Kid's Book Revisions Workshops:
What's Coming Up and What We OfferKids Book Revisions has a number of workshop and retreat programs available, with different topics and workshop lengths.
We are local for workshops in the NY/NJ/CT/MA/PA area and a working retreat every summer at the Highlights Foundation near Honesdale, PA (once more in person--see below!), but we also do online classes--see further below for some options. We are now taking bookings for 2025, and beyond. Please contact us if you want to set up a retreat or workshop in your area, or offer an online workshop or retreat.
Here are examples of some in-person events we have given in the past: 1-day workshops, such as "Editing without an Editor," Columbus, OH SCBWI, March 2018, including model critique groups; 2-day mini-retreats, given with the West/Central NY SCBWI in Syracuse in October 2017; 3-hour intensives, such as "Revising Your YA or MG Novel," LA SCBWI conference, August 2016; 4-day Revision Retreat, held annually (planning for twice in 2025) at the Highlights Foundation, near Honesdale, PA.
Free preview: See what our classes are like in this recording and materials from "The Unwritten: What You Don't Say When Writing a Picture Book"--about one hour long, it was originally created for our picture book revision webinar class, as both an exploration of what "the unwritten" is and a preview of the class: The Unwritten--video recording.
Read what people say about our workshops and webinars.
Upcoming Events:
2025
Additional bookings to be posted when confirmed.
May 15-18: Eileen Robinson and Emma Dryden will back at the Highlights Foundation, with Harold Underdown taking part virtually, for this spring's Revision Retreat. This is a new and improved version of the Kid's Book Revision Retreat that Eileen and Harold offered for years. Each of us gives a presentation via Zoom in the weeks leading up to the Retreat. The Retreat follows in mid-May, with plenty of writing and revising time, optional consultations with the faculty (Harold via Zoom), great meals, and nature walks. Our presentations, additional revision materials and resources, and a discussion board, will be available during and after the Retreat in an online classroom.
- Upcoming: Mini workshops on revision and related topics will be given by us (Harold Underdown and Eileen Robinson) and our friend and colleague Emma D. Dryden later in 2025. Watch for announcements and updates on this page!
November: We are likely to offer the Revision Retreat again in the fall. Dates and other details are not yet final.
Formats Available for Workshops:
Topics/Themes:
- 2 to 4-hour mini-workshops, available as online presentations, which can stand alone or fit into a conference schedule.
- Example: Editing without an Editor, 3-hour version.
- Example: Picture Book or Magazine Story.
- Example: Re-Imagining Your Picture Book.
- Example: Cover Letters, Query Letters, and Synopses (Oh My!).
- Mini-workshops on revising novels, both MG and YA, or nonfiction, are also available.
- 1 to 3-day workshops (8-hour days), typically in-person.
- Sample 1-day workshop schedule.
- Sample 2-day weekend mini-retreat schedule.
- Sample 3-day workshop schedule (we can compress the 3-day to a 2-day schedule, though we recommend the 3-day).
- 2-day to 1-week working retreats, with sessions in the mornings or evenings, writing time in afternoons.
We can also custom-build a workshop or retreat on request, and can bring in other editors and agents, or experts in other areas (marketing, social media, etc.) as needed.
- Editing without an Editor (sample schedule, from our Westport series): an overview for writers across all genres.
- Revising Your Picture Book/MG Novel/YA Novel/Nonfiction: Dig into a specific manuscript with two experienced editors.
- Line-editing: New hands-on workshop that digs into this important but seldom covered area.
- Critique Group Recharge: Workshop for critique groups--we come to you.
- Additional topics under development, including Writing Nonfiction for Fiction Writers.