2012 Novel Writing Retreat for Middle Grade & Young Adult Writers |

2012 Novel Writing Retreat

Friday, March 16, 2012 - Sunday, March 18, 2012

A working weekend for the serious writer of middle-grade and young adult books.

Registration now open!

PROGRAM

The Vermont Retreat is limited to 25 serious writers of middle-grade or young adult fiction. Each participant will choose between a critique track or a writing track. Critique track includes informal small critique groups where participants read and critique other members’ work. Critique track participants will receive a one-on-one critique with either Holly Black or Coe Booth. The writing track will give participants the stimulation of lectures, chunks of time to use for writing, and the opportunity to network. All participants are welcome to take part in scheduled sessions with the three presenters. Evenings will include a Q&A session and an open mike session.

For an additional cost, 13 participants from either track can put their first chapters (up to 10 pages) under the editorial microscope and have a critique with Alvina Ling. We fill these critique slots by the order we receive applications. Please don’t hesitate if you’re interested.

The fee includes accommodations (double occupancy) in the dorms at Vermont College for Friday and Saturday nights. Meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch will be prepared by the New England Culinary Institute.

Retreat Faculty

This year's retreat will feature faculty Coe Booth, Holly Black, and editor Alvina Ling.

Coe Booth teaches at Vermont College of Fine Arts, in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program. She is the author of two novels for young adults: Tyrell, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Kendra, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. The sequel to Tyrell will be released in 2011. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthologies This Is Push: New Stories from the Edge and Does This Book Make Me Look Fat? Coe received an MFA in creative writing from The New School in 2005. She lives in the Bronx, New York where she is currently working on her first novel for middle-grade readers. www.coebooth.com

Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Modern Faerie Tale series, The Good Neighbors graphic novel trilogy (with Ted Naifeh), and her new Curse Workers series, which begins with White Cat. She has been a finalist for the Mythopoeic Award, a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award. She currently lives in New England with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret door.

Alvina Ling is Editorial Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers where she has worked since 1999. She has also been a bookseller for Barnes and Noble, and interned at the Horn Book and in the children's room of the New York Public Library. She edits children's books for all ages, from picture books to young adult novels, with some nonfiction mixed in. Some of the books she has edited include Newbery Honor winner Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin; Caldecott Honor winner Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier; Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor; Eggs by Jerry Spinelli; Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Caldecott Award winner Ed Young; The Curious Garden by Peter Brown; The Candymakers by Wendy Mass; Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick; Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey; Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney; and North of Beautiful by Justina Chen. Alvina lives in Brooklyn, New York and enjoys running in Prospect Park and walking all over the city. She contributes to the children's book blog Blue Rose Girls at www.bluerosegirls.blogspot.com and Tweets from @planetalvina. She loves her job, and as children's books have played a large role in shaping her life, she now feels honored to play a role in creating them.

ENROLLMENT INFO

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis beginning November 1, 2011. You will be notified if you are included. Otherwise, your application and deposit will be returned. There is a waiting list in case of last minute cancellations.

The cost for the retreat is $450 which includes room and board on campus. To reserve your place for the Retreat, a deposit of $200 and your application are due by January 9, 2012. The balance of $250 is due by January 27, 2012.

Manuscripts for critique are due by January 27, 2012. Submissions should be a work-in-progress. Send up to 10 pages plus a synopsis. If you have a critique with Alvina, send your first chapter and synopsis. The first chapter should not exceed five pages.

Registration now open!