[mara-berkley Posts: 5 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

ARE THERE ANY RETREATS DEDICATED TO CHILDREN'S B00K WRITERS.
THANKS

[Vonna Posts: 2,591 Status: Offline Keeping to the sunny side of the street WWW]

Welcome to the boards, Mara!

I keep a list of such events on my blog. You can see them here: http://vonnacarter.com/wordpress/craft-writers-workshops/
Most of the events listed there are specifically for children's writers and illustrators but a few are general craft workshops that can apply to writers of any genre or age group.

[dkshumaker Posts: 1,019 Status: Offline]

Welcome Mara!

Vonna's link is a great resource. Another one I like to refer children's writers to is the KidLit411 website. They have a page for retreats and conferences: http://www.kidlit411.com/2013/12/kidlit411-conferences-workshops.html

Happy searching and good luck finding the right fit for you!

[Pons Posts: 3,420 Status: Offline]

Hi Mara. Information on the kidlit world is vast, so it can be overwhelming. Googling a topic can be a good place to start. Try typing Children's Writer's Retreats 2018 in your Google box and see what you come up with.  It can be a fun search.   

[Margaret Ann Posts: 30 Status: Offline]

Thank you for these resources. Helpful!

[julie-williams1 Posts: 15 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi , 
   Does anyone know anything about the writer's retreats sponsored by Highlights Foundation. org?
I saw this
September 9–September 12, 2018 The Journey: A Crash Course in How to Write Books for Children 2018
Get serious about writing your children’s book–and explore your path to publication. Just how do you write a children’s book–where >>
REGISTER
Business of Publishing
Novels
Picture Books

 Any Thoughts? Thanks!! Julie

[hairaplenty Posts: 1,752 Status: Offline Don't ever quit!]

IMO, anything by the Highlights foundation is legit and a worthwhile investment in your craft.  I had the opportunity to go to Chautauqua back in the day and it was the best money spent on learning my craft. Just wish I hadn't been such a newbie at the time and had soaked it all in just a tad more.   :running2

[dkshumaker Posts: 1,019 Status: Offline]

I hear so many good things about Highlights retreats. They aren't cheap, but I hear they are well worth their price. Definitely on my bucket list!

[read lisa scott Posts: 134 Status: Offline middle grade, chapter books, picture books]

I went to the PBJ (picture book) workshop in June at highlights.  I can't say enough good things about it. Find a way to go to one!!

[Vijaya Posts: 8,510 Status: Offline LISTEN. Let all mortal flesh keep silence ... WWW]

IMO, anything by the Highlights foundation is legit and a worthwhile investment in your craft.  I had the opportunity to go to Chautauqua back in the day and it was the best money spent on learning my craft. Just wish I hadn't been such a newbie at the time and had soaked it all in just a tad more.   :running2

This. If you are very new to writing, these retreats can be overwhelming.

The farther along you are in your journey the more you will get out of them. I've been to both Chautauqua and a weekend retreat and both came at just the right time for me. I highly recommend them. They also have scholarships.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,374 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

I have never heard a bad thing about one of their programs. I haven't been yet, but it's also on my bucket list for as soon as the kids don't need attention and I can manage the travel and costs.

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,601 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

I went to Chautauqua with the Highlights Foundation and loved it. They put so much into their events.

You can also search for SCBWI events near you: https://www.scbwi.org/events-home/

[julie-williams1 Posts: 15 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

    Thanks to all who responded about the Highlights Foundation Writers Retreat.
 I am going to the Sept 9-12 session I mentioned. I am really looking forward to the experience!
    Julie

[Vijaya Posts: 8,510 Status: Offline LISTEN. Let all mortal flesh keep silence ... WWW]

That's so wonderful Julie!!!

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,601 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

  It looks fantastic, Julie. Enjoy every minute of it. I hope you'll tell us all about it.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,374 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Have fun and Learn Much

[Jean Reidy Posts: 817 Status: Offline I love kids' books!! WWW]

I highly recommend Vonna's lists!!

[read lisa scott Posts: 134 Status: Offline middle grade, chapter books, picture books]

Awesome, Julie!  I'm so jealous, I can't wait to go again.  This will be one of the best things you'll do for your writing career!  Enjoy every moment of it.  Let family and friends know it will be very difficult to reach you, though. Cell phone service/texts really are iffy, as is internet service. Which is wonderful, really, because it allows you to submerse yourself in your creative weekend.  And the food.  Oh, the food...is amazing.  Enjoy!!!

[HaroldU Posts: 881 Status: Offline WWW]

    Thanks to all who responded about the Highlights Foundation Writers Retreat.
 I am going to the Sept 9-12 session I mentioned. I am really looking forward to the experience!
    Julie

Julie, it's great that you are going to that, but I think you should know it's not a retreat. Retreats give you a lot of open time to write. The Writing Crash Course is more like an extended workshop--and it will be VERY worthwhile. It's just not a retreat.

(I am actually Highlights faculty for a different Crash Course in the spring, and for a retreat built around revision in August).

Enjoy! Highlights is a wonderful place.

[Verla Kay Posts: 5,876 Status: Offline Invite Verla Kay to speak in your area WWW]

My Region has a wonderful weekend retreat coming up (in November) that is open right now for registration to people ONLY in the Pacific Northwest Region but that will be open to registrations from anyone on September 15 IF any of the 20 spots are still available. It is limited to 20 people that can attend and an art director (from Cameron Kids) and an editor (from Harper Collins) will be there there, too.  We will have quiet time to work on our stories, meal times to share with each other and to talk with the editor and art director and for a small extra fee there will be sessions in the evenings with the editor and art director. The retreat will take place at a lake north of Spokane, Washington, and all meals and private rooms/lodging are included in the price. A GREAT way to work on your book! I am going and they still had a few openings the last time I checked. (Individual manuscript critiques are sold out - I didn't get one - but a couple of art critiques are still available.) Hope to see some of you there.

https://inlandnw.scbwi.org/events/regional-retreat/