The Writers' Loft
Chapter Book, MG, and Tween Corner
Yup, we love all stories from chapter books up to tweens. From small words to big emotions. Bring it.
Make the '25/'26 season your time to accomplish your author and illustrator goals!
Scroll to the bottom to watch one of our two instant recordings.
How to Write a Chapter Book (and How Not To) with Janet Costa Bates &
The Anatomy of an Irresistible Opening: How to Create First Pages That Do the Heavy Lifting with Victoria J. Coe.
Then head over to our current workshops page to take a live, virtual workshop with some of the best authors and industry professionals teaching today!
Grab A Live Virtual Workshop!It Just Takes One Click ...
Whether you're looking to join a critique group, ask a question in our private community corner, or get query tips directly from an agent, it just takes one click.
(Photo: Author and presenter Anna Staniszewski (PB, MG, Tween) at our annual holiday bazaar and literary extravaganza (2023); photo credit: Jessica Cronin Photography)
Stay in the (Loft) Loop
The easiest way into the Writers' Loft is to simply start receiving our email newsletter.
Sign up, and you'll be the first to know when we have new events and offerings.
We'll email you a monthly newsletter and then event reminders the day before our events.
Email us at writersloftma@gmail.com with any questions.
Join the MG & Tween Crit Group
Groups are the backbone of the Loft. You don't even have to be a member to join.
Our new middle grade group is going strong! Just sign up through this link, and you'll get instructions on joining this vibrant virtual group!
We ask if you are a non-member that you donate $10 when you come to a group to help defray the costs of running the group!
Become a Member
Go all in and join!
For only $25 a month, or $249 a year, you help keep the Loft running. Membership allows us to offer crit groups and other resources for free.
Membership perks include access to daily writing sprints in the private online community, early access to agent and editor crits that sell out, and publication opportunities like our latest anthology, Gnomes & Ungnomes!
Help keep the Loft afloat!
Writers' Loft Press & Bookshop
Take a peek behind the scenes at the Writers' Loft Press! When you're a member, you can be published in one of our future anthologies.
In the meantime, enjoy Gnomes & Ungnomes, Friends & Anemones, Odes to Us, An Assortment of Animals, and Firsts!
Check those out as well as our members' books at our Bookshop!
Join the Chapter Book Crit Group
Chapter Books are really their own special kind of story -- the first long books kids read on their own!
Join us as we start a brand new virtual crit group just for people writing Chapter Books!
After you sign up, we'll reach out and let you know the meeting times!
We ask if you are a non-member that you donate $10 when you come to a group to help defray the costs of running the group!
Join the Kidlit Book Club!
Once a month, read a prescribed kidlit book, and meet virtually to discuss!
All Welcome!
As always, we ask if you aren't a member, to donate $10 when you meet with a Loft group, to defray the costs of tools that help the Loft and these groups run!
'25/'26 Workshop Season Has Begun!
We're welcoming Editors Karen Boss and Anna Luketic, plus agent Carter Hasegawa, and authors Erin Dionne, Nancy Werlin, Stephanie Gibeault, Anna Staniszewski and more to the Loft!
Join us this spring and summer for a *NEW* workshop series designed just for you!
Check Out This Season's Live Workshop Lineup!Grab an instant workshop right now:
Writing a Chapter Book, or thinking of writing one? Watch Janet Costa Bates' workshop: How to Write a Chapter Book (and How Not To) TODAY:
How to Write a Chapter Book (and How Not To) with Janet Costa Bates
$25, instant virtual recording, two-weeks rental
Are you writing a Chapter Book, or thinking of writing one? Wondering about the differences between Chapter Books, Middle Grades, of Early Readers? Wondering where your book will sit on the shelf? Watch this webinar today! Janet Costa Bates shares everything you need to know to get started or confirm that you are writing your best Chapter Book!
Writing a novel for children?
Do you remember what six elements every scene needs? Can you start a book with a set-up and not a scene? Do you know everything your opening absolutely needs to accomplish? Need a quick refresher for any of the answers to these questions?
Nail your first chapter by watching and applying Victoria J. Coe's tips in her instant workshop, The Anatomy of an Irresistible Opening: How to Create First Pages That Do the Heavy Lifting!
Anatomy of An Irresistible Opening: How to Create First Pages That Do All the Heavy Lifting with Victoria J. Coe
$25 Instant virtual workshop, two-week rental.
If you ever need a refresher of all the elements that your fans need in your first chapter, and in fact in any scene in your novel, this is it! Victoria is passionate about writing irresistible scenes, especially those first ones that hook the agent, editor, and reader!
Stay in the (Loft) Loop!
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