#HFGather
Free Online Sessions
#HFGathers are free online webinars for children’s writers, illustrators, and storytellers at any level. We’d love for you to join us in community. All are welcome. We also hold occasional online Ask Me Anything sessions, where you can ask questions about upcoming workshops.
To get topics and dates as they become available, sign up for email notifications.

Upcoming #HFGathers
Recordings of Past Sessions
When the COVID pandemic required everyone to stay home, we began #HFGather, a series of free online sessions to help us stay connected during that time. What we discovered is that we don’t need to be on campus to feel our community. As our #HFGather host Sarah Aronson says: “We know how to make community even when we can’t be together.”
Below are recordings from past sessions that you can browse and watch at your convenience.
#HFGather: Sarah Aronson and Susan Campbell Bartoletti: Story is the Boss
On this week's #HFGather, host Sarah Aronson talked with Susan Campbell Bartoletti and surprise guest editor Jill Davis! Susan and Jill talked about creating their new book, How Women Won the Vote: Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Their Big Idea. Many nonfiction gems were...
A New Way to Meet Your Character: a #HFGather Meditation
This morning's #MondayMeditation with Laurie Calkhoven introduced a different way to meet your character, and touched on how important a character's name is. As always, she started with a meditation, then gave a writing prompt followed by a Q&A. Thanks, Laurie! If...
#HFGather: Mitali Perkins and Sarah Aronson on Art, Creativity and Vulnerability
We were thrilled to have Mitali Perkins join host Sarah Aronson for a writer chat today! They began by talking about process vs. product, and went on to do a Q&A and to share some inspiring thoughts: Art can really serve people who are suffering Art matters even...
#HFGather: Sarah Aronson and Erin Entrada Kelly Talk Character and Process
Host Sarah Aronson and Erin Entrada Kelly had a lively conversation on today's #HFGather, talking about process and character: The importance of having just the right notebook Questions you can ask your characters to get to know them better Creating your own safe...
#HFGather: Sarah Aronson and Agent Linda Epstein Talk Feedback & Process
On today's #HFGather, host Sarah Aronson chatted with writer, poet and agent Linda Epstein about: Receiving and giving feedback The value of being accountable to a critique buddy or group Telling yourself "I am a writer" even if you haven't been published Watching...
#HFGather: Working Writers Chat with Sarah Aronson and Chris Tebbetts
On today's #HFGather, host Sarah Aronson and Chris Tebbetts dug deep into process, sharing the tools they use as they write and revise. Some bullet points: From Sarah: "Story begets story, and writing begets writing. Techniques for getting into the "flow" state. A...
#HFGather: Shadra Strickland and Mike Curato Illustrator Chat
On today's Illustrator #HFGather, host Shadra Strickland and Mike Curato talked about: Career paths: lives lived before working in kidlit How comic books "saved Mike as a reader" Creating a picture book series Mike's first graphic novel--seeing it as a script Their...
#HFGather: A Poetry Chat with Nikki Grimes and Sarah Aronson
Today's #HFGather was a special National Poetry Month treat! Host Sarah Aronson had a powerful chat with Nikki Grimes about: Using poems to shake things loose Feeding your poetry and writing with visual art, which involves seeing in new ways Embracing silence in your...
#HFGather: Shadra Strickland and Pat Cummings Talk Color, Light and Process
On today's Illustrator #HFGather, host Shadra Strickland and Pat Cummings talked about: How lucky the #kidlit community is to have existing connection in this time of crisis Finding your style: there's no right or wrong How to grow as an artist by letting other people...


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The Highlights Foundation positively impacts children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves.
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