Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop

Big Sur Writing Workshop, March 12-14, 2010
Please click here for info and registration

Big Sur Writing Workshop, December 3-5, 2010
For Children’s Books from Picture books to
Young Adult fiction.

NOTE: info below is for the 2009 workshop. Please sign onto our mailinglist and we'll let you know when we start accepting registrations.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (click on links below)

DESCRIPTION

EDITORS

LITERARY AGENTS

AUTHORS

PRICING ALTERNATIVES

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

REGISTRATION FORM: Download here, PDF or RTF

SCHEDULE

THINGS TO BRING

DIRECTIONS/HOW TO GET HERE

SUCCESS STORIES

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Important Notice for the Big Sur Writing Workshops
for Dec. 2009 and March 2010:

We have moved venue for the workshops.

Many of you probably know that the Big Sur area had the largest of the June wildfires in the state of California in 2008. Our fire lasted a full month, burnt large parts of the Santa Lucia mountains and the Ventana Wilderness. We are very fortunate that the firefighters managed to save the Henry Miller Library, but now the geologists, and others, are warning us that major mudslides are likely to close Highway One during winter storms – even with only moderate rainfall. We have decided that we can't take the risk of being shut out. We have found a new venue:

The site for the Dec. 2009 and March 2010 will be the beautiful Embassy Suites Hotel Seaside/Monterey, overlooking the ocean.

Room set-ups enable us to still provide sharing of rooms, (the suites have one bedroom and a comfortable bed sofa in the main room), all with kitchenettes, sitting area, more light, most with ocean or mountain/lake views, full breakfast and cocktail receptions between 5 and 7 both evenings. The hotel also has an indoor pool/spa, fitness room, bar and restaurant. For those flying in, no car will be needed as the hotel has complimentary van service to Monterey Airport. If Highway One is open, we will still plan a Saturday afternoon break time in Big Sur for those who wish to go. We hope you understand this unusual situation. We can assure you that we will still run the same quality of workshop and we do think you will find the substitute hotel truly lovely, substituting ocean views for the redwoods.

The cost of the workshop remains the same but there will be an approximately 5% increase in price on September 5.

Please e-mail if you have any questions.

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Why this workshop?

For the past twelve years, writers have come to the Big Sur Writing Workshops for an intensive weekend of working on manuscripts with publishing professionals who are dedicated to helping new writers. The workshops are designed for writers who have a finished or partially finished manuscript that needs critiquing, revisions, editorial help and guidance. Our workshop provides the tools needed to prepare one’s work for publication as manuscripts must be totally polished to sell in this tight market. The format of the weekend program is different from other conferences and workshops. Writers meet and work closely with at least three faculty members throughout the weekend, from agents to editors to authors. The ratio of faculty to writers is five to one or better. No two writers have the same experience and it is the unique nature of our workshop that has made it so popular that a large number of attendees return year after year. The number of writers is limited so there is an intimate feel to the weekend and writers get many opportunities to talk, share information and work with each other, as well as most of the faculty. The weekend is filled every moment with three separate critique groups, lectures and panels of agents and editors, rewriting time and cocktail hours with meals. The faculty are all established book professionals, and wonderful people who know how to target weak spots and help writers polish their works because they care about giving back. We are proud of our over 20 success stories including Jeff Stone’s half-million dollar deal with Random House for the Five Ancestors series, and Christina Meldrum’s two book, six-figure deal with Alfred A. Knopf. Add the magical setting of the Monterey Peninsula, ocean views, gourmet meals and a reasonable price including lodging, meals, cocktail receptions, full breakfast, indoor pool/spa/fitness center, and we know you will have an unforgettable, rewarding experience. Our goal is to have writers leave on Sunday with the knowledge to see their works published.

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 admits a limited amount of 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, rewriting time and meals. Writers devote the entire time to focusing 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.

Some quotes from attendees:

"I learned more in one weekend here than in four years of college."

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

“This is simply the best writer’s workshop in the country.”

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FACULTY:

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EDITORS:

Molly O'Neill joined the Bowen Press (Harper Collins) at its inception in 2008 as Assistant Editor, and has since acted as an integral part of every book published by the imprint. She is now with Katherine
Tegen Books, a division of Harper Collins. On a daily basis, Molly's tasks range from working a fascinating variety of books — from literary titles like National Book Award winner This Full House (Make Lemonade) and The Year the Swallows Came Early , by first-time author Kathryn Fitzmaurice; to commercial successes like the Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. A sought-after speaker on the craft of writing at conferences around the country, Molly enjoys the opportunity to travel widely as she seeks fresh new talent and diverse voices.

