October 8 - November 12
Online
$599Overview
Multi-Week Online Course
Join novelists Jennifer Gennari and Lisa Moore Ramée for a six-week online deep dive into revision, where you’ll learn to enhance emotion, sharpen action, and refine your novel’s impact. Through live sessions, structured assignments, community support, and personalized feedback, you’ll build the skills need to enrich your novel.
- Live Lectures (with closed captioning) Wednesdays at 7-8pm Eastern (October 8, 15, 22, 29, and November 5 and 12)
- Weekly revision assignments (October 8 – November 5)
- Connection with peers in the virtual classroom
- A 1:1, 20-minute phone consultation about your project (no written feedback) with Jen or Lisa
- Informal feedback from your instructor on assignments and open Q & A
- 24 participants max
Please note: If you can’t attend the sessions live, that’s okay. You will have access to the materials (including recordings) for this program until December 31, 2025.
Why This Workshop?
Whether you are in the process of adding to a draft of your novel or reimagining and rebuilding the entire story, knowing which tools to use is essential. A frequent question we receive about this program is: What if my novel isn’t finished? That’s okay! The exercises in this program work just as well for idea generation as they do for revision. While having a completed manuscript isn’t required, having a sense of how you would like the novel to finish is encouraged.
Work with author/editor Jennifer Gennari and novelist Lisa Moore Ramée to discover key tips to add description, emotion, and action to your middle grade or young adult novel.
You will:
- Consider theme and messaging without being didactic.
- Find the balance between description and action: removing unimportant details, examining exposition.
- Strengthen your book’s emotional arc through character actions, reactions, thoughts, and inner struggles.
- Learn how to drive your plot with dialogue.
- Explore a sense of consistency through the pages of your novel.
- Have weekly online interaction, and one 1:1 phone consultation about your book project with your instructor.
Please note: If you can’t attend the sessions live, that’s okay. You will have access to the materials (including recordings) for this program until December 31, 2025.
Feedback Expected
- Informal written feedback in the virtual classroom from peers and faculty
- 1:1, 20-minute phone consultation with faculty to discuss your project (no written feedback) with Jen or Lisa
It’s a Great Fit For…
- Novelists (middle grade or YA) or chapter book writers at any stage in their publishing journey.
- Those with an in-progress or completed draft of a middle grade or young adult novel or chapter book.
- Those who want valuable revision strategies to use on your work-in-progress and future works.
- Those who like the structure of weekly lectures and writing exercises. All sessions take place weekly with connections to writing exercises to keep you in your project, with plenty of opportunity to share questions and ideas.
Detailed Agenda
All Times are Eastern. Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.
Pre-Workshop
One week prior to your course, you will receive a link to our virtual classroom where you can introduce yourself to fellow writers, and engage in Highlights Foundation related resources (including our Community Standards).
*Note: 1:1, 20-minute phone consultations about your book project will be scheduled once the course begins at a mutually convenient time. Lisa and Jen will provide opportunities to sign up for this special call.
All recordings will be posted in the virtual classroom within 24 hours of the live class. You will have access to the recordings until December 31, 2025.
Week 1: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 7-8pm Eastern
Course Overview and Introductions
- Welcome and introductions, with Jen Gennari and Lisa Moore Ramée
- Overview and defining our focus, with Lisa
- How to share in the virtual classroom, including best practices for collaborative feedback, with Jen
Assignment: Your Love Note
Week 2: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 7-8pm Eastern
Balancing Between Description and Action with Jen
- Turning exposition into action
- Trusting what your character says and does
- Finding relevant and revealing actions
- Focusing on your character’s struggle
Assignment: Action without explanation
Week 3: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 7-8pm Eastern
Messaging and Theme without the “Lesson” with Lisa
- Exploring the big idea
- Discovering the nuances of voice
- Threading your theme
- Calls to action/change
Assignment: “Teach” from narrative voice
*Please note that 1:1 sessions will begin this week with options throughout the remainder of the course.
Week 4: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 7-8pm Eastern
Showing Character Insights in Conversation with Jen
- Revising speaker tags and reviewing dialogue techniques
- Adding physical action and using misdirection
- Making conversations meaningful
Assignment: Dialogue with insights
Week 5: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 7-8pm Eastern
Consistency Throughout the Novel with Lisa
- Reviewing for common pitfalls
- Answering your novel’s question
- Weaving it all together
Assignment: Select one thread and pull
Week 6: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at, 7-8pm Eastern
Making A Plan with Jen and Lisa
- Finding a revision strategy that works for you
- Sharing your Love Note to your future readers
- Q&A
Commitment Required for the Best Experience
This multi-week online program is best if you attend and engage in all the sessions live. (Note: If your schedule does not allow you to attend all the live sessions and you would still like to register, that’s OK! You’ll have access to the recordings with closed captioning. They’re posted the day after the session, and they’ll be available through December 31, 2025.)
The Highlights Foundation strives for a safe and inclusive environment. You will have access to our Community Standards prior to the workshop where we ask for your respectful engagement with fellow creatives, including our faculty and staff.
How It Impacts Kids
Middle grade and young adult readers want to read novels with powerful plots and compelling characters. Jen and Lisa will help you and your story resonate and connect with young readers.
Testimonials from Our Community
“The faculty’s knowledge of craft, deep love of writing and reading, and ability to create compact lessons filled with valuable tools made this one of the best workshops I’ve ever participated in.”
“I’m a much more confident writer and editor after taking this class.”
