Calling all children's book WRITERS and ILLUSTRATORS!
Have you always wanted to write a novel but were too scared to try or didn't know how?
Are you an established writer ready for some fresh approaches to open new doors in contemporary children's book publishing?
Are you a children's book illustrator who would like to learn about illustrating for middle grades to open new markets and perhaps become a writer yourself?
Do you want to understand the full process of writing middle grade novels from idea to manuscript to publication in a safe and supportive environment (and possibly open new doors)?
Do you have a project in mind that you’d like help with during the course, or someone who would like to start a new project using one of our prompts?
Have you ever wished there was a way to get your work in front of publishing editors and agents, without getting it thrown into the dreaded slush pile?
Whether you are a complete beginner or an accomplished author or illustrator, this is the course for you!!!
Are you an established writer ready for some fresh approaches to open new doors in contemporary children's book publishing?
Are you a children's book illustrator who would like to learn about illustrating for middle grades to open new markets and perhaps become a writer yourself?
Do you want to understand the full process of writing middle grade novels from idea to manuscript to publication in a safe and supportive environment (and possibly open new doors)?
Do you have a project in mind that you’d like help with during the course, or someone who would like to start a new project using one of our prompts?
Have you ever wished there was a way to get your work in front of publishing editors and agents, without getting it thrown into the dreaded slush pile?
Whether you are a complete beginner or an accomplished author or illustrator, this is the course for you!!!
This LIVE course INCLUDES BOTH THE FULL MIDDLE GARDE MASTERY FOR 4 FULL WEEKS
plus an extra bonus mini-conference week for a total of 5 weeks!
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR 2019
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS EXTRAORDINARY COURSE
STARTING MAY 13th
See your dreams become real in this highly-interactive online course and talent search - complete with wonderful opportunities to submit to editors and agents.
The What: It's a 4 week {PLUS a bonus mini-conference week] highly interactive online training program that teaches you just about everything that you need to know about writing, illustrating and publishing middle grade novels and chapter books using multiple approaches, daily lessons, interviews with experts, lots of bonuses, worksheets and so much more!
The When: The course starts May 13th 2019 with the first live training happening that night and runs through June 10th with an extra instant access bonus week of conference style interviews. It's designed to be extremely time flexible so you can access the materials and interact as much or as little as you like. No one is ever in trouble, but the more you can put in the more you'll get out of it. The additional ONE YEAR of access makes it very doable no matter how busy you are. The private Facebook group continues on indefinitely to provide continued support of you and your children's book goals.
The Where: Enjoy the Middle Grade and Chapter Book Mastery course, in the comfort of your own home, a café, the library - anywhere that you can get Internet access. You don't need to travel anywhere for this course, plus you can still take it even if you are traveling.
The How: Monday through Friday you will get fresh lessons and exercises from our expert faculty and contributors. The lesson pages also include tons of resources, including lists of publishers and agents, worksheets, done-for you templates, and much more. We interact via our private Facebook group where questions are answered and small critique groups are set up for those who want them. We have a special webinar page for each week where students post responses for each webinar topic - e.g., powerful hooks, plotting and pacing, creating memorable characters, how to approach editors and agents, etc. Times are scheduled to accommodate folks in different countries as much as possible and we also record the webinars for those who can't make it live.
The Why: This is the most important one. Although chapter books and middle grade novels take more time to write, they are more desired by agents and editors because the field is less competitive and they bring in much higher advances. If you want to write or illustrate chapter books or middle grade novels this is the best value course that you can find to help you successfully get published. No other course can offer more from an extremely talented group of creatives. No other course gives this level of focused attention to each student who participates!!! Step-by-step we walk you through the process. You will also learn about writing realistic fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, mysteries, humor, and heartfelt stories that will help improve all of your writing.
The Who: This industry-leading course is co-taught by not one, but two acquiring editors, AND an award-winning author with many years of experience in the publishing industry who love helping others greatly improve their work to further their careers or break into publishing.
