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Looking for Authenticity: Crafting the Young Adult Novel

  • Mechanics' Hall 519 Congress Street Portland, ME 04101 (map)

A 5-Week In-Person YA Workshop

Wednesdays, April 1 - 29, 6-9 PM

Aimed at YA novelists working in all genres, this workshop offers a blend of craft conversations, generative writing, and prompts to guide your work. We’ll dive into topics such as voice, plot structure, and speaking authentically to an audience of young readers. This workshop seeks to connect you to your story on a deep level and give you opportunities to collaborate with a community of writers who celebrate and love YA fiction. Over five sessions you will read mentor texts, exchange memories, workshop your own writing, and dig into what makes your novel speak to teen readers with honesty and clarity.  

$275 Members/$475 Nonmembers

Register

Kay Amato has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts in Teaching from The University of Pittsburgh. They live in Maine with their wife, one dog, two cats, and far too many houseplants. Kay has taught high school English, middle school health, and elementary school everything. Kay was born in Florida and lived in twelve different houses before they turned eighteen. Kay's work has been supported by We Need Diverse Books, Porter Square Books, Macondo, VCFA, and the Warren Memorial Foundation. When they’re not writing or reading, Kay can be found running slowly, hiking quickly, pulling weeds in their garden, or cooking recipes from their enormous cookbook collection. You can read Kay's thoughts on books, writing and running on their newsletter Tourist Season.


ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.

PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION

QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact programs@mainewriters.org.

REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-200-7180 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.

REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.

SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one partial scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due two weeks prior to the workshop start date, at 9:00 a.m.
→ MORE INFORMATION

MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION

Later Event: April 7
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