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Young Adult Novel Writing

Draft your novel in 3 months!

Course is closed.
Young Adult Novel Writing

WHEN 12 weeks, Tuesdays, August 5 - October 28, 6:45-9:45 pm

WHERE New York (Soho and Downtown)

LEVEL Intermediate/Advanced

PRICE
$610 ($575 for )
more info

Course Details

Did Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret change your life? Have you come to blows at parties over who's better, Phillip Pullman or J.K. Rowling? Can you relate to preadolescents and teens on their own levels, without being patronizing? If so, you might be the next Judy Blume; all you need is the discipline and encouragement to draft that masterpiece.

We are living in the golden age of children's literature, with young people buying books at the fastest rate in decades. YA and middle grade novels are now respected as important money-makers at publishing houses, and they win honors such as the Printz, Newbery, and National Book Awards. Why not try your hand at this rewarding field?

The goal of this class is to finish a draft of your YA or middle grade novel in 12 weeks. Weekly word count deadlines and in class writing exercises will help push you toward your goal, and optional readings will address matters of craft. All critique is intended to support your creative process. The class concludes with a discussion of the business aspects of the industry, and a big party at which we all toast our manuscripts.

In this class, you will learn:

  • How to write a teen novel 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 get the clips (yes, you need clips!) to prove your skill to editors
  • How to write for teens without condescending (they can smell patronizing a mile away!)

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

Admission requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history) and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).

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Instructor Bio

Sarah Deming's Courses

Young Adult Novel Writing – (Class starts October 14)

Sarah Deming
Sarah Deming's first young adult novel, Iris Messenger, was called "a smart, funny, well written kids' novel.. With Greek Gods in it, yet!" by Daniel Pinkwater. Her second YA novel, Monsters Anonymous, is about a support group for monsters. Sarah also writes adult fiction and essays; her essay Sex Ed was anthologized by Seal Press, and other essays have appeared on seriouseats.com, ducts.org, and Common Ties. Prior to becoming a writer, Sarah was a NYC Golden Gloves boxing champion, a pastry chef, and yoga teacher. She has a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Brown University.

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