Writing for Young Readers

A Public Seminar in Creative Writing
From the M.A. in Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University

Young reader engaged in a book

Saturday, March 28, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Homewood Campus,
Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, Maryland

This special seminar with prominent writers, editors, and agents is open to anyone in the Washington/Baltimore area interested in writing for younger readers, regardless of age. We offer a full introduction to writing techniques, markets, publishing, illustration, and other issues, from pre-reader picture books to sophisticated reading for young adults. We welcome experienced writers in other fields who are interested in this exciting, growing area, and we offer optional, brief one-on-one evaluations of your writing or writing idea. We're especially targeting folks from Washington, D.C., with garage parking and continental breakfast and box lunch included!

Fee: $40 if paid by March 20 (updated).
($50 after 3/20, if space is available.)

Advance Registration Required, Fee Includes Breakfast, Box Lunch

Space is limited, so don’t wait to register!

(Graduate students in M.A. in Writing Program & The Writing Seminars at Hopkins admitted free of charge, but advance registration required.)

Featuring

	William Loizeaux: Author of the upcoming Clarence Cochran, A Human Boy, and Wings, which made several national "best of" lists in 2006; essayist, fiction/nonfiction author for adults; teacher; Writer in Residence, Hopkins Writing Program. Awards include ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Award and Golden Kite Award Honor Book for Fiction.		Mary Amato: Author of eight books, including the upcoming Take the Mummy and Run: The Riot Brothers are on a Roll; playwright, musician, dance teacher, freelance writer, poet, Hopkins Writing Program graduate. Her many grants and awards include those from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the AZLA Young Readers' Award.
	Mary Quattlebaum: Author of 15 books, including Sparks Fly High: The Legend of Dancing Point and Jackson Jones and the Curse of the Outlaw Rose; writing teacher and editor, poet, freelance writer. Her many awards include listings from the Childrens' Book Council, ForeWord Magazine, and the Virginia Young Readers Masterlist.		Ellen Braaf: Author of a six-book "Science Detective" series (under the name Ellen René), including Investigating Volcanic Eruptions and Investigating Spiders and Their Webs; freelance writer, editor, reviewer, ghostwriter, teacher, columnist since 2002 for ASK magazine.
	Joan Waites: Illustrator for 40 books, she has done freelance work for 19 years. Her awards include an IRA/CBC Children's Choice Award, The Benjamin Franklin Award, and, for magazine illustration, an Educational Press Award. She teaches at The Corcoran Museum in Washington.		Tim Wendel: Author of My Man Stan, for young adults; also, adult novelist and nonfiction author, freelance journalist, columnist; faculty member, Hopkins Writing Program.
	Megan Atwood: founding editor of the young adult imprint, Flux, and acquiring editor through Llewellyn Publishing; former literary agent with Firebrand Literary Agency; and current scholarly journal editor and freelance writer. She also is an MFA candidate in writing for children and young adults through Hamline University with a July 2009 graduation date.

Seminar Topics

From idea to manuscript to book; the four age groups; craft techniques for every page; using humor; choosing topics; gender & ethnicity; current trends; working with illustrators, plus 10-minute "quickie critiques" of a writing idea or sample. (Bring one page if you want to participate in this option.)

How to Register

Complete the Registration Form and send it with any required payment to:

M.A. in Writing Program
Attn: Writing for Young Readers
Johns Hopkins University
1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 104
Washington, D.C. 20036

(Hopkins graduate students must submit form, but no fee required)

Seminar Address:
Hodson Hall, Homewood Campus
Johns Hopkins University
3400 N. Charles St. (directions)
Baltimore, MD. 21218

Parking Information:
For-pay visitor parking is located in the underground visitor parking lot (marked as a bright green "C" on the map) directly adjacent to Mason Hall (directions and map).

For More Information:
Email: writingprogram@jhu.edu
Call: 202-452-1927 or 410-516-4578

Tentative Seminar Schedule

8:30-9:30 a.m.: Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:30-10:45 a.m.: The Process - From idea to manuscript to book; the role of agents; the four categories of target audiences, current markets and trends; the boy v. girl reader issue; the series phenomenon (Potter vs Twilight), fiction v. factual. (Braaf, Wendel, Atwood)

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: The Craft - Writing for your age level; vocabulary, syntax, sophistication; gender; ethnicity; other issues.
(Loizeaux, Amato, Quattlebaum)

12:30-1:45 p.m.: Lunch and Stop-By Sessions:

Quickie Critiques with Writer, Editor, or Agent
Writers and Illustrators (Loizeaux, Waites)
Using Humor (Amato)

2:00-3:00: Readings and Book Sales / Signings