The When: The course starts May 13th 2019 with the first live training happening that night and runs through June 10th with an extra instant access bonus week of conference style interviews. It's designed to be extremely time flexible so you can access the materials and interact as much or as little as you like. No one is ever in trouble, but the more you can put in the more you'll get out of it. The additional ONE YEAR of access makes it very doable no matter how busy you are. The private Facebook group continues on indefinitely to provide continued support of you and your children's book goals.
The Where: Enjoy the Middle Grade and Chapter Book Mastery course, in the comfort of your own home, a café, the library - anywhere that you can get Internet access. You don't need to travel anywhere for this course, plus you can still take it even if you are traveling.
The How: Monday through Friday you will get fresh lessons and exercises from our expert faculty and contributors. The lesson pages also include tons of resources, including lists of publishers and agents, worksheets, done-for you templates, and much more. We interact via our private Facebook group where questions are answered and small critique groups are set up for those who want them. We have a special webinar page for each week where students post responses for each webinar topic - e.g., powerful hooks, plotting and pacing, creating memorable characters, how to approach editors and agents, etc. Times are scheduled to accommodate folks in different countries as much as possible and we also record the webinars for those who can't make it live.
The Why: This is the most important one. Although chapter books and middle grade novels take more time to write, they are more desired by agents and editors because the field is less competitive and they bring in much higher advances. If you want to write or illustrate chapter books or middle grade novels this is the best value course that you can find to help you successfully get published. No other course can offer more from an extremely talented group of creatives. No other course gives this level of focused attention to each student who participates!!! Step-by-step we walk you through the process. You will also learn about writing realistic fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, mysteries, humor, and heartfelt stories that will help improve all of your writing.
The Who: This industry-leading course is co-taught by not one, but two acquiring editors, AND an award-winning author with many years of experience in the publishing industry who love helping others greatly improve their work to further their careers or break into publishing.
FABULOUS NEWS!!! USE THE SPECIAL TIME-LIMITED PROMO CODE YesToSuccess! WITH ANY OF THESE TO SAVE BIG!!!
(Please don't forget it's case-sensitive and is non-refundable)
(Please don't forget it's case-sensitive and is non-refundable)
We have 2 payment levels that also come with sweet payment plans:
First up is the Big Bonus level, which comes with...
First up is the Big Bonus level, which comes with...
- Access to the MANY content-rich lessons plus bonus lessons for the 4 week course plus a week long conference & an additional SIX months of access
- Lifelong access to our own highly interactive private Facebook group
- Daily M-F access to your instructors
- Live weekly topic-specific workshop/webinars where you can get help with everything you might need to make your work sing and receive live critiques (these are also recorded).
- A FREE Social Media course
- Fabulous templates, worksheets, and done-for-you scripts
- A beautiful CBA badge for your website
- The Little Big Book of Children's Book Writing Techniques and Terminology!!!
- Your own optional critique group
- A FREE e-Book of course content
- Entry into the Golden Ticket skip-the-line pitch fest contest where editors, and agents will look at your work and choose students to connect with further
- A Half-Off Mighty Scrivener Course that just might revolutionize your writing
- Plus other opportunities and goodies too numerous to mention!
The Big Bonus as described above also comes with sweet payment plans if needed!! Right now it's only 557.00 Just click on the graphic above or click here. (plus there are sweet payment plans).
Next are the Success Levels that come with everything in the above Awesome Big Bonus -PLUS an ADDITIONAL deeply-discounted, one-hour, one-on-one live critique that's just like an individual mini-course focused on you and your work.
Next are the Success Levels that come with everything in the above Awesome Big Bonus -PLUS an ADDITIONAL deeply-discounted, one-hour, one-on-one live critique that's just like an individual mini-course focused on you and your work.
This is a rare opportunity to have everything from the Awesome Big Bonus, PLUS work LIVE with the brilliant Hillary Homzie! It's a full one-hour, one-on-one critique where Hillary is laser focused as she gently leads you to transform your work for success in the current world of publishing! For a limited time, it's only 657.00 (plus there are sweet payment plans). Just click here or on Hillary's graphic above.
