Friday 19th
ADD-ON 9:30 - 11:30 am Intensives
- First Pages for Novelists with Carina Licon – Attendees will have the opportunity to share the first page of their novel (200-250 words maximum) in this small-group setting and receive feedback from Carina answering the question Would an editor keep reading, why or why not? Carina will expand on trends she notes in these first pages and how they relate to success or failure in the industry. Time for Q&A at the end. Prerequisite: Attendees should submit their first page by Sept 1st. Attendees will receive a digital copy of each first page for reading along.
- Dummies for Smarties with Sylvie Frank – What does pacing really mean? What does it mean for a picture book to be “snappy”? And how does plot function in picture books, anyway? In this jam-packed session, we’ll take a deep dive into a mentor text, examining character, plot, design, and all the other elements that make up a well-paced book. Next, we’ll use your works-in-progress to create a dummy and examine the pacing of your own text, paying close attention to page turns, language efficiency, and emotional response. Supplies: Attendees may bring a glue stick, pair of scissors, and/or stapler if readily available.
- Building a Career in Writing with Ronald L. Smith – Ron will dissect his journey into authorship, encouraging attendees to explore and analyze their own career path. Topics include: Why write for kids? Your journey as an author, dealing with internal barriers (self-doubt, motivation, permission to create, practical methods of time management, etc), Marketability vs. creativity, Cultural considerations (who should write which stories, with regards to underrepresented characters), Processes for a writing career: do you follow a regular schedule? How do you balance creative practice with the sometimes arduous work of writing? What resources/mentor texts do you use regularly? Attendees will have the opportunity to set an informed intention for their path forward. Prerequisite: For any writers looking for encouragement and advice for building and maintaining a career in publishing.
ADD-ON 3 pm – 6:15 pm Manuscript Critiques
- Sylvie Frank: PB manuscripts
- Carina Licon: PB manuscripts, MG manuscripts, MG non-fiction, YA manuscripts, YA non-fiction
- Kelly Dyksterhouse: Novels of any genre
- Leslie Zampetti: PB manuscripts, PB non-fiction, YA manuscripts
- Ronald L. Smith: MG manuscripts
7:30 – 9 pm Ignite the Dragon Flame bonfire and story-off – Carolinas favorite meet-up, Ignite the Spark, gets a magical makeover in our fireside story battle! Join forces with the other members of your Archetypal Society to create a micro-fiction piece that will cast a spell of wonder over the crowd. Details coming soon.
Saturday 20th
9 am – 10:30 am Sessions
- The Practice of Making Picture Books with Leslie Zampetti – In this session, agent Leslie Zampetti will review tips and techniques for brainstorming new stories, discuss how to evaluate ideas and story premises for marketability, and demonstrate how to evaluate your own ideas and their fitness for picture books as opposed to other formats. The session includes exercise and group work to establish best practices for finding, honing, and querying your best options. Prerequisite: For established PB authors as well as beginning writers
- Scene Workshop for Novelists with Ronald L. Smith – In this hands-on workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to give and receive feedback on a scene from their work-in-progress. Scenes will be submitted ahead of time. During the session, Ron will offer input on what works, and what could be stronger, followed by group input as time allows. Prerequisite: attendees will be required to sign critique etiquette agreements.
1 pm – 2:30 pm Sessions
- The Picture Book as a Performance: Writing with Rhythm, Pacing, and Page Turns with Carina Licon – A picture book isn’t just a story—it’s a script for a performance. Whether it’s read aloud to a child or interpreted by an illustrator, each word needs to earn its place. In this craft-focused intensive, we’ll study the art of rhythm, pacing, repetition, and narrative momentum in picture books. We’ll talk about how to write for the page turn and how illustrations can amplify (or detract from) a text. Whether you’re a seasoned illustrator or new to writing, this class will sharpen your instincts for how text and visuals can work together.
- MG vs. YA vs. Adult with Leslie Zampetti – What makes a book with a young protagonist a middle grade, young adult, or adult novel? Determining your audience is much more nuanced than the age of your main character. In this session, Leslie will address the differences between categories, their audiences, and how to determine your audience of readers, including how to work with voice and how to position your work to agents and editors. Prerequisite: Please bring short samples of your work for exercises. A short suggested reading list will be provided.
2:30 – 4 pm Lab Hours – choose your work-along location and engage with faculty while enjoying some creative time
4 pm – 5:30 pm Sessions
- From Eloise to Pigeon: Creating Characters with Staying Power with Sylvie Frank – Some characters become beloved by generation after generation. And some, well, don’t. Why? Why do some characters become series—even franchises!—and others fade away? Together we’ll take a look at some favorite picture book characters and analyze what makes them stand out. Then, we’ll tackle writing exercises aimed at creating a brand-new character, honing their voice, and brainstorming new book ideas. Who knows? Maybe you’ll invent the next Fancy Nancy right here in this very session!!!
- The Unskimmable Page: How to Make Every Scene Earn Its Place with Carina Licon – Too often, writers focus on getting from plot point A to plot point B and forget to consider how their scenes function and sing. In this intensive, we’ll explore how to write scenes that are unskimmable—pages that demand to be read. You’ll learn how to identify “floaty” scenes, refine character motivations at the scene level, and use micro-tension to ensure that even quiet scenes are doing vital narrative work. We’ll also break down examples from contemporary middle grade and YA novels to identify what makes a scene unforgettable.
7:30 pm – 9 pm Portfolio Showcase + Pitch Auction – enjoy the party as we view portfolios and “auction” pitches anonymously for chances to submit (included with retreat)
Sunday 21st
9 am – 9:45 am Sessions
- Anxiety vs. Productivity with Leslie Zampetti – Picture book authors often experience anxiety around their chosen category. What if you’re not an illustrator? When will my agent submit more of my work? Why are editors buying less of X and more of Y? Leslie will discuss managing your career as a picture book author, navigating the agent relationship, and understanding the picture book market and its effect on your work. The focus will be on practical strategies for achieving equilibrium in your career.
- Landing an Agent with Ronald L. Smith – Ron will share the steps he took to landing his agent and offer insights on pitches and queries that hook agents. Attendees will have the opportunity to workshop their query materials as time allows.
10 am – 10:45 am Sessions
- From Picture Books to Panels: Breaking into Graphic Novels with Carina Licon – If you’ve mastered the art of the picture book—or are working toward it—you already have the storytelling instincts that graphic novels require. But where do you begin when the format shifts to panels, pacing stretches across 100+ pages, and your story needs a script instead of a manuscript? This session will help you take your first steps into graphic novel writing with confidence and clarity.
- Leveling Up Your Voice for Novelists with Leslie Zampetti – Voice has many nuances, including commercial vs. literary appeal, authenticity, individuality, and other qualities. While an author's voice is partly innate, it can be adapted to appeal to different audiences. In this session, Leslie will discuss the nuances of voice and how to craft your voice to best suit your various projects. Please bring the first five pages of a current project to use with exercises.