Anica Rissi is a Senior Editor at Simon Pulse, a division of Simon and Schuster. She specializes in developing, editing, and acquiring fiction and nonfiction books for teens. Anica especially loves discovering and building new talent and new voices. She is interested in commercial, high-concept, and literary projects; quirky humor; smart writing; compelling storytelling; and characters that she can't get out of her head. She is a Yale graduate and previously worked at Scholastic Books.

Abigail Samoun is a project editor with Tricycle Press, the children's book imprint of Ten Speed Press, in Berkeley, California, where she has worked since 2000. She has edited board books, picture books, middle-grade fiction, and early young-adult novels. These include the 2003 SCBWI Golden Kite winner for best picture book text, George Hogglesberry, Grade School Alien by Sarah Wilson, illustrated by Chad Cameron; and the 2004 New York Public Library Ezra Jack Keats award-winner, Yesterday I Had the Blues by Jeron Frame, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Abigail edited the middle grade series Edgar and Ellen, which has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide, been translated into eight languages, and launched a cartoon series on Nickelodeon. Before entering the wild world of children’s publishing, Abigail received an MA in French Studies and Journalism from New York University and worked jobs as far a field as a lingerie salesperson, a wrapper (as in gifts, not hip-hop), and an intern at the Bronx Zoo. None of these jobs was nearly as exciting as editing children's books.

Summer Laurie, formerly senior editor for Tricycle Press, 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.

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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's been with the agency for ten years, and specializes in all categories of children's books, from picture books to young adult. Some of her noteworthy deals include deals for over half a million dollars to both Random House and Simon & Schuster; six-figure YA deals to Razorbill/Penguin, Knopf, Feiwel & Friends, Margaret McElderry/S&S, Scholastic, and Harper; and a film deal to Nickelodeon/Paramount. Laura is the author of a picture book, Buying, Training, and Caring for Your Dinosaur (Fall 2009, Knopf) and of two highly illustrated books for young readers, The Extra-Ordinary Princess , forthcoming with Dutton. She has a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Virginia and has nine years of experience teaching as a faculty member in the English Departments of the University of Virginia, Osaka University of Foreign Studies, and Santa Clara University.

Jennifer Rofe (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.

Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency, is looking for YA and middle grade realistic fiction, science fiction, mystery, adventure and humor. She adores simplicity, but she is not interested in the conventional, predictable, mechanical, gimmicky or ordinary. She seeks books that have not only voice, but blood, temperature and a pulse--they can be messy and idiosyncratic, but never weak. If you need to be reassured that your writing is vital, you are probably not an author to interest her.

Jamie Weiss Chilton, associate with Andrea Brown Literary Agency, represents children's books exclusively: teen novels, middle grade fiction, chapter books, picture books, and narrative nonfiction. Her specific interests include literary fiction with intense emotional content (character-driven, not issue-driven plots); smart thrillers and mysteries; science fiction; surreal stories and magical realism; sweet, funny, quirky chapter books and picture books.

Kelly Sonnack comes to the Andrea Brown Literary Agency after nearly three years with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency where she agented children's and adult work. Prior to that, Kelly worked for the publishing giant Reed Elsevier, where she served as an Acquisitions Editor under the Academic Press imprint. As an agent, Kelly specializes in all types of children's literature (picture books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels). In picture books and middle grade fiction, Kelly looks for a good sense of humor, stories that stretch a young reader's imagination, and an authentic voice. In young adult, she appreciates literary voices and character-driven stories with heart. In non-fiction for children, she enjoys projects that inspire and stimulate the minds of our younger generations.

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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.

Cece Meng’s first book The Wonderful Thing About Hiccups was selected as a National Association of Parenting Publications Honor book in 2007. Tough Chicks , her second picture book, was released in February 2009 and went into a second printing within a few weeks. In addition to writing books, Cece works as an advertising consultant and gives elementary school workshops on editing techniques. She lives in Santa Cruz, California with her husband Lee, her two kids, seven rabbits, three cats, and an opinionated bird named Lulu. You can read Cece Meng’s blog “Random musings of a children’s book writer”. Learn more about her books at www.cecemeng.com.

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 (Kidbacks) (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 & The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail (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

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.

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 the novels Tricks,(debuted #1 on New York Times Bestseller List!) Crank, Identical, Glass, Impulse and Burned plus 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.

Nancy Lamb, is the author of over forty books for children and adults, including The World's Greatest Toe Show (A Canal Street Kids Book) , The Vampires Went Thataway! (A Canal Street Kids Book) , Vampires and Other Creatures of the Night , and One April Morning: Children Remember the Oklahoma City Bombing . 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 (Write for kids library). Ms Lamb is also the author of the forthcoming (Nov. 15, 2008) book, The Art And Craft Of Storytelling: A Comprehensive Guide To Classic Writing Techniques . She can be reached at her Web site.

Susan Hart Lindquist is the author of three middle grade novels (Summer Soldiers , Delacorte, 1999; Walking the Rim , Delacorte, 1998, 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!”

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, Unwind , The Schwa was Here, Downsiders, to name a few, 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 $ 720.00. This includes a shared room at the Big Sur Lodge, all meals (incl. Tax and grats), the entire workshop, and cocktail receptions between 5 and 7 both evenings.

• 'Shared' means that you will be with one other writer in one unit. You will have separate bedrooms and share the bath. Rooms are large and comfortable. Unless you have a special reason to be private we suggest this as your best alternative. There is an additional $150.00 cost for the weekend should you need a private room.

• 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 Embassy Suites, but attending the workshop including all meals and the reception, the price is $ 600.00.

• If you like to stay extra nights you need to make reservations directly with the hotel’s 'in house reservations department' in order to receive the extended discount.
In house reservations: 831-393-1115. Open Monday – Thursday 7AM – 4PM Pacific Time.

• 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 PDF or RTF - fill it in and send, or call 831-667-2574 with card, Visa/MC/Discover, to: "Children's Writing Workshop" Henry Miller Library, Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920. Your 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 pages of text, or up to the first 500 words or the entire picture book text, via email (pdf). Also send a query letter and, if you like, a synopsis of your work(s) as these will be dealt with during the course of the workshop to help writers make them as strong as possible.
Please email your submission to: writing@henrymiller.org

Deadline for submission is postmark November 6, 2009.

Note: In the past these workshops have sold out early, so we recommend that you register soon. Our policy is first come, first served. Works and writers may not be accepted if the content falls outside the faculty’s areas of expertise, or if the director feels the work and writer would not benefit from attending the workshops. You will be notified as soon as possible, with a full refund of registration fee, should your work not be approved. We suggest you hold off on making airline reservations until you receive notification of acceptance. Such notification is via email.

Plan to bring six copies of the chapters or parts of the manuscript you wish to focus on at the workshop. There may be opportunities to work on more than one project, especially with picture books so do bring a second manuscript, if you like, but then do remember to bring six copies of that as well. Do bring one full copy of each manuscript. Some writers work on one or two chapters in depth, some on many pages as each writer has a unique experience, so it is good to have extra copies just in case.

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:
Plan to write. Bring pads, laptops (printers are available).
There's a spa in the hotel and a gorgeous beach not far.
Bring swimwear, comfortable clothes and shoes!

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• WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Friday, Dec. 4
2:00: Welcome, Introductions (Try to check in before 2 pm)
3:30—5:30: Critique Group 1 (Focus on first chapters)
5:30—6:30: Embassy Suites Cocktail Hour
6:45: Dinner
8:00: Evening Program: First Pages Critiques (Anonymous) with Editors and Agents
Magnus Toren speaks (and sings) about Henry Miller, Writing, The Library and Big Sur.

Saturday, Dec. 5
7:30:--8:45: Full Breakfast at hotel dining area
8:45—10:45: Critique Group 2
11:00—Noon: Private meetings with faculty member to either pitch your project(s) or review query letters (Come prepared with a pitch paragraph or query letter or bring both)
Noon: Box lunch
Early afternoon: Revising time on your own. (Bring laptops as there is internet connection and there is a Staples across the street to make copies, etc.) Or if you prefer, bring notepads and write on the beach down the block.
3:45—5:45: Return to Critique Group 1
5:45—6:45: Hotel Cocktail Hour
7:00: Dinner
8:15: Evening Program: Editors and Agents do Mock Acquisition meetings at publishing houses and discuss pitching strategies for manuscripts/Q & A

Sunday, Dec. 6
7:30—8:45: Full Breakfast in hotel
8:45—10:30: Return to Critique Group 2
10:45—Noon: Agents Panel/Final Q & A
Noon: Farewell, parting thoughts and check out.

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HOW TO GET TO THE EMBASSY SUITES
Click here.

Closest airport is Monterey Airport

Other airport that are within 2 1/2 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.

SUCCESS STORIES

We are proud of our over 20 success stories including Jeff Stone’s half-million dollar deal with Random House for the The Five Ancestors series:

Congratuations to Kim Culbertson, Big Sur Writing Workshop alumni, her YA novel Songs for a Teenage Nomad was recently picked up by Daniel Ehrenhaft, the senior editor at Sourcebooks, to be reissued in hardback under their new young adult imprint FIRE for fall of 2010. The imprint will also publish her second YA novel Traveling Instructions for the spring of 2011.

The adult fiction workshop in March: Congratulations to Rebecca Wolf, attendee from 2005 on her sale of Rockabye to editor Brooke Warner at Avalon Books, sold by agent, Laura Rennert.

Congratulations to Christina Meldrum! After attending the Big Sur Writing Workshop a couple of years ago, Laura Rennert of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. sold a two book, six-figure deal with Alfred A. Knopf for Christina! We can't wait to see the books and have Christina attend as faculty.

Also congrats to Harry Haines for signing a two novel deal with Mayhaven Publishing.

The children's book workshop from this past December, congratulates Elizabeth Shreeve who has now sold two picture book manuscripts to Front Street/Boyd's Mills Press.

We also congratulate Crystal Allen, from the December 2008 workshop, who just sold a two-book, six-figure deal to HarperCollins with agent, Jennifer Rofe, from Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.

Who is the next success story?

If any other former attendees have sales as a result of attending the workshops, please let Magnus at the Henry Miller Library know as soon as possible so we can post it. Keep writing!

Thank you,

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Testimonials from participants in previous Writing Workshops:

"Andrea Brown literary agency is my favorite agency. I love the authors, titles, publishers, and after having met the agents, I was impressed by your passion for the craft, and the "no, we're not some snooty NY agency, but we're big players" kind of approach."

"The critique groups were amazing. The editors, agents, and authors were very approachable, and their comments/edits were invaluable. The writers in both critique groups shared fresh/unique perspectives, with an uninhibited ear/eye for what was and was not working. I stayed up nearly all night on both nights to create a revised first chapter that's both immediate and evocative...... kick your butt in a good way workshop. It was was inspiring."

"This is the first conference I have walked away thinking this was worth every penny. I actually feel like I have something of value, and I am a better writer for going."

"I loved the workshop and came home inspired. I hope I can go next year!
Thanks for everything!"

"I really appreciated the low-pressure environment, because it was a workshop rather than a conference. I enjoyed just talking to people, faculty and conferees, without having to be “on.” The faculty were all so willing to share their knowledge and offer their help. It was really a unique experience."

"I was truly grateful for the time and thought they put into their feedback, which resulted in a stronger start to my book."

"Thank you so much for offering this workshop. It reinvigorated me and my book and allowed me to connect with other people, make new friends, and reconnect with old friends, all who love writing for children."

"I love the sense of community here. It reminds me of the level of professionalism that is needed, i.e. time to work: time to network, talk and enjoy the process of writing. Great! Great! Great!"

"The best part was the intensity! The editors/agents are so down to earth & accessible! I like that serious writers were here to discuss work. It raised the standards for people.”

“Diverse and insightful critique from colleagues and opportunity to meet and gather insights from people in the industry.”

“The best part is that you make us work!”

"Multiple critique sessions worked perfectly!”

"Having a professional in the field to ask questions of - very specifically - regarding how work fits in publishing world was the best part."

"I had an amazing weekend! I learned so much about writing and developing my work."

"Gee, do you think I will be back next year? You might as well sign me up now!"

"Loved every minute of it."

"Thanks. Great workshop."

"Great workshop as usual."

"Thanks for helping put on a wonderful weekend."

"All of us experienced the pleasure of praise for work well done and the pain of constructive criticism.

"Thank you for an encouraging and wonderful event."

"No wonder people are coming all the way from Brazil!"

"I was actually surprised that the rooms where so comfortable and the food was marvellous, The Best!"

"Superb - The absence of distractions make this conference so much more productive."

"This conference felt like family."

"I achieved what I came for - to solve story problems."

"Excellent."

"Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!"

"I'll be back!"

"Exceptional!"

"Awesome."

"Great."

"Lodging excellent, location spectacular."

“The food was great! I was completely, and pleasantly surprised.”