SO SORRY BUT THESE ARE NOW SOLD OUT! If you love Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt books, here's a phenomenal opportunity for a deeply discounted one hour live session with acquiring Assistant Editor Rachael Stein plus the course and bonuses. If you know about publishing, you know that associate editors are the ones who are hungry to build their reputations and list of authors that they want to work with for the next 15-20 years (unlike Senior Editors who mostly already have their list). SO SORRY BUT THESE ARE NOW SOLD OUT!
What you get when you sign up for MIDDLE GRADE MASTERY
- You will learn proven track-record middle -grade novel writing and illustrating skills that apply across the board to build confidence in your writing and open new doors.
- You will learn which publishers and agents to submit intriguing queries or manuscripts to and how to write them.
- You will be able to pitch to a group of editors and agents looking for middle grade novels.
- You will learn business skills that will help you advance your career.
- You will have fun stretching and growing as a writer or artist - as well as a person!
- You will discover and cultivate your author's voice while developing your characters' voices.
- You can work with your own ideas or, if you don't know where to start, you can select from a series of inspirational prompts to get going.
- You can get critiques and give critiques with other like minds in your own small, private Facebook critique group .
- You will get cutting edge news and also support in our interactive - and very active - private whole-class Facebook group, where you will be able to ask questions and receive answers daily.
- You will also receive a live weekly webinar. This webinar will provide feedback on your progress and will answer both pre-written and spontaneous questions. The webinar will be recorded, so you can watch it again, and for those who can’t attend.
- You will enjoy MANY lessons, and learn everything you need to know for writing or illustrating middle grade and chapter books for children.
- No matter your learning style, you will find the course material presented in a way that suits you - including videos, written articles, "how to" demonstrations - both written and video, and handy worksheets.
- You will get exclusive insider interviews with industry experts!
- You will revel in a like-minded community of children’s book creatives who will help you make yourself more attractive to publishers with a growing social media presence.
- You also have the rare opportunity to choose a one-hour, one-on-one critique with your choice of the co-teachers, and at an extraordinarily low price!
Then there are the Golden Tickets!
What's a Golden Ticket?
A Golden Ticket opportunity is when you get to submit directly to an agent or editor and bypass the slush pile or closed house submission policy.
In this course we will be teaching you how to not only write memorable middle great novels but also how to write great bios, and cover letters to catch an agent or editor's eye. Then our panel of judges will look at a secret website page of student's pitches and bios that they're interested in seeing more from to hopefully publish your work.
What's a Golden Ticket?
A Golden Ticket opportunity is when you get to submit directly to an agent or editor and bypass the slush pile or closed house submission policy.
In this course we will be teaching you how to not only write memorable middle great novels but also how to write great bios, and cover letters to catch an agent or editor's eye. Then our panel of judges will look at a secret website page of student's pitches and bios that they're interested in seeing more from to hopefully publish your work.
Whether you are a writer or an illustrator, you don't need a university degree to write or illustrate middle grade novels or chapter books, but it helps to have two acquiring editors and an adored award-winning novelist with a combined total of close to FIFTY years of experience! They will work together to teach you how, with fun step-by-step instructions, in this extraordinary course - for very beginners to award winners - that has helped many others make breakthroughs in their lives and work.
Join Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Assistant Editor Rachael Stein, award-winning author Hillary Homzie, and Dr. Mira Reisberg (AKA the Fairy Godmother and Clear Fork Publishing/Spork Art Director and Editor) for our highly interactive Middle Grade and Chapter Book Mastery Course complete with fab fresh submission opportunities!
Join Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Assistant Editor Rachael Stein, award-winning author Hillary Homzie, and Dr. Mira Reisberg (AKA the Fairy Godmother and Clear Fork Publishing/Spork Art Director and Editor) for our highly interactive Middle Grade and Chapter Book Mastery Course complete with fab fresh submission opportunities!
