Course: Writing Magical Middle Grade Novels with Hillary and Mira

Join award-winning authors Hillary Homzie and Mira Reisberg for an inspiring course that has jumpstarted countless kidlit careers! Whether you're crafting: 

• Realistic or historical fiction
• Science fiction or fantasy
• Mystery or adventure
• Humorous tales or heartfelt stories
• Or even middle grade nonfiction

This course offers clear, step-by-step guidance, insider tips, proven techniques, and a touch of magic to help you write a compelling, market-ready middle grade novel. Let’s turn your big ideas into unforgettable books!

COURSE SYLLABUS:

• WEEK 1
  Concept Development, and 'What makes Middle Grade Novels Middle Grade?'
  Finding Ideas and Getting Started
  Slice of Life, Thriller, Adventure, Speculative
  Horror, and Short Story - Episodic Fiction
  Mystery and Non-Fiction
  Illustrating Middle Grade Novels
  Week 1 Book List
• WEEK 2
  Creating Awesome Characters
  Discover Your Voice and Your Characters' Voices
  There's No Place Like Setting
  Creating Dynamic Dialogue
  Dialogue Tags
  Pen & Ink Illustration Techniques
• WEEK 3
  Structure, Structure, Structure!
  Revise Your Hooky Beginnings
  Solving the Muddle in the Middle
  Creating Satisfying Endings
  Overall Structure
  Illustration Session: Cut Paper & Scratchboard
• WEEK 4
  Language That Editors Love! (A.K.A. Vivid Writing)
  Revision & Self Editing
  Pitches & Log Lines & Query Letters
  Synopsis
  Contracts
  Middle Grade Book Covers (Illustration)
• WEEK 5
  Time Management
  Interview with Heidi Schulz
  Interview with Michael Buckley
  Non Fiction: Interview with Patricia Newman
  Interviews with Leila Monaghan & Sean McCarthy
• WEEK 6
  Interviews: Naheed Hasnat (N.H. Senzai) and Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
  Interviews: Victoria Wells Arms & Emma Sector
  Interviews: Phoebe Yeh & Meg Medina
  Interviews: Veronica Schneider & Natasha Yim
  Interviews: Andrea Davis Pinkney and Lisa Brown
  Jim Averbeck & Alma Flor Ada