Yearlong in Young Adult & Middle Grade Fiction
This class is open to those writing in any genre of fiction intended primarily for a younger audience. Through reading assignments, craft exercises, and workshopping your manuscript, you will polish the teen voice, pace your storylines, and write the engaging characters that readers of young adult and middle grade fiction have come to expect. Through both large and small group workshopping, you will join a cohort of writers helping one another develop their visions into manuscripts. Industry professionals specializing in YA fiction will visit the class.
Payment plans are available for this class. Please email education@hugohouse.org to get a payment plan started.
Guest speakers: Three guest speakers will be featured, including 1) a middle grade author, 2) a YA author, and 3) a literary agent
Syllabus: Available by request. Please email welcome@hugohouse.org.
No class dates: 11/29/2023, 12/6/2023, 12/20/2023, 12/27/2023, 1/3/2023, 2/21/2023, 4/10/2023
Registration dates:
August 7: Scholarship Donation Day
August 8: Member registration opens at 10:30 am
August 15: General registration opens at 10:30 am
August 21: Last day of Early Bird pricing
_______
CLASS FAQS WITH INSTRUCTOR KAREN FINNEYFROCK
Who is this class best suited for? How much writing experience do I need to take this class?
This class is open to all writers working on manuscripts intended for middle grade or young adult readers. I have had students in the class with completed drats and students starting with chapter one. It is useful to have an idea for your story before starting the class but not required. You will get the most benefit from the class if you generate at least 80 pages as we begin workshop in January.
What will I learn over the course of this yearlong?
You will learn or review the novel writing skills you need to complete your book: Concept, Genre, Story Structure, Voice, prose style & POV, Character, Conflict, Setting and Tone, Scene, Dialogue, Subtext & Tension, and Plot. You will learn what Kidlit readers, agents and editors are looking for. You will practice gripping your reader and increasing your tension as we work to make our books un-putdownable.
What's the balance of in-class generative writing, lecture, and workshop?
Lecture=30%, In-class generative writing=10%, Workshop=60%
How much time outside of class will I need for this class each week?
From October-December, all outside of class time will be for students to write their stories at their pace. Beginning with workshop in January, you will spend approximately three hours a week reading and commenting on work by other students.
How much feedback will I receive on my work, peer, or instructor?
You will get feedback in three forms: Big Group Workshop (two times, ten pages each time), Instructor Feedback (two editorial letters on big group submissions), and Small Group Workshop (more information feedback approximately 6-8 times.) In general, students get feedback on about 80 pages of work.
Who will we be reading?
Writers may include: Tracy Deonn, Tomi Adeyemi, Holly Black, Ruta Sepetys and Justina Ireland.
Karen Finneyfrock
Karen Finneyfrock is a poet and novelist. She is the author of two young adult novels: The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door and Starbird Murphy and the World Outside, both published by Viking Children’s Books. She is one of the editors of the anthology Courage: Daring Poems for Gutsy Girls, and the author of Ceremony for the Choking Ghost, both released on Write Bloody press. She is a former Writer-in Residence at Hugo House. Learn more on her website: http://www.karenfinneyfrock.com.