No other course can offer more from a more talented group of creatives. Registering for Middle Grade and Chapter Book Mastery is a genuinely useful investment in your career with a priceless return on this investment PLUS it comes with a money back guarantee that if you fully participate and do the work, if at the end of a year you don't feel that you learned a lot, we'll give you your money back!
Hillary Homzie Hillary's career is zooming! She is the author of the middle grade novels, QUEEN OF LIKES (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin M!X), PUMPKIN SPICE SECRETS (Sky Pony/Swirl), THINGS ARE GONNA GET UGLY (Simon & Schuster/M!X), a Justice Book-of-the-Month, which was optioned by Priority Pictures, as well as THE HOT LIST (Simon & Schuster/M!X). Next fall she has a new chapter book series coming out with Charlesbridge, beginning with ELLIE MAY ON PRESIDENTS’ DAY and ELLIE MAY ON APRIL FOOLS’ DAY. Other books include the humorous chapter book series, ALIEN CLONES FROM OUTER SPACE (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin), a featured selection in Children's Book-of-the-Month. Emmy-nominated Suppertime Entertainment developed the books to become an animated television series and it was sold to ABC Australia. Additionally, Hillary has sold non-fiction and novelty projects to Klutz Press/Scholastic Books, The Learning Company, John Muir Books and Avon/HarperCollins. Hillary got her start performing and writing sketch comedy Off-Broadway, and was a Heideman Playwriting Award Finalist. Hillary holds a master's degree in education from Temple University and a master’s of arts degree from Hollins University in children's literature and writing. Besides teaching at the Children's Book Academy, Hillary is a visiting professor of children’s literature and writing at Hollins University. Visit her on the web at www.hillaryhomzie.com and follow her on twitter @HillaryHomzie. She is excited about co-teaching this course and sharing her expertise to help others succeed with their work.
Rachael Stein Rachael is a voracious reader, children’s books fanatic, and acquiring Assistant Editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. There, she works on books for kids of all ages, including picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult and both fiction and nonfiction. Some of the amazing authors she works with are Linda Sue Park, Gary D. Schmidt, Kate Milford, Ronald L. Smith, and Sarah Beth Durst. Before joining the Clarion team in 2016, Rachael worked at Scholastic, Lee & Low Books, Macmillan, and the agency Fox Literary. For more bookish fun, you can follow her on Twitter: @rachaeljstein.
We first met Rachael when she joined us as a guest critiquing editor in one of our picture book critiquing webinars and she also did some individual critiques for students. She was so incredibly smart and adored by students, we invited her to co-teach this course and we are thrilled that she said YES!!!. It should be pretty extraordinary.
We first met Rachael when she joined us as a guest critiquing editor in one of our picture book critiquing webinars and she also did some individual critiques for students. She was so incredibly smart and adored by students, we invited her to co-teach this course and we are thrilled that she said YES!!!. It should be pretty extraordinary.
Dr. Mira Reisberg Mira is an acquiring editor and art director at Clear Fork Publishing's children's book imprint Spork and a multi-published award-winning children's book illustrator and author whose books have sold over 600,000 copies. Besides running the Children's Book Academy, she is also a former children's literary agent, a university professor teaching kid lit writing and illustrating courses as well as teacher ed. She has a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on children's literature and has helped MANY writers and illustrators get published. Her new job at Spork will allow her to help even more people.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mira's former students now have over 160 contracted or published books and many others now have agent representation.
Many of Hillary's former students have also been published.
And Rachael has also helped many authors bring their stories into the world.
It's VERY thrilling and we'd love for you to join them!!! Also FYI, this is the last year that Mira will be co-teaching this course!
Mira's former students now have over 160 contracted or published books and many others now have agent representation.
Many of Hillary's former students have also been published.
And Rachael has also helped many authors bring their stories into the world.
It's VERY thrilling and we'd love for you to join them!!! Also FYI, this is the last year that Mira will be co-teaching this course!
When you sign up for THIS YEAR's Middle Grade and Chapter Book Mastery, you will get 2 full courses for the price of one, extra access and these additional courses and resources that you can start right away!
