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Sarah Aronson

Writing for Children

Manuscript Workshop for Children's Writers
The Whole Novel: For Children's Writers

About Sarah Aronson
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Manuscript Workshop for Children's Writers (10 weeks)

This ongoing writers' workshop is open to intermediate and advanced writers who are working on manuscripts and need the structure of a class to retain their focus and energy. Prerequisite: Debbie Edwardson's Introduction to Writing for Children or a comparable real time or Internet class, and/or working knowledge and experience shaping a story from idea through completion. Unlike the introductory class, the advanced workshop will not offer weekly exercises or lectures, but will focus entirely on the participants' own work in progress. Expect to post work in progress (complete picture book draft or novel chapters) once a week, offer comments on others' work and respond to critical appraisals of your own. Picture books through YA. Ongoing advanced writers' workshop for anyone who has taken Uma Krishnaswami's Introduction to Writing for Children or a comparable class online or in realtime. Unlike the introductory class, the advanced workshop will not offer weekly exercises or lectures, but will focus entirely on the participants' own work in progress. Participants should expect to post work in progress once a week, offer comments on others' work and be prepared for critical appraisals of their own. Picture books through YA.

About Sarah Aronson
Student Comments
Complete List of Writers.com Classes

The Whole Novel: For Children's Writers (10 weeks)

Get feedback on your whole novel! Dive into the process of revision!

In this workshop, Sarah Aronson will read and comment on your whole novel for children or teens. She will send you an editorial letter, complete with revision goals, questions, and ideas. Then the challenges begin. Each writer will discuss with Sarah a plan for the class, including deadlines. Like all of Sarah's classes, there will be also group discussions on craft, writing exercises, and group critiques. We will also discuss one published novel.

Your manuscript does not have to be polished, but the writer should be ready to experiment, delete, and re-imagine. This class will offer you a great opportunity to dive into the process of revision. You will explore themes and character and polish your work to get it ready for submission to editors and agents.

Before signing up, potential students should contact Sarah. Send us a note at writers@writers.com to get things started.

The class is limited to four participants. The cost is $500.

Student Comments
Complete List of Writers.com Classes

Sarah Aronson

SARAH ARONSON holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is the author of two books for young readers: a retelling, The Princess and the Pea: A Very Short Pop-Up (Little Simon, 2002) and the YA novel, Head Case (Roaring Brook Press 2007). Head Case was named a 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. Her novel Beyond Lucky will be published by Dial Books in 2011.

Sarah is also the co-founder and organizer of the Novel Writers Retreat at Vermont College. She speaks regularly at SCBWI events and writing conferences and reviews teen novels for Jewish Book World. She is a regular contributor to the craft blog, Through the Tollbooth. She is currently hard at work on two new novels for middle grade and young adult readers.

Student Comments

"Sarah ROCKS. She gives her all, each and every week. She leads by example and that sets the bar high!! With two master's degrees, I have had many wonderful professors and yet, Sarah's command of the discipline she teaches is unparalleled... Sarah helped us reach our fullest potential as writers, editors, readers, and over the course of 10 weeks, friends... I will recommend Writers on the Net to others and, more specifically, I will highly recommend Sarah Aronson. And YES, I will be back."

Susan McCadam Hoffman

"I've taken dozens of writing classes over the year and this may be the best. Bravo."

Tami Brown

"Sarah Aronson's classes are the best! Please sign me up for the next...Assignments are stimulating and thought-provoking. But best of all is the chance to share ongoing work with other writers, and especially with Sarah. Her feedback is always thoughtful and right on. I can't imagine a more nurturing environment in which to learn."

Carol Hosford

"Incredible teacher! Amazingly knowledgeable. Super supportive! Empowering! Challenged and stretched us beyond our expectations! Our instructor had the ability to ask the right questions to let us uncover the answers! A rare gift in a teacher!! I would definitely recommend your classes and I've already done so."

Carmen Oliver

"Sarah is one of those rare teachers that puts her heart and soul into her teaching. She is generous with her time and makes her students feels as though they have her undivided attention. She quickly familiarizes herself with both the writer and their work, which is beneficial in the format of this class...I found the class truly valuable."

Tina Athaide

"I have given this class my highest of recommendations to many people, including during a speech I had to make to a group of writers reporting on how I used the fellowship grant they awarded me."

Robyn Ryan

"I thought the class was wonderful...Sarah Aronson is a truly gifted teacher - she encourages, inspires, while teaching and guiding. She truly cares about the students in her class and is devoted to helping them. She puts in an enormous amount of time to help each student. She is a wonderful teacher and I feel so lucky to have taken her class...You are lucky to have Sarah as a teacher. She is fantastic."

Elly Swartz

"Sarah Aronson is a wonderful teacher. She monitored us without being on top of us - just enough to keep us on track. Her weekly discussion topics got us thinking about the craft of writing. She gave us a safe place to share and to work. I'll absolutely recommend this class! Thank you for a wonderful, enriching 10 weeks! "

Gail Ishimatsu

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