For years, I’ve been wanting to write for older kids. I’ve explored a few characters and have written a paragraph here and there, but never built momentum.
As explained in my previous post, in the spring of 2021, an idea for a YA novel popped into my head. I knew it was good, but I remained STUCK.
Thankfully, I was binge-listening to Children’s Book Insider‘s Kidlit Distancing Socials, including a Chris Tebbetts interview. Chris announced a Highlights Foundation online course that he was co-teaching with Erin Dionne: “Getting Your Middle Grade or Young Adult Novel UNSTUCK”.
I took the course, listened to it repeatedly while illustrating other books, and then, over the summer, wrote my novel!
I highly recommend the class, which delivered on it’s promise one hundred percent. I stand before you, UNSTUCK. Able to write. (And in the photo above, I stand before my beat sheet. Perplexed about how to move my plot along… but not stuck!)
Amazing.
“Getting… UNSTUCK” is now an online on-demand course at the Highlights Foundation. Anyone can take it, any time! Click here to check it out.
You’d be wise to connect with the Highlights Foundation to receive course updates. Connect with Erin Dionne and Chris Tebbetts, too! Erin and Chris are excellent writers and excellent teachers. Check out their books, and follow them on social media so you won’t miss notices about any of their other classes or workshops.
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Check out an upcoming Highlights Foundation intensive weekend workshop with Erin Dionne and Chris Tebbetts, along with agent Linda Random: “Beginning Your Novel: MG & YA First Pages, Pacing, & Voice“. Jan 8-9, 2022.
Another great resource: Bad Choices Make Good Stories, Erin Dionne's fantastic new book on writing! Click here for ordering info.
illustories 
Thanks so much for this post, Violet! And FYI, the Unstuck course continues to be offered through Highlights as an on-demand course, which is to say, anyone can sign up for it at any time.
Chris, that is great! I will edit that bit right now. ☺️