Middle Grade Fiction First Pages with Andrea Tompa

March 31st, 2025 - April 30th, 2025

with Andrea Tompa

Group full

You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Andrea will submit her notes near the critique deadline. After critiques are complete, we host a 2-hour group debrief, in which each writer gets 15 minutes of individual time with Andrea to dig into feedback, brainstorm next steps, and discuss any writing questions. 

Our goal with these events is to help writers become stronger storytellers. That said, each opening pages event we offer also comes with a submission opportunity.

<p>You may take one middle grade workshop per season. Winter season includes workshops beginning January 1st - April 14th 2025. If there is space in a workshop 1 month prior to it starting, you may register for a second workshop.<br></p>

Notes

Who this workshop is for: <p>This workshop is for agented writers (for their MG writing) and advanced writers who are querying and getting requests for their full. No first drafts please.<br></p>

Focus: Children's - Middle Grade - Contemporary fiction - Children'…

Group size: 7 writers

Submissions: <p>There will be one submission of your first 3750 words of prose&nbsp;(approximately 15 pages) or 2500 words of verse, at the workshop start. Participants should also plan to share their pitch/short summary with their pages. Your pitch is not included in the word count and will not be critiqued.</p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">Changes and Withdrawals Policy:&nbsp;</span></p><ul><li>2 months or more ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited the full amount of the workshop, less a $20 change fee.</li><li>Under 2 months to 14 days ahead of a workshop start: If we are able to replace you, you will be credited for the full workshop price less a $20 change fee. If we can't replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop cost.&nbsp;</li><li>Withdrawals within 14 days of a workshop start: If we can replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop price. If we cannot replace you, you will not receive a credit. Your fee will go towards our workshops and scholarships.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Fee

Members: $140; Non-members: $165

About Andrea Tompa

Andrea Tompa is an executive editor at Candlewick Press, where she has worked for the past twenty years. She is proud to edit a wide range of projects: picture books, including Back Home by Arlene Elizabeth Casimir, illustrated by Ken Daley; early readers, including See the Cat and its sequels by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka; middle grade novels, including Ferris by Kate DiCamillo and The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon; and nonfiction, including All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat and My Antarctica by G. Neri.

Schedule:

  • Mon, March 31st - Submissions due
  • Tues, April 22nd - Critiques due
  • Mon, April 28th, 12-2 pm ET - Debrief call on Zoom
  • Wed, April 30th - Group closes