August 17, 2023 - September 22, 2023
Online
$699Overview
A 3-Part Online Course
Join editors Harold Underdown and Eileen Robinson for this 3-part online course that offers the skills and space you need to revise, rebuild, and enliven your story.
You’ll make real progress in weekly online sessions + a 1:1 consultation with faculty (Part 1), faculty-supported independent revision planning (Part 2), and a culminating virtual retreat in revision + a final 1:1 consultation for your next steps (Part 3). A special guest editor will visit the group during Part 3 to share details about how they work on revisions with their authors and answer questions from our writers.
All storytellers and story types are welcome: picture books through young adult novels and graphic novels, authors or author/illustrators, and fiction or nonfiction!
- This is an online course in three parts:
- Part 1 is learning through presentations (both pre-recorded and live) and 1:1 consultations;
- Part 2 is time for independent work and revision with support in the virtual classroom & community drop-in sessions;
- Part 3 is a virtual revision retreat focused on creative exercises, revision support, & final 1:1 consultations.
- Part One’s weekly online sessions will begin on Thursday, August 17th and continue on Thursdays at 8pm Eastern (August 24 & August 31).
- Part Two’s optional community drop-in sessions are available during your independent work weeks on Thursdays at 8pm (September 7 & 14).
- Part Three’s Virtual Revision Retreat will take place Monday, September 18 – Friday, September 22, with a final 1:1 consultation during that time (see detailed schedule below).
- 18 participants max
Why This Workshop?
Are you ready to make compelling changes to your manuscript?
This program offers you time to learn a wide range of revision tools in support of your goals.
Then it offers you time to plan, and then time to put those tools to use in your own revision—with extended support as you begin, develop, or complete a revision, and generate new material.
Editors Eileen Robinson and Harold Underdown will help you explore revision strategies that will pinpoint problems and opportunities in your picture book, chapter book, novel, or narrative nonfiction manuscript. They’ll meet you wherever you are in the revision process (beginning, mid-draft, or near the end), and help you move along purposefully. All the while, you’ll learn tools and techniques that can be used now and in the future.
The faculty will consult with you 1:1 on two occasions: first to talk about your manuscript and its current status, and to help you plan for your revision during the program; and then during the final retreat week to discuss progress, offer ideas, and make plans for what you will do next.
The Three Parts of the Course Include:
- Part 1: Learning through presentations (both pre-recorded and live) and your first 1:1 consultation;
- Part 2: Time for independent work and revision with support in the virtual classroom & community drop-in sessions;
- Part 3: A virtual revision retreat focused on creative exercises, revision support, and your final 1:1 consultations.
Feedback Expected
- Informal feedback will be available from peers and faculty during live sessions and in the virtual classroom.
- Your first 20-minute private consultation with Harold or Eileen to discuss ideas, goals, and needs will occur between August 21 – 25 at a mutually agreed upon time. (No written feedback will be provided.)
- A final 20-minute private consultation with Harold or Eileen to discuss next steps for your revisions will occur between September 18 – 21 at a mutually agreed upon time. (No written feedback will be provided.)
- Note: Writers of picture books (and similar short works) may submit up to two manuscripts, provided they total no more than 10 pages. Writers of longer works should submit up to 50 pages from one manuscript. All writers are also asked to submit a cover letter describing where they are in their project, questions they have regarding drafting and/or revisions, and any pertinent biographical information. Ideally, this should be submitted by August 14 to allow time for Harold and Eileen to familiarize themselves with your work. Your submission will provide an initial understanding of your writing and goals; no written feedback is provided.
It’s a Great Fit If…
- You are working on a manuscript or have completed a draft of a manuscript, and want to take the next step. If you want help with your picture book, novel, graphic novel, or nonfiction work, this course can help you make it stronger.
- You’re ready to clean up your manuscript. We’ll help you get it ready for submission!
- You’re just starting to write for children. All writers need to revise! This course will give you powerful revision techniques.
- You’re published or an experienced beginner, and need a refresher. You may have your favorite revision techniques, but you’ll benefit from learning new ones.
- You’re looking for a community of writers to build skills alongside. This multi-week, multi-part course offers peer-to-peer opportunities and support from editors.
Detailed Agenda
All Times are Eastern Standard Time.
Pre-Workshop
You will receive a link to our virtual classroom where you can introduce yourself to fellow novelists, engage in Highlights Foundation related resources (including our Community Standards), keep up to date on the schedule, submit materials* for your consultations, and view pre-recorded materials.
- Submission details: Writers of picture books (and similar short works) may submit up to two manuscripts, provided they total no more than 10 pages. Writers of longer works should submit up to 50 pages from one manuscript. All writers are also asked to submit a cover letter describing where they are in their project, questions they have regarding drafting and/or revisions, and any pertinent biographical information.
- *Ideally, this should be submitted by August 14 to allow time for Harold or Eileen to familiarize themselves with your work. Your submission will provide an initial understanding of your writing and goals, no written feedback is provided.
Note: If your schedule does not allow you to attend live sessions, that’s OK! You’ll have access to the recordings. They’re usually posted the day after the session, and they’ll be available through October 31, 2023.
Part 1: Presentations (both pre-recorded and live) & Your First 1:1 Consultation
- Pre-recorded content available in the virtual classroom
- Getting Feedback from Others; released on August 25
- Revision at the Word & Sentence Levels; released on September 1
- Initial 1:1 Consultations with Harold or Eileen (scheduled at a mutually convenient time, August 21 – August 25)
Live Sessions Via Zoom:
- Thursday, August 17, from 8pm – 9:15pm Eastern:
- Introductions: Who you are, What you write, and Favorite Children’s Books!
