Young Adult Novel Writing

Write your YA book with the help of an agent

WHEN Mondays, September 9 - November 25, 6:45-9:45 pm ET - Full Schedule

WHERE Mediabistro offices, New York, NY

PRICE
$675 (or $650 for AvantGuild members - details)

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ALSO STARTS: Online - 7/25/2013

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Details

We live in the golden age of young adult literature, with young people buying books at the fastest rate in decades. Think Hunger Games, Twilight, or Harry Potter. YA novels are now respected as important money-makers at publishing houses, and they win honors such as the Printz, Newbery, and National Book Awards.

The goal of this class is to finish your YA or middle grade novel in 12 weeks.

In this class, you will learn:

How to write a proposal that doesn't end up in the slush pile
What topics are teen cliches, and how to stay away from them
Whether or not you need an agent and, if so, how to get one
How to write for teens without being condescending
How to evaluate your story arc for a teen audience

By the end of class, you will have:
A complete first draft of your YA or middle grade novel.

Students who have taken this class have published with:
Simon & Schuster, Razorbill, Viking, Random House, Simon Pulse, and Grosset & Dunlap, and sold 4-book deals to Penguin and 2-book deals to HarperCollins.

Course Syllabus

Young Adult Novel Writing (PDF)

View a sample syllabus for the class here.

Instructor

Kate McKean is an agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. Her list focuses on fiction for both adults and teens as well as practical and narrative nonfiction, especially craft and humor. Her recent sales include a 3-book paranormal romance series by debut author Delilah S. Dawson, Lucas Klaus' YA novel Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse, and UNSTUCK: 52 Ways to Get (and Keep) Your Creativity Flowing by Noah Scalin.

Kate is an adjunct professor at New York University and has taught fiction writing workshops for Slice Literary Magazine and English courses for the University of Southern Mississippi. She earned her Master's degree in Fiction Writing at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Kate McKean's Courses
Young Adult Novel Writing – New York (Starts September 9)

Testimonials

This class is a great place to get feedback about new work or work-in-progress. Kate fostered a creative environment with solid one-on-one feedback on my work. The class gave me the tools to finish my manuscript and take it to the next level. -- Samantha Rowan

"Kate is terrific! She brings a great combination of business savvy and artistic skill to the class. She's smart, funny, and draws the best out of her students. I'm so happy I took the course!" -- Jessica Balun