YA with agent Eric Smith (Opening Pages) Winter 2026

February 4th, 2026 - March 6th, 2026

with Eric Smith

Not open yet

Member registration opens November 3rd at 09:00 (EST).
Non-member registration opens January 4th at 09:00 (EST).

You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Eric will submit his 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 Eric 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 especially geared to the writer who is querying or getting ready to query.</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). 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>No graphic novel scripts in this workshop.</p>

Fee

Members: $150; Non-members: $175

About Eric Smith

Eric Smith is an award-winning Young Adult author and literary agent
living in Philadelphia. He’s worked with New York Times bestselling and
critically acclaimed authors across genres and categories.

In
his author life, his latest book, With or Without You, published with
HarperCollins / Inkyard Press in November 2023, and was a Junior Library
Guild selection and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book’s 2025 Great
Reads from Great Places selection.

He is always looking for Middle Grade and Young Adult projects (fiction and non-fiction), adult genre-blending upmarket and literary fiction, accessible sci-fi and fantasy, high concept rom-coms, and memoir, essays, and wellness titles in the non-fiction space.

Schedule:

  • Wed, Feb 4th - Submissions due
  • Wed, Feb 25th - Critiques due
  • Wed, March 4th, 12-2 pm ET- debrief call on Zoom 
  • Fri, March 6th - Group closes