NOVEMBER Middle Grade and Young Adult Opportunities

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Welcome to the MG/YA Opportunities post! Find all of the monthly opportunities on the MG/YA support page! All opportunities are available to anyone with an internet connection.

To view upcoming monthly and recurring opportunities, visit the MG/YA SUPPORT resource page.

Hey writers,

This month, I invite you to:

  1. Pick one resource or opportunity. Think about what you’re working on right now and pick something that will help you make progress with that work!
  2. Share which resources you utilized in the past month in the comments. Let’s share terrific resources. The kidlit writing community consistently lifts each other up, and this blog can be another space for just that.

Will you join me on this journey?

NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS

NaNoWriMo (free) Take on this creative writing challenge to write a novel (50,000 word first draft). Receive support in the form of articles, join writing groups (online or in person), and inspiration from published authors. November 1 – November30, 2023.

The Caledonia Novel Award ($) An international award for unpublished and self-published novelists for adult and YA novels of at least 50,000 words. Entries May 1st- November 1, 2023.

SCBWI Virtual Events ($)

  • SCBWI Canada East: Making Graphic Novels – This 2-part workshop is aimed at both writers and illustrators. In part 1, author/illustrator, Katherine Battersby, will present a 3-hour intensive workshop focusing on the craft of creating books for young people; specifically the complex but exciting world of making graphic novels. In part 2: Katherine’s editor, Karen Wojtyla, from Margaret K. McElderry, joins us for the final hour of the afternoon. In this workshop, we’ll discuss how art and craft meet business when publishing books for children. November 18, 2023
  • SCBWI San Diego: Out of the Box – Pitches, Queries, and Tips from an Editor- This workshop is designed with the intention to cultivate a safe space where creators feel seen, heard, and encouraged to look at their work in a new way. Editor Esther Cajahuaringa (Alfred A. Knopf Books For Young Readers) will discuss craft, persistence, and shaping your stories, and will look at examples of pitches and queries. November 18, 2023
  • SCBWI San Diego: Spoiler Alert! Writing the Full Synopsis – A synopsis can be more difficult to write than the novel itself. What information do you include? What do you leave out? In this intensive workshop with Agent Sera Rivers (Speilberg Literary), you’ll learn tips to help you write a full synopsis that is clear, concise, and compelling. November 18, 2023

THE LOFT ($) The LOFT LITERARY CENTER offers a variety of courses each month, but not all are specifically for kidlit writers.

  • “Say What?” Writing Dialogue that Speaks to the Reader– We talk every day. So why is writing dialogue so difficult? Dialogue serves many purposes in fiction: It reveals conflict and creates tension. It advances the storyline. It develops characters and must accurately represent the novel’s time and place. It must sound natural, but not too natural. Dialogue is important for what’s said—and what isn’t said. Those words between the quotation marks are the workhorses of your stories. In this class, you’ll learn how to make characters speak so the reader listens. We’ll examine both the mechanics of dialogue—tags, dialect, speech patterns—as well how it serves your story. October 30, 2023 – November 27, 2023
  • Does Your Novel Have a Soggy Middle? So much attention is given to the beginning of a book and its role of drawing the reader into a story. But what is the role of the middle? What does it mean when people say the book had a ‘soggy’ middle, or worse, that a reader didn’t finish it? This generative writing class will not only expose you to good middles in longform storytelling, but will guide you through writing exercises to reevaluate and re-see your own work. Students will have the chance to submit a draft synopsis of their novel for peer and instructor feedback specific to the middle of their work, and how it works with the greater whole, and resubmit a revision at the end of the class. November 1, 2023 – December 13, 2023
  • Compelling Character Creation for Every Genre– What makes a “compelling character”? Why do some characters leap off the page while others fail to hold our interest? In this class, we’ll explore tools, exercises, and organization tactics for creating, fleshing out, and writing as our favorite characters, accompanying an original character of our own through six weeks of “character camp”. November 1, 2023 – December 13, 2023
  • Writing an Irresistible Nonfiction Book Proposal– We will cover the golden rules of writing the perfect book proposal and unpack what’s needed to write something enticing and salable. The goal? To get paid to write your book. By the end of this class, you’ll have the tools to craft a finished proposal, plus tips on getting the best possible agent and deal for your book. November 1, 2023 – November 29, 2023
  • First-Person & the Hidden I: A Revision Class & Workshop for Fiction Writing– Whether in conventional narratives or autofiction, a first-person narrator activates all kinds of questions in the reader’s mind about reliability, authority, and the nature of the story’s central questions. Does the writer choose an “I” (or “we”) as a mere steward of the narrative, or to raise bigger questions about what it means to narrate? And either way, how do we keep the “I” from feeling flat, intrusive, or distracting from the fictive dream? November 1, 2023 – November 29, 2023
  • A Khaleesi by Any Other Name: Making Constructed Languages for Fictional Worlds– Over the class’s four sessions students will develop a broad understanding of how conlangs fit into fictional contexts as well as be made aware of the freely accessible resources so that they can start making their own conlangs. We won’t workshop in this class but we will dedicate the last class to developing, presenting, and discussing each student’s “plan” for their own conlangs. By the end of the class will not only have a deeper understanding of conlangs, but of the nuances and vagaries of English itself, and will be apply these lessons in developing skills as prose stylists, as well as professional worldbuilders. November 7, 2023 – December 5, 2023

The Writer’s Loft ($)

THE WRITING BARN COURSES ($)

REGISTER IN NOVEMBER, HAPPENING LATER:

  • The Fab Five: Writing With the Senses– We live on the leash of our senses.—Diane Ackerman Powerful writing stimulates the senses, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the scene the writer has created. Infusing our pages with imagery evoking scent, touch, taste, hearing, and sight leads to a multi-dimensional experience that stays with us. In this workshop, we’ll use creative prompts to spend time with each of our senses, employing them as inspiration for juicy, textured writing. In addition to the five senses we know best, we’ll learn about and engage in writing inspired by other senses, such as proprioception and interoception. December 2, 2023
  • You’ve Finished Your Book, Now What?– The publishing process can be confusing and intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Each published writer goes through the same process; somewhere along the way, they just asked for help. That’s what this class aims to do: help you take the next step with your manuscript with confidence. December 9, 2023
  • Industry Agent Webinar: A Q&A with DG&B Agents Sharon Pelletier and Kendall Berdinsky– Please join us for another amazing Writing Barn Industry Agent Webinar. In this 90 minute Q+A with DG&B agents Sharon Pelletier and Kendall Berdinsky, you will get the inside scoop on your burning industry questions. Whether you’re in the process of querying agents, or just curious at the state of the industry, you will glean tons of insights and takeaways from these celebrated agents. After a moderated Q+A we will open the virtual floor up to your own questions so no stone is left unturned.As a bonus both agents have generously agreed to open up submissions for a brief window of time after the event. December 8, 2023
  • SCBWI Pennsylvania West: How to do an Interview, featuring Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan – Are you writing a biography? Do you need to interview a subject matter expert for your article, story, or book? Author Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan will share with you tips and techniques on how to request and conduct an interview. In this webinar, she’ll help you brainstorm on how to connect with interview subjects, offer tips on how to prepare for the interview, suggestions for the actual interview, and answer your questions about following up after the interview. December 11, 2023

Does your local writing organization, SCBWI region, etc. host virtual events that are available to anyone with an internet connection? Would you like them listed here?  Please share the info in the comments, or use our Contact Form.

Months of a Year Banner Illustrations by Lexi Donahue
Featured Image Line Art by Valenty, Can Stock Photos

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  1. Pingback: November Picture Book Opportunities – WRITERS' RUMPUS

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