Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop

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Now OPEN for registration.
Children's Writing Workshop
December 5 - 7, 2008

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION

EDITORS

LITERARY AGENTS

AUTHORS

PRICING ALTERNATIVES

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

REGISTRATION FORM

SCHEDULE

THINGS TO BRING

DIRECTIONS/HOW TO GET HERE

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Why this workshop?

For the past eleven years, writers have come to Big Sur for an intensive and exhilarating weekend of intimate critique groups, panel discussions, and private sessions with industry professionals and much sharing of information. Our workshop is not a conference; it is uniquely designed specifically to help writers polish and fine-tune their manuscripts in progress, or those that are finished but need some help. We combine exceptional faculty, who enjoy aiding writers, with the beauty and magic of Big Sur, wonderful meals and a wine reception to provide an ideal retreat for children's book writers.

What makes the Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop unique?

First, the format of the weekend is different from other conferences and workshops. Writers will meet and work with three faculty members throughout the workshop. Ratio of faculty to writers is five to one.

Second, the weekend is limited to under 80 writers--just enough people to share valuable information and not too many so each writer feels special.

Third, the weekend is packed with critique groups, lectures, private sessions, rewriting time and meals. Writers devote the entire time to focusing only on their writing.

Fourth, the faculty are all children's book professionals, and wonderful people, who know how to target the weak spots and help writers polish their manuscripts.

Our goal at the end of the weekend is to have writers leave knowing exactly what they must do to their works to see them published. Manuscripts must be perfect these days to sell and our mission is to make that happen by recruiting top editors, literary agents and authors to inspire you.

Previous attendees have had enormous success including Jeff Stone's FIVE ANCESTOR SERIES that sold for over half a million dollars to Random House and a two book deal for Cece Meng with Clarion Books. Other successes are Debra Sartell, Christina Meldrum and several others forthcoming.

Some quotes from attendees:

"I learned more in one weekend here than in four years of college."
"This is simply the best writer's workshop in the country."

"I would recommend this to anyone writing a book."

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FACULTY:

Editors:

Emma D. Dryden was born and raised in New York City. During college, she worked as a summer intern at Viking Children's Books and after her graduation from Smith College, she took a position as Editorial Assistant, Random House Children's Books. She started at Margaret K. McElderry Books in 1990 and in 1998, upon Margaret McElderry's retirement, became Senior Editor of the imprint and then Vice President, Editorial Director. In 2005, she was named Vice President, Associate Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books, and in 2008 was named Vice President, Publisher of both imprints, which are autonomous imprints of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Emma oversees an editorial staff of nine and the publication of 85-90 hardcover titles per year. Beginning in 2009, she will also over the publication of approximately 60+ paperback titles per year. She edits approximately 10-13 titles per year including picture books, poetry, middle grade fiction, and teen fiction. Some of the best-selling and award-winning titles Emma has edited include Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman; America at War: Poems About War by Lee Bennett Hopkins & Stephen Alcorn; The Legend of Buddy Bush by Shelia P. Moses; Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean; and Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Jim Thomas, Senior Editor, Random House. After thirteen years at Random House Children's Books, Jim Thomas has worked on everything from easy readers to nonfiction for teens. His passion, however, is middle-grade and YA fiction, and he now specializes in this area as well as serving as the middle-grade/YA editorial director for the Random House imprint. Authors he's worked with include Jeff Stone (The Five Ancestors), Jeanne DuPrau (The Books of Ember), and Joaquin Dorman (Playing It Cool).

Julie Romeis is the new Editor, Children’s Books, for Chronicle Books. Based in San Francisco, she is building their fiction list for middle grade and teen readers as well as publishing picture books and non-fiction. This follows six years at independent publisher Bloomsbury USA where she helped build its children’s list.

Summer Laurie, formerly editor for Tricycle Books, a division of Ten Speed Press. Worked at the children’s division of Chronicle Books in both the marketing and editorial departments. In 2000 she joined Tricycle Press , the children’s imprint of Ten Speed Press in Berkeley, California where she worked on picture books, board books, and fiction and nonfiction for young people up to age twelve. She is now a freelance editor.

Literary Agents:

Andrea Brown: President of Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. since 1981, author of WRITERS’ AND ARTISTS’ HIDEOUTS: Great Getaways for Seducing the Muse, published numerous articles for Writer’s Digest and other publications. She is the executive director of the Big Sur Writing Workshops.

