YA/YA Crossover Workshop with Ellen Goff, Summer 2025
June 3rd, 2025 - August 26th, 2025
with Ellen Goff
In this workshop, you will work with literary agent Ellen Goff of HG Literary and a small group of writers (up to 4 others) on the first 15,000 words of your novels in process, over two rounds. The workshop includes written feedback from Ellen and your peers, live calls to debrief each round, and a group discussion board where Ellen will answer questions.
The workshop begins with an introductory group call to meet the other members and discuss workshop expectations. Then you will submit your Round 1 submission (7500 words for prose, see below for verse) of your project for feedback, plus a short summary (this is for your readers and will not be critiqued). You have three weeks to read and post your written critiques of participants work. Round 1 critiques are followed by a group debrief call where you can dig into questions about the notes and/or brainstorm with Ellen about revisions. You will then submit your next submission (7,500 words for prose) for peer and professional feedback, followed by a R2 debrief call.
What to expect from your written critiques: Ellen will provide a detailed critique on your pages addressing character development, plot development, pacing, and sentence-level writing tips to take your story to the next level.
*This workshop has a zero tolerance policy against racist, sexist, harassing, or otherwise offensive behavior. Writers who engage in this behavior against the instructor or fellow writers, or present material that promotes this behavior, will be removed from the workshop without a refund.
<p>This is an application based workshop. Please click above to apply. Writers may take one YA workshop per season. The Spring/Summer season runs from April 15th - Aug 14th. If spaces are available one month prior to a workshop starting, writers will be able to register for a second workshop.</p>
Notes
Who this workshop is for: <p>This workshop welcomes writers working on YA and crossover fiction stories. Ellen is excited to read submissions in prose or verse, across genres.</p><p>Writers are expected to be at an intermediate level of writing craft, or above. Writers may have achieved this through self-study of books and exercises, or organized instruction such as classes, workshops, or webinars. Writers should be familiar with elements of craft such as characterization, plot, internal arc, pacing and voice in order to offer craft-rooted feedback to their peers.<br></p>
Focus: Adult - Novels - Literary - Adult - Novels - Upmarket - Adult - Novel…
Group size: 5 writers
Submissions: <p>For prose, you will submit 15,000 words (over 2 rounds). For verse you will submit 10,000 words (over 2 rounds) You will also submit a synopsis at the workshop start. This will not be critiqued, but is for context only.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Changes and Withdrawals Policy: </span></p><ul style="padding-left: 26px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><li style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px;">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 style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px;">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. </li><li style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px;">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. </li></ul>
Fee
Members: $415; Non-members: $465
About Ellen Goff
Ellen (she/her) graduated from The University of Chicago with a BA in English, a minor in Cinema and Media Studies, and a focus in Creative Writing. She has worked everywhere from The White House under the Obama administration to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At HG Literary, her client list consists of authors writing for all age groups, from picture books to middle grade to young adult, in both fiction and nonfiction. She also represents illustrators, for kidlit and adult projects, as well as graphic novelists. In addition to building her own domestic list, she is the Foreign Rights Manager of the company’s Children’s & YA list. For picture books, Ellen is looking for author-illustrators, and projects that highlight the sparse and simple. She is interested in all genres and formats of middle grade and YA, especially anything spooky, graphic novels, novels-in-verse, and projects that allow her to travel vicariously when she can’t make it to the airport herself. Ellen might be convinced on a nonfiction project if it involves food. She has a soft spot for southern stories that remind her of her home state of Kentucky, and is a sucker for a darn good love story. Ellen runs an active writing workshop and critique group in the heart of New York City.
Schedule:
Round 2: