, March 13th - Group closes