GENERAL WORKSHOP QUESTIONS

Included: Who may enroll, fees and critiques, program content, matching faculty with your interests, landing contracts with our faculty, and the website’s organization.

Who is this workshop designed for? Must I be a published author, or at least present a finished manuscript?

Do you aim to polish and/or publish your novel? If so, we have a place for you. The Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Workshop (PCCWW) is an intensive, in-depth seminar designed for 30 intermediate to advanced writers of middle-grade and young-adult novels.

Our fast-paced weekend is tailored to skilled, savvy writers who are nearing or renewing their goal of publication. Beginners may attend as Auditors (active observers) without a critique, or receive a written critique on five manuscript pages. Published authors who don’t desire a critique may also enroll as Auditors.

Whatever your level of experience, PCCWW can expand your novelist’s toolkit—as well as your personal and professional networks. If fiction is your passion, welcome!

	Interactive focus session with 2007 faculty author Barb Shoup

This website is filled with goodies. Where do I take my
first bite?

For a step-by-step approach, start with the top navigational menus; move from left to right. Or click on topics in our alphabetized site directory.

To catch some quick nibbles, see our program overview and comparison table. Then, see our enrollment basics.

What does the full, no-fluff weekend schedule include?

We’ve planned a stimulating, creative three days for you.
See our detailed schedule.

Is the workshop faculty (editor, agent, published author) experienced, right for me?

PCCWW’s nationally-known faculty are amiable, proven teachers and/or communicators, and experts in their respective fields.

We will take great care to match you with faculty who are interested in your type of manuscript. For example, we focus on realistic fiction, but occasionally accept well-crafted fantasy if one of our faculty is interested in that genre. We are a novels-only workshop. So, only an agent, editor or faculty author experienced with novels will critique your manuscript.

More: Read our faculty profiles, and, after February 15, exclusive faculty interviews.

Has anyone ever signed with an agent, or received a book contract, as a direct result of attending this workshop?

YES! We are happy to report that:

• Enrollee Joni Sensel signed with Jennifer Rofe Jaeger of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, who sold one of Joni’s YA novels, Farwalker (Bloomsbury, 2009). Joni says: “Attending PCCWW allowed me to meet a dynamic agent whom I would not have otherwise considered for my work. I’m so glad I participated!”
  
  
• Enrollee Heather Tomlinson’s debut novel, The Swan Maiden, was published by Henry Holt in 2007. After Heather signed contracts with PCCWW’s editor and agent, she announced to our alumni: “I’m thrilled to pieces. Many thanks to PCCWW for providing the fantastic opportunity to meet with them both!” (See her winning query letter in the PCCWW Manual, available to workshop enrollees.)

What’s so special about the “masterclass” critiques—and what are they?

Our open clinics allow you and all peers to observe a writer’s three-way critique by agent, editor, and faculty author. Since enrollees can read these manuscripts in advance, our seminar format maximizes your time and money. (A committee selects manuscripts for Group 1 among those submitted.) Start here to learn how our PCCWW master classes can benefit you. For FAQs about critiques, click here.

I’m most interested in faculty critiques. Must I share my writing with other enrollees?

If you enroll on time and request it, you’re guaranteed at least one faculty critique. One enrollment option requires that you share your manuscript with peers; other options do not.

• Group 1 enrollment masterclass manuscripts, publicly critiqued by all faculty) requires that you share your submission. As a distinctive educational feature of our seminar, we offer an online anthology of peer manuscripts several weeks before the workshop. This anthology allows everyone to read and critique Group 1 manuscripts before hearing the pros’ feedback.
  
  
• Groups 2 and 3 enrollment (written critique by one faculty) does not require that you share your manuscript in the online peer anthology. However, nearly everyone chooses to do so. It helps writers get acquainted, and (if you so request) can yield some savvy peer critiques.

On a first-come basis, Group 2 enrollees may also share approximately one manuscript page in a public Spot Critique session, team-taught by editor and agent.

Will we have breakout groups at this workshop?

No, not formally structured. It can be frustrating to choose between two appealing-yet-simultaneous activities—so, we offer a different approach. Since our seminar focuses exclusively on youth novels, our one-track format provides the richest opportunities for everyone.

Our manuscript critique clinics are team-taught by all three faculty. Their comments often cross-reference each other, reappearing throughout the weekend. When everyone attends all discussions and hands-on projects, these key points can be developed to the fullest—and benefit the entire group.

In brief, we don’t want you to miss any of our valuable sessions.

How much does the workshop cost?

We offer four enrollment groups, based on type and quantity of manuscript critique (or no critique, if “active observer”). For a table of fees and brief descriptions, click here.

Along with the in-depth craft activities, will I get marketing or publishing help at this workshop?

Yes! We include a “Writing and Publishing Biz” focus session; editor and agent present mock book-deal negotiations, answer your in-depth questions, and so on. We always offer open-ended faculty Q&A sessions; we also provide publishing tips in our online course manual.

Complementing these business sessions, our manuscript critique sessions provide a first-hand look at what editors and agents want—what they believe will sell, or not. At our workshop, you’ll have many opportunities to hear and discuss the views of these industry professionals. There’s no better resource!

For FAQs about critiques, click here.