As part of the course, you will get these AWESOME BIG BONUSES:
"This is an excellent course — I loved working with Mira! Check out my video testimonial below." - - Yvette Pompa
- Lifelong access to our own highly interactive private Facebook group
- A half-off Might Scrivener course
- Daily M-F access to your instructors
- Live weekly topic-specific workshop/webinars where you can get help with everything you might need to make your work sing and receive live critiques (these are also recorded).
- Fabulous templates, worksheets, and done-for-you scripts
- A beautiful CBA badge for your website
- Your own optional critique group
- A FREE e-Book of course content for BOTH THE CHAPTER BOOK ALCHEMIST AND MIDDLE GRADE MASTERY!!!
- A FREE Social Media Course
- A FREE Workshop/Webinar on Voice
- Plus other opportunities and goodies too numerous to mention!
"This is an excellent course — I loved working with Mira! Check out my video testimonial below." - - Yvette Pompa
To hear about the course from past students,
please click on the slideshow buttons below and hover to pause it.
Literary Agent Victoria Wells Arms Literary Agent Sean McCar Phoebe Yeh VP Crown BFYR/RH
Emma Sector author/Simon & Schuster editor Naheed Hasnat Award-winning author Awesome illustrator and author Lisa Brown
Andrea Davis Pinkney Multi-Award Winner Jennifer Lynn Alvarez - Series author Fab mystery contributor
Mike Yung Hilarious MG author Christine Taylor-Butler Multi-award-winner Natasha Yim Cool Middle Grade Biographies
These are just some of our expert guest contributors for Middle Grade Mastery who will speak to you in custom created videos and written interviews! They'll be sharing their perspectives on everything from writing tips and secrets on how they have built their careers, researching and writing non-fiction, what they look for in submissions, and so much more. And then there are the brilliant Chapter Book Alchemist course contributors below. Good thing you have a whole year of access!!!
So how will it work with the two for one. After you sign up, you'll have the choice to either work on a chapter book or middle grade novel live during the course interactively and then when the course is over, you can access the other course to work on as a home study course! Remember, the Facebook support group goes on indefinitely and you have a full year of access!!!
Middle Grade Mastery Curriculum:
WEEK 1:
- What makes Middle Grade Novels middle grade?
- Young vs Tween
- Getting started and generating juicy ideas that not only middle-graders will love - but also editors and agents!
- Learn what a "hook" is, and how to make it sing.
- Setting Up for a Single Title or Series.
- Interviews with awesome experts.
- Live critiquing webinar with recording.
- Creating Awesome Characters With Character Development.
- Breaking Out Your Own and Your Characters’ Distinctive Voices.
- There’s No Place Like Your Setting.
- Creating Dynamic Dialogue.
- Make Us Feel Mighty Real or Make Us Laugh or… Just Show Some Emotion!
- Interviews with awesome experts.
- Live Critiquing Webinar with recording.
WEEK 3:
- Structure, Structure, Structure for Smooth Sailing.
- Revising Your Hooky Beginnings.
- Solving the Muddle in the Middle.
- Creating Satisfying Endings.
- Sustaining Conflict.
- Name That Theme!
- Expert interviews.
- Live webinar critique.
WEEK 4:
- Language that editors love! (a.k.a. vivid writing)
- Personification, imagery and other techniques.
- Revising.
- Reading like a middle grade writer.
- Time management.
- Formatting.
- Writing awesome pitches.
- Querying and submitting to publishers.
WEEK 5
MINI-CONFERENCE OF WONDERFUL GUESTS
Chapter Book Alchemist Curriculum
WEEK 1:
- What Is a Chapter Book, Chapter Books Genres, and Differences Between Easy Readers and Chapter Books and Mandy Bonus.
- Tips for Writing Chapter Books, Synopses and Hooks, Mandy Yates Bonus.
- More Writing Tips and More About Hooks
- How to Hear Your Work, Different Possibilities, and Helpful Links.
- Illustration Notes and Cut Paper Demos!
- Interviews with awesome experts.
- Live critiquing webinar with recording.
WEEK 2:
- What is a single title, Finding ideas, and Exercise.
