Are you ready to write your next book? Work one-to-one with a developmental editor in the self-paced Children’s Novel First Draft Workshop. ($399 USD)
In this workshop, you will write the first draft of your chapter book, middle grade, or YA novel without revising it and study comps. After you complete your first draft, make a story map (and revise it) so you can make sure you have the landmarks that readers expect to see in books like yours.
In our first mentor meeting, we will use the questions in this First Draft Mentor Meeting 1 Worksheet as a guide to discuss the goals for your book — and this workshop.
Q. Can I sign up now?
A. Yes. Enroll by October 10 for this self-paced workshop that ends on Friday, December 18 and the calendar app will send you the login instructions for the private workshop site with the lessons.
Children’s Novel FIRST DRAFT Workshop Syllabus
1. Story Basics
Begin writing your first draft and make a plan for this semester.
2. Genres and Comps
Keep writing and look for 3 comps.
3. Voice
Keep writing and check the voice in your 3 comps.
4. Classic Story Design
Keep writing and make a story map of your first comp.
5. Classic Conflicts
Keep writing and make a story map of your second comp.
6. Beginning, Middle, and End
Keep writing and make a story map of your third comp.
7. Theme
Make a story map of your completed first draft and figure out your theme.
8. Revision
Revise your story map.
Q. What happens when I finish my first draft?
A. You will use the story maps you made in the Children’s Novel First Draft Workshop to help you write your second draft in the Children’s Novel Second Draft Workshop.
Q. Can I start my second draft before January?
A. Yes, if you finish your first draft before the Dec 19-Jan 7 winter break, I can send you a Children’s Novel Second Draft Workshop calendar link so you can enroll and start right away.
Q. What happens in the Children’s Novel Second Draft Workshop?
A. You will send in the chapter(s) for EACH landmark after you complete them for a BIG Picture developmental edit call on Google Meet. Include ALL of the chapters that occur BEFORE the next landmark so we can discuss how you guide readers from landmark to landmark in this BIG Picture developmental editing call. (No line editing yet, it’s still too early.)
Landmarks:
1. Hook
2. Inciting incident
3. Plot point 1
4. Pinch 1
5. Midpoint
6. Pinch 2
7. Plot point 2
8. Climax
Q. What about the final draft?
A. The final draft is a full manuscript written line edit (5 cents a word) with a 60-minute call.
Q. Can I start with the line edit?
A. No. I’ve been working as developmental editor since 1999 and I get better results when we talk about your book as you write it. (See a list of my former students who have published books here.) You know your book best! My job is to help you develop your book so it tells the story that only YOU can tell.
Workshop meetings take place during my office hours: Tuesday – Friday 8:30-11:30am and 1-4pm (Pacific Time) and Saturday 9:00-11:30am and 1:30-4:00pm (Pacific Time). The calendar app will only show your time zone.
At the end of our first meeting, I will send you the “next meeting” calendar link so you can sign up for the times that work best for you.
If something comes up and you need to change your session time, just use the Reschedule button at the bottom of your confirmation email for that session. The calendar app will send both of us the new time and Google Meet link for that module.
TERMS: By enrolling, you agree to respect the copyright of this workshop and not distribute any materials to others. If you sign up for a workshop and need to cancel *before* you log in to the private workshop site, please be advised that I charge a $20 handling fee for cancellations. After you log in to the private workshop site, fees are NOT REFUNDABLE. If you are unable to meet at the time you selected, please click on the Reschedule button in the reminder email and choose another time. Thanks.
Click here to enroll in the Children’s Novel First Draft Workshop. ($399 USD)
Still have questions? Email asuen.edits at gmail dot com
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