Eastern PA Webinar: Professional Development Series

Jun 15, 2026 - Jun 16, 2026

Online event

This 3-webinar series is made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.

Quick Facts

HOST REGION: Eastern Pennsylvania

CONTACT: Kristen Strocchia [email protected]

COST: FREE

This 3-webinar series is made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.

CRITIQUES: available at an additional cost; scroll down for more information

RECORDING

The webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be available for one month following the event. Attendees will receive a link and a password by email about two days after the event.

REGISTRATION CONFIRMATIONS

Upon completion of payment, you will receive a payment confirmation by email. You will also find a registration confirmation on the website that will include event-specific details. Go to your Member Home and click on My Events under the black bar at the top of the page. All events you have registered will be displayed on this page. If there are additional meeting details (i.e. Zoom links for virtual events or materials required for the event), this information will be found under the green Meeting Info button.

REFUND POLICY

The 3 FREE webinars in this series are made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.

June 15

Research Methods for Writing Authentic Middle Grade & YA Historical Fiction with Jennifer Robin Barr

Strong historical fiction starts with solid research. In this webinar, writers will learn practical techniques and methods to help make historical middle grade and young adult novels authentic to their time. We will look at the importance of books, journal articles, and historical newspapers of the era, and the value of primary sources, such as letters, photographs, and even government meeting minutes. Together we will explore search strategies with large collections like the Library of Congress or university archives, and highlight the value of working with local historians and historical societies. We’ll end the webinar with practical strategies, including simple techniques for organization so your research is easy to manage and access throughout the writing process. We will also discuss a tried-and-true revision method that ensures historical details are naturally woven into the story throughout the manuscript. This session is designed to help writers build a clear and manageable approach to research, enabling them to create historically grounded stories for young readers. CRITIQUES AVAILABLE.