- Understanding Your Reader and Developmental Stages, Choosing to Write About the Fantastical
- Series Books, Two Kinds of Fiction Series, and Brainstorming Techniques.
- A Good Time for Character-driven Series, Hallmarks of Success, and Exercise. Interview with Annie Barrows
- Interviews with awesome experts.
- Live critiquing webinar with recording.
- Guidelines for Creating Compelling Characters.
- Construct a Unique Perspective
- Create a Contrast Character to Foil or Inspire
- Weave in Verisimilitude
- More Nonfiction
- Illustrating with Pencil
- Interviews with awesome experts.
- Live critiquing webinar with recording.
WEEK 4:
- Motivating Your Desires, What Does Your Character Want, and Exercise.
- More on Hooking Your Readers, Exercise, and Consequences.
- Setting, Plot Review, and Extra Plot Tips.
- The 8 Main Plot Points in Chapter Books, How Characterization Supports Conflict, Create Emotional Mountain Ranges, Get the Parents Out of the Way, Raising the Stakes.
- Interview with Karen Goldman.
- Photoshop Demo
- Interviews with awesome experts.
- Live critiquing webinar with recording.
WEEK 5:
- Preparing to Sell Your Work.
- Professional editors-for-hire, Writing and Critique Groups
- Cleaning Up Your Copy, Getting Beta Readers.
- Sending out your Manuscript, Finding an Agent/Editor, Writing Your Pitch.
- Query Letters and What Not To Do, What to do with Rejections and Not Hearing Back
- Interviews with awesome experts.
- Live critiquing webinar with recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now with your instant access bonuses. The live portion goes from Jan 15th - Feb 19th but continues longer as we set up the Golden Ticket access and the Facebook group is basically forever. You also receive keep forever e-books of course materials.
How long do I have access to the course?
You will have a FULL year's access to both courses.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
Our success depends on your success and happiness with our courses. While we can't give refunds apart from our money-back guarantee, if you call or email us, we will do whatever we can to make sure that you are happy!
Can you guess what all these movies have in common? Yep, they were all chapter books or middle grade novels.
If you take this course, you'll see we work incredibly hard for you. All we ask is that if you get published, you send us an autographed copy of your book or if it becomes a movie, we get to join you in a premiere somewhere :)
If you take this course, you'll see we work incredibly hard for you. All we ask is that if you get published, you send us an autographed copy of your book or if it becomes a movie, we get to join you in a premiere somewhere :)
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and yet it is a truly affordable one for all that you receive!!! It is also the only one that provides these fantastic submission opportunities and empowers you to do all sorts of extraordinary things. Our courses have been described as the equivalent of 20 conferences and better than graduate level university programs from students with kid lit masters degrees.
If now is the time to take your career to the next level and get started with your bonuses asap....
Click the graphic below to Register for the fabulous Big Bonus with Payment Plan options
Click the graphic below or click here to Register for the even more awesome Success with Hillary package. PEOPLE RAVE ABOUT THESE!!!
SO SORRY BUT THE SUCCESS WITH RACHAEL COURSE AND CRITIQUES ARE NOW SOLD OUT!
And then finally, click here for the Success with Mira package
Middle Grade Mastery (with this year only's bonus Chapter Book Alchemist) only happens once a year in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace (except for live webinars which are also recorded) and with the convenience of easy payment plans that make the whole thing affordable. We want you to join us and play in ways that you can't imagine right now to open new doors to publishing. Middle Grade novels and Chapter Books are hot, hot, hot. They're the number 1 thing that many agents are looking for. Middle Grade novels pay much better than picture or chapter books and are more likely to be made into movies. Both Chapter Books and Middle Grade novels enable the writer to spend time with their characters and go deeper into their lives and world. Ideas can be more complex as can story lines, which can be a huge asset for writers who feel constrained or limited by short simplified picture book conventions.
We hope that you will join us on this extraordinary, creatively empowering adventure!
We hope that you will join us on this extraordinary, creatively empowering adventure!
