Spring One-Day Seminar--Writing For Young Readers--March 30, 2013

Interested in writing for young readers? Children's, Middle Grade, Young Adult books? If so, our one-day seminar on writing for young readers may be just what you need to get started... or take the next steps with your current project.

This seminar will be held Saturday, March 30, 2013, at Antioch University Midwest (900 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs, OH). The total cost is $150.00 ($75 of this is a nonrefundable registration fee), which covers instruction as well as continental breakfast and box lunch.

The seminar will focus on writing craft, tips, and techniques for writing for young readers. Participants do not need to have writing experience; however, participants who have begun or completed work for young readers will also benefit from this seminar and learn techniques that will help them improve, revise or complete their work-in-progress. Participants will learn from all instructors during opening and closing panels, but will also choose ONE track and focus on learning with one track leader:

--Children’s (chapter books)—led by Andrea Cheng (The Year of the Book). This track is for writers who are interested in learning about writing for readers of chapter books (readers approximately aged 7-9 years old.)

--Middle grade—led by Katrina Kittle (Reasons to be Happy). This track is for writers who are interested in learning about writing for Middle Grade readers (approximately aged 10-14 years old.)

--Young Adult--led by Kristina McBride (One Moment). This track is for writers who are interested in learning about writing for Young Adult readers (approximately aged 14-17 years old.)

Instructor Bios

Andrea Cheng grew up as the child of Hungarian immigrants in Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduating with a BA in English from Cornell University, she went to Switzerland, where she apprenticed to a bookbinder, attended a school of bookbinding called The Centro del Bel Libro, and learned French. Upon her return, she went back to Cornell to study Chinese and earned her MS in linguistics. Now she teaches English as a Second Language at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and writes children’s books including Grandfather Counts, Marika, The Key Collection, Honeysuckle House, Where the Steps Were, The Bear Makers, and Brushing Mom’s Hair.

Katrina Kittle attended Ohio University as an undergraduate and later earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University in Louisville. She taught high school and middle school English and theatre for eleven years and She has also worked as a house cleaner, a veterinary assistant, a children’s theatre director, a costumer, and as case management support for the AIDS Resource Center (formerly AIDS Foundation Miami Valley). Katrina is the author of award-winning books for adults: Traveling Light, Two Truths and a Lie, The Kindness of Strangers, and The Blessings of the Animals. Katrina’s first "tween" (Middle Grade) novel, Reasons to Be Happy, was published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky in October 2011.

Kristina McBride attended Wright State University and was a high school English teacher and year book adviser before turning to writing full time. Her debut Young Adult novel, The Tension of Opposites was published by Edgmont in 2010 and her next Young Adult novel, also published by Edgmont, One Moment released in June 2012.

SCHEDULE

--8:15-9:00 a.m.--Check in and light continental breakfast

--9:00-10:00 a.m--Panel by Andrea, Katrina, and Kristina: "Mythbusting Children's Literature"

--10:15-11:30 a.m.--Breakout Sessions*: "Developing Characters*"

--11:30-12:30--Boxed Lunches (provided)

--12:30-1:45--Breakout Sessions*: "Setting and World Building"

--2:00-3:15--Breakout Sessions*: "Plotting"

--3:30-4:45--Breakout Sessions*: "Publishing and Pitching Tips"

--5:00-6:00--Final Q&A Panel with Andrea, Katrina, and Kristina, followed by book signing and reception with light refreshments.

4:30-6:00--Panel by Andrea Cheng, Katrina Kittle, and Kristina McBride: Q&A with all attendees, followed by book signing and reception with light refreshments.

*Each instructor will discuss the breakout session topic as it pertains to the specific reading age-group—Cheng focusing on Chapter Books, Kittle on Middle Grade, McBride on Young Adult. You may stay with one instructor for all break-out sessions, or switch among instructors.

REGISTRATION FORM--click here and complete online:

If you would like to receive a printed Registration Form, email info@antiochwritersworkshop.com and put Spring 2013 Registration Request in your subject line. Be sure to include your name and address in your email.