Anatomy of An Irresistible Opening: How to Create First Pages That Do All the Heavy Lifting with Award-winning author Victoria J. Coe

Calling all novelists, especially of MG and YA!

Join us virtually, March 3rd from 7pm ET, plus get a 2-week replay!

Your opening scene doesn’t just introduce a story—it earns the reader’s trust.

In Anatomy of an Irresistible Opening, a deep-dive workshop for MG/YA writers, you’ll learn exactly what the first pages of a novel must do. 

Award-winning author, Victoria J. Coe will break down the anatomy of opening lines that demand attention, characters that readers bond with immediately, and scenes that shoulder the hardest work of the book: establishing voice, tone, stakes, and momentum.

Learn how to start your story with an opening that pulls readers in, makes them care, and propels them forward without hesitation.

PLUS Check out the companion workshop: First Pages that Earn the Turn!

First Pages That Earn the Turn with Award-winning author Victoria J. Coe

Perfect for novelists!

Join us virtually, March 10th, 7pm ET, plus get a 2-week replay!

We’ll put craft into action by closely reading first pages that work—and a few that very much don’t. 

Award-winning author Victoria J. Coe will dissect real examples to uncover what successful openings are doing on the page: how they hook readers, establish voice and tone, introduce compelling characters, and earn the page turn. 

You’ll come away with a clearer eye for what makes an opening succeed or stall, plus practical insight you can immediately apply to your own work.

Time for Q&A so you can ask specific questions and sharpen your revision lens.

Companion, yet stand-alone, workshop to Anatomy of An Irresistible Opening. Take one or both! 

10 Ways to Stand Out From the Slush with Editor Anna Luketic ** Plus Add-On Written Critique from Anna

Join Anna March 16th, 7pm ET, virtually at the Writers' Loft to discuss how to make your picture book stand out from the slush pile. 

Do you want your picture book manuscript to rise above the rest? 

Let’s talk about 10 smart, actionable ways to make your book stronger as a story and more appealing in the marketplace.

Virtually, Plus 2-week replay. 

$45 (members, use your code for 10% off!)

Plus, the first five people who grab an Add-On Critique ($75) get feedback directly from Anna!

Strengthen Your Picture Book Structure with Karen Boss!

$30

Instant two-week replay

The structure of a picture book is paramount to its success. What does structure mean? What do different structures look like? 

See examples, do personal exercises, and investigate how structure works in your own work! 

Instantly watch this info-packed workshop with Charlesbridge Editor, Karen Boss

How to Write a Chapter Book (and how not to) with Janet Costa Bates

$30

Instant two-week replay

You're thinking of writing a Chapter Book and want to know more about them.

Or you've written a book and don't know if it's truly a Chapter Book, an Early Reader, or a Middle Grade.

In this workshop, Janet shares everything you need to know to start writing Chapter Books today!