- Overview of course syllabus
- Overview of what to expect during 1:1 consultation (consultations begin August 21)
- Thursday, August 24, from 8pm – 9:15pm Eastern:
- Interactive Presentation: Read Like an Editor
- Overview of pre-recorded lectures and pacing
- Thursday, August 31, from 8pm – 9:15pm Eastern:
- Interactive Presentation: Big Picture Revision
- Discussion of pre-recorded lecture (Getting Feedback from Others)
- Overview of Part 2: Independent Work & Community Drop-ins
Part 2: Independent Work & Community Drop-In Sessions
- Independent Work
- Keep us posted on your progress in the virtual classroom
- Reach out to Eileen and/or Harold via private messaging for support
- Watch/Re-watch presentations from Part 1
Live Community Drop-In Sessions Via Zoom:
- Thursday, September 7, from 8pm – 9pm Eastern:
- Quick peer updates
- Open discussion facilitated by the Highlights Foundation (Harold and Eileen are not expected at this optional session)
- Thursday, September 14, from 8pm – 9pm Eastern:
- Quick peer updates
- Open discussion facilitated by the Highlights Foundation (Harold and Eileen are not expected at this optional session)
Part 3: A Week-Long Virtual Revision Retreat with Creative Exercises, Revision Tools, & Final 1:1 Consultations
This week-long virtual retreat offers you time and space for you to start the next stage of your revision (whether it’s rewriting, using your new-found revision tools, or getting feedback from faculty or peers. A special guest editor will visit the group to share details about how they work on revisions with their authors and answer questions from our writers.
Live Sessions Via Zoom:
Monday, September 18 (7pm – 9pm Eastern)
- 7pm – 8pm: Setting Yourself Up for the Revision Retreat! (Establishing Your Goals)
- 8:00pm – 9:00pm Eastern: Open Q & A with Harold and Eileen
Tuesday, September 19 (11am – 5pm Eastern, with breaks)
- 10am – 11am Eastern: Optional Drop-in Hour with Harold Underdown
- 11am – 12pm Eastern: Creative Exercise with Eileen Robinson
- 12pm – 4pm Eastern: Independent Writing Time (please reserve this time to make progress on your revisions)
- 4pm – 5pm Eastern: Optional Drop-in Hour with Eileen Robinson
- Following: Optional, but encouraged: Additional Independent Writing Time!
Wednesday, September 20 (11am – 5pm Eastern, with breaks)
- 10am – 11am Eastern: Optional Drop-in Hour with Eileen Robinson
- 11am – 12pm Eastern: Special Guest Presentation with Visiting Editor
- 12pm – 4pm Eastern: Independent Writing Time (please reserve this time to make progress on your revisions)
- 4pm – 5pm Eastern: Optional Drop-in Hour with Harold Underdown
- Following: Optional, but encouraged: Additional Independent Writing Time!
Thursday, September 21 (11am – 5pm Eastern, with breaks)
- 10am – 11am Eastern: Optional Drop-in Hour with Harold Underdown
- 11am – 12pm Eastern: Creative Exercise with Eileen Robinson
- 12pm – 4pm Eastern: Independent Writing Time (please reserve this time to make progress on your revisions)
- 4pm – 5pm Eastern: Optional Drop-in Hour with Eileen Robinson
- Following: Optional, but encouraged: Additional Independent Writing Time!
Friday, September 22 (11am – 1pm Eastern)
- 10am – 11am Eastern: Optional Drop-in Hour with Harold Underdown
- 11am – 12pm Eastern: Creative Exercise with Eileen Robinson
- 12pm – 1pm Eastern: Sharing & Next Steps with Harold and Eileen
Final 1:1 Consultations with Harold or Eileen will be scheduled during the Virtual Revision Retreat at a mutually convenient time during the week, September 18 – September 21. Bring your plan for next steps to your final meeting, and share the progress you’ve made along the way!
Commitment Required for the Best Experience
- This course is best if you engage in all sessions. If you cannot attend live, please commit to watching the recordings in sequence (including the pre-recorded sessions included in Part 1). You’ll have access to all recordings with closed captioning.
- You are encouraged to leave open/schedule blocks of time to work on exercises, reflections, and revisions throughout the entire program, August 17 – September 22. It is especially recommended during Part 3, the Virtual Revision Retreat (September 18-22).
- Pre-consultation submission is ideally due by August 14, 2023.
- You will have access to all recordings and discussions through October 31, 2023. (Please continue to post your progress in the virtual classroom, and support fellow writers!)
How It Impacts Kids
Readers deserve the very best stories. Learning to deepen your stories through revision is one way to offer the very best to your readers.
Testimonials from Our Community
“Harold Underdown and Eileen Robinson are two of Highlights’ OUTSTANDING faculty members! I gained a great deal from their presentations. They are extremely knowledgable, supportive and helpful. There is no doubt that I would register and recommend the two of them to anyone seeking to take a Highlights course.”
“Harold and Eileen were very knowledgeable and approachable. They were always willing to answer questions and give feedback as well as to spend time getting to know us. They gave helpful suggestions and the mentoring experience showed me what I needed to work on and what steps to take to do so. They did a great job!”
Related Resources
- Kid’s Book Revisions website
- Using a Revision Grid to Break Down Your Story Into Elements
- Gather Podcast: Talking Manuscript Revisions with Harold Underdown and Eileen Robinson
- Top 10 Reasons You Need to Revise Your Manuscript
- As Simple As Possible: Three Ways To Tighten Your Prose
- Tools and Tips on Character Revision
- Who, What, Where, and Usually Why: Revising Scenes
- Seeing Your Manuscript by Listening
- Shrink Your Manuscript
- How to Start Revising That First Draft
