Write your YA novel over the course of a school year with bestselling author Betsy Cornwell!
In this intensive ten-month course, you’ll take your young adult novel from concept to complete manuscript with guidance from New York Times bestselling author Betsy Cornwell, as well as mutual support from fellow participants.
Attend the Virtual Info Session
Meet Betsy Cornwell, instructor for our yearlong YA novel workshop, and have all your questions about the program answered!
Join us on ZOOM, Tuesday August 11th, 11am – 12pm ET.
FREE RSVP >>>
What to expect:
Live classes every two weeks will focus on craft talks, close reading, and the development of a practical “tool box” of writing and storytelling skills, as well as group workshop time. You’ll also have access to one-on-one mentorship sessions with Betsy, as well as the option to be matched with a classmate for critique partnership and accountability.
The best books for young people are both timely and timeless, and require at least as much creative scope and rigor as writing for adults. Newbery-winning young adult author Madeleine L’Engle wrote that “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
In this course, we’ll consider examples of brilliant books for young readers, and read through these texts together from a craft perspective with the goal of writing young adult books that are vivid, honest, and complex—never condescending or “less than” adult novels. If you have an idea for a YA novel that you’re ready to take seriously, this is the course for you!
Structure
This course is designed to mirror the school year, from September to June, and is offered during lunch hours Eastern time to give parents of school-age children the best chance to participate. That said, you absolutely don’t have to be a parent to join us!
Classes will begin with a short warm-up writing exercise, followed by individual check-ins and discussion of the current assigned book (see below). For the first part of the course, from September through December, the rest of the class will focus on specific, actionable tools for planning and completing your first draft. In the second part of the course, from December through April, the focus will shift to group workshopping and feedback. The final two months of the course, in May and June, will look at the publication process and assist students in developing query packages for their books.
A YA novel will also be assigned for reading and discussion every two months, for a total of five books. Participants are encouraged to nominate their own favorite YA novels for inclusion.
Schedule
This class will meet virtually twice a month on Tuesdays, for 20 total sessions. Workshop dates run from September 15, 2026 – June 22, 2027, 11am–1pm ET.
Sept. 15
Sept. 29
Oct. 6
Oct. 20
Nov. 3
Nov. 17
Dec. 1
Dec. 15
Jan. 5
Jan. 19
Feb. 2
Feb. 16
March 2
March 16
April 6
April 20
May 4
May 18
June 8
June 22
1:1 Mentoring
All workshops will be held over Zoom, with additional opportunities to meet 1:1 with Betsy upon request. All enrolled students will have the option to schedule an individual follow-up meeting (1 hour) with Betsy approximately 6 months after the conclusion of the workshop.
To Apply
Application Deadline: Friday, September 4, 2026
To apply for the course, please submit the following via email to emily.holland@writer.org:
- A ten- to twenty-page sample of your creative writing, in any genre
- A brief cover letter including your reasons for wanting to join the class, a summary of your book idea and where you are in the writing process, and a YA book you’d like to nominate for the group to read.
We are thrilled to offer one scholarship to a single parent. In your cover letter, please indicate if you would like to be considered for this scholarship. We kindly ask that those who are able to register for the workshop without scholarship assistance refrain from applying for the scholarship. The scholarship will be available once we have met the required threshold for students in the class.
Acceptance into the workshop is required before registering.
About Book Farm @ The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center hosts a series of workshops for serious writers to complete book-length projects, generate new work for publication, or master the elements of craft within a specific genre. You’ll work with an acclaimed author, guiding you through 4-12 months of lessons, workshops, and revisions. Our instructors are all accomplished educators with a track record of student success. Limited enrollment with rolling admission up to the application deadline, so apply right away to secure your spot!
All Book Farm participants receive an exclusive tote bag, a craft book recommended by the instructor, and a $100 gift certificate good toward future TWC workshops. Participants also receive exclusive access to The Writer’s Center staff, all of whom are accomplished writers with extensive experience in editing and publishing.
