Fridays 6-8PM over Zoom, plus 1 additional hour asynchronous instruction per week
1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10 (make-up class, if needed: 3/17)

$400 with financial aid available to residents of Greater Philadelphia (Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties). If accepted, payment deadline is 12/14.

Applications open November 14th. Apply by December 1st, 11:59pm, including for financial aid, using the link below.

The class, perfect for those just starting out or with a book project already in progress, covers the craft of writing middle grade (intended for ages 8-12) and young adult (intended for ages 12+) novels. Writing a “young person’s novel” can seem so challenging. How do you capture the voice and experiences of a child or teenager? Through a kidlit-centered lens, we will discuss writing fundamentals like characterization, setting, plot, and voice and read examples from modern MG and YA novels and analyze why they work so well. We will also use writing prompts to get you writing, hone your voice, and generate material.

Eric Bell is the author of ALAN COLE IS NOT A COWARD (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, 2017) and ALAN COLE DOESN’T DANCE (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, 2018), two middle grade novels about a gay seventh grade boy dealing with bullies, crushes, the power of art, and coming out. The first book was nominated to the Rainbow Book List for GLBTQ Books for Children and Teens. The books have also been translated into multiple languages. Eric is also featured in the queer middle grade short story anthology THIS IS OUR RAINBOW: 16 STORIES OF HER, HIM, THEM, AND US (Knopf). Eric is a teacher of writing classes, a virtual workshop leader, a freelance editor and writing coach, and an employee at a library. He lives and writes in Pennsylvania.