Writing Inclusive YA/MG Fiction - Remote!

Class Description

Young adult and middle grade books have become popular for both the intended audience and adults alike, but there is still a need for more diverse voices and topics. Lee and Low, a multicultural children's book publisher, shared the results of a survey they conducted in 2019 called The Diversity Baseline Survey. They found that there is still an overwhelmingly white, cis-gendered, straight and non-disabled majority in children's book publishing, and its well past the time to change that. If you are interested in exploring writing a young adult and middle grade book with diverse characters and stories, then this class is for you. In this class, we will explore different works of young adult and middle grade fiction to get inspired. We will do writing exercises, discuss craft issues (characterization, plot, point of view, etc.) in the context of inclusive young adult and middle grade writing where voice, family, community and societal contexts tend to take precedence.

We will read pieces from our own work, collecting and sharing feedback within a safe community of writers. Before the last class, all writers will be invited to submit concepts, outlines or up to 25 pages of their work to receive either a written critique from the instructor or to have a one-on-one meeting to discuss suggested strategies for moving forward. We'll study works by authors such as, but not limited to: Elizabeth Acevedo, Angie Thomas, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Traci Sorell, Pablo Cartaya and Cheryl B. Klein.

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.