Laura Rennert is a Senior Agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She specializes in all categories of children’s books, from picture books to young adult, fiction and nonfiction. She also specializes in literary fiction, women’s fiction, crossover fiction, mysteries and thrillers, and narrative nonfiction. Some of her deals include a middle-grade/YA series she sold to Random House for over half a million dollars (by a Big Sur attendee), a six-figure YA deal to Knopf, two six-figure deals for works of literary fiction to Doubleday, and a film deal to Nickelodeon/Paramount. Laura has a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Virginia, and has taught at the University of Virginia, Osaka University of Foreign Studies in Japan, and Santa Clara University. She is the author of a picture book, BUYING, TRAINING, AND CARING FOR YOUR DINOSAUR, forthcoming with Knopf.

Caryn Wiseman is an agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, she handles young adult and middle grade fiction and nonfiction, chapter books, and picture books. Recent deals include young adult fiction for Simon & Schuster; a middle grade/young adult three-book series to Parachute Publishing for sale to Penguin; picture books to Holiday House, Clarion and HarperCollins; and nonfiction to Charlesbridge and Houghton Mifflin.

Jennifer Jaeger, Associate agent Andrea Brown. A graduate of UC Davis with a degree in English and Social and Ethnic Relations, Jennifer also attended Dominican University for Education and taught middle school. Jen is interested in all areas of children’s books and especially looks for writers with a quirky sensibility, sense of humor, rebellious characters and a unique storytelling voice.

Authors:

Elissa Haden Guest's 10-book Iris and Walter early reader series has won numerous honors including, An ALA Notable Children’s Book, A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and a Pen Center USA West Literary Award. Her writing includes picture books, YA fiction and non-fiction. She’s teaches creative writing workshops to children and adults. A native New Yorker Guest lives with her family San Francisco. Her website here.

Eric Elfman is the award-winning author of 10 books for children and young adults, including Almanac of Alien Encounters (Random House, 2001) and Almanac of the Gross, Disgusting, and Totally Repulsive (Random House, 1994), which was named an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers. He has also written three X-Files novels (HarperCollins) and two books of scary short stories (Lowell House).Several of his books have been optioned by Hollywood studios for TV and feature film development. He is currently working on a YA novel for Dutton, as well as movie projects for Dreamworks, Sony and Fox Animation. His website here.

Lynn E. Hazen writes stories filled with humor, heart and hope. Her middle grade novel, Mermaid Mary Margaret (Bloomsbury 2004) was hailed" a winner" by Kirkus Reviews. She's written a picture book, Buzz Bumble to the Rescue (Bloomsbury 2005); chapter books, Cinder Rabbit & Seymour's Snail Trail (Henry Holt 2008 & 2009); and a young adult novel, Shifty (Tricycle Press 2008). Lynn has an M.A. in Education and an M.F.A. in Writing For Children and Young Adults.
www.LynnHazen.com
www.ShiftyTheBook.com
Lynn's Blog: www.LynnHazenImaginaryBlog.blogspot.com

Ellen Hopkins, Publisher, Juniper Creek Publishing, Inc. and Three Leaping Frogs, Northern Nevada’s Fun Newspaper for Kids; freelance writer (regular contributor, Reno Gazette Journal); author; scriptwriter; Nevada Artist in Residence (literature); Tumblewords artist. Ellen is the author of two novels and twenty nonfiction titles and has published over 450 articles on subjects ranging from aviation to child abuse to winegrowing. Publications include Reno Magazine, Tahoe Quarterly, Sierra Heritage, Nevada Magazine, Carson Magazine, Nevada Living, Ski Tahoe and Newsweek. She writes video production scripts for CAV Media, teaches through the Nevada Artist in Residence and Tumblewords programs and is a regular speaker at schools and writing conferences. Her website here.

Susan Hart Lindquist is the author of three middle grade novels (Summer Soldiers, Delacorte, 1999; Wander, Delacorte, 1998; and Walking the Rim, Boyds Mills Press, 1992), and has also been fortunate enough to have had poetry published in anthologies compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins. She doesn’t believe in luck. Instead, she attributes her success in children’s publishing to patience, perseverance, practice, and SCBWI. She’s been a member since 1987. When new authors and illustrators ask for advice, she says, “Join SCBWI. Go to conferences. Mingle. Listen. Learn. And, when encountering your Regional Advisor, stick out your hand, say hello, and then volunteer!”

Nancy Lamb, is the author of over forty books for children and adults, including The World’s Greatest Toe Show, The Vampires Went Thataway!, Vampires and Other Creatures of the Night, and One April Morning. She also wrote the book that serves as the basis for the Fundamentals of Writing for Children Workshop, The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children. She can be reached at her Web site.

