YA/MG Novel in Progress

Class Description

If you're working on a young adult novel, then this is the class for you! This class will push you to learn more about the craft of novel-writing generally and of young adult novels in particular. We will talk about what works and what doesn’t in YA, with a specific focus on topics like identifying (or clarifying) the true heart of your novel, deepening character, developing a plot with strong internal logic, and creating tight, well-paced scenes. We will look at published YA novels for inspiration and use a variety of writing prompts and activities to help you apply what you’re learning to your story. Each week, you will be responsible for writing (or heavily revising) 10 double-spaced pages outside of class, and we will read excerpts of your work aloud for in-class critique. By the end of this class, you will have written and/or edited 100 pages of your novel and also created a working synopsis. A week prior to the first class, the instructor will request the first 20 pages of your novel via email.

Please note: Class does not meet November 28th.

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.