Brad Herzog lives in Pacific Grove, California with his wife and two sons, Luke and Jesse. He’s a dedicated father as well as a compassionate writer. Whether it’s sports articles, children’s books or a travel memoir about small town America, his prose is clean, balanced and a joy to read. His publisher for States of Mind was impressed enough with this book to send it in for consideration for a Pulitzer Prize (although he plays this down on his website). It didn’t win, unfortunately. But it did win an IPPY award (one of the ten outstanding books of the year as chosen by Independent Publisher magazine). He’s also won the Cornell University Media Award, the Best of Gannett Award, and several others. His articles have appeared in such prestigious magazines as Cornell, Sports Illustrated, Attaché, Sky, Via, Navigator, and Writer’s Digest.

Neal Shusterman, award-winning author who began his professional writing career shortly after graduation from college, when his humor column was picked up by Syndicated Writer's Group; a national feature syndicate, making Neal, at 22, the youngest syndicated columnist in the nation. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest taskmaster, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Currently Neal is adapting his newest novel Downsiders as a TV movie for The Disney Channel. His website here.

Other faculty may be added accordingly to keep small ratio of writers to faculty.

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PRICING :

• The entire weekend package is $ 695.00. This includes a shared room at the Big Sur Lodge, all meals (incl. Tax and grats), the entire workshop, and reception Friday evening.

• Shared accommodations mean two participants per room. If you would like a private room, there is an additional $100.00 cost for the weekend.

• For a guest not participating in the workshop, but sharing a room including all meals and the reception, the cost is $ 390.00

• For locals, not needing a room at the Big Sur Lodge, but attending the workshop including all meals and the reception, the price is $ 595.00.

• Previous participants receive a 5 % discount.

• Cancellation policy: 75% REFUND IF CANCELLED THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO STARTING DATE.
AFTER THAT NO REFUND.

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• SUBMISSION and REGISTRATION GUIDELINES:

To register and submit your manuscript please follow the instructions below.

1. Download our registration form CLICK HERE - fill it in and send payment to:
"Children's Writing Workshop" Henry Miller Library, Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920
Your manuscript submission will not be considered until payment has been received. You will receive immediate confirmation of registration upon receipt of payment.

2. Submit the first two chapters of your book or the first 20 pages, entire picture book.
You also have the option to submit other selection(s) from your mss., including a short synopsis, but not to exceed 20 pages. (Font 12, single spaced)

3. Send submissions for evaluation as soon as possible to:
Andrea Brown, 1076 Eagle Drive, Salinas, Ca 93905.
IMPORTANT: Mark envelope: “Big Sur Submission.”

Deadline for submission is postmark November 10, 2008.

Note: Works may not be accepted if the content falls outside the faculty area of expertise, or if the director feels the work and writer would not benefit from attending the workshop. You will be notified as soon as possible, with a full refund of registration fee, should your work not be approved. Notification of acceptance or non-acceptance is via email. The submitted material will be used by faculty for individual meetings during conference and will not be returned nor should it be counted as one of the copies you should bring to workshop.

Register early. We sell out and keep the workshop small for personal attention.

Bring 5 copies of what you plan to work on at workshop. There may be time to work on more than one project so feel free to bring a second manuscript. (you can also bring a whole manuscript with two or three areas to work on, not forgetting to bring five copies of that extra work as well).

If you have any questions please e-mail us.

We will also e-mail the registration form to you if you like.

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• THINGS TO BRING:

*Rooms have no TV, radio or alarm clocks. Plan to write. Bring pads, laptops (printers are available). Bring flashlight, comfortable clothes and shoes and rain gear (Big Sur is beautiful in all weather). Bring alarm clock. There is no wake-up service.

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• SCHEDULE: TBA

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HOW TO GET HERE

From: San Francisco, CA
To: Big Sur Lodge, Big Sur, CA

Take Highway 101 South to Highway 156 West. Connect to Highway 1 South. Continue through Monterey/Carmel. Our lodge is 26 miles south of Carmel in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Turn left into the park and follow the signs to the Lodge. For the most scenic route, take Highway 1 down the coast from San Francisco. Distance: 150 miles

From: Los Angeles, CA
To: Big Sur Lodge, Big Sur, CA

Beginning at Los Angeles, CA, take Highway 101 North to San Luis Obispo. Connect to Highway 1 North all the way to Big Sur. Turn right into Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. After entering the park, please follow the signs to the Lodge. Distance: 311 miles

To view a comprehensive map of the Central Coast region visit the
Big Sur Chamber of Commerce website.

Closest airport is Monterey Airport

Others that are within 3 hours driving time are San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco airports.

We will send out e-mail to all participants to facilitate carpooling/car rental sharing as we get closer to the start date. In the past many have taken advantage of this.