Admission Guidelines
Because our workshop is aimed at writers who’ve been working for a while, our application is designed to make sure all workshop participants have finished at least one manuscript and have some experience with critiques. If admitted, you may opt to submit a different manuscript to the workshop, where each writer receives a 30-40 minute faculty-led critique of 25 pages. However, for the purposes of the application, we’d like to see your synopsis and pages from a completed draft. If you are traditionally published, the application form will instead ask that you share titles of published works.
Application
Cost
Costs include lodging, food, presentations, and critique sessions:
Single Room – $1350
Double Room – $1075
Timeline
Accepted applicants notified: Rolling notifications
Payment due: July 30, 2023 (or within a week of acceptance if afterward). After this time, payment is only refundable if your spot can be filled from the waiting list. If we do not receive payment at this time, we will proceed to applicants on the waiting list. If pandemic conditions occur, we will return funds.
Manuscripts due: August 25, 2023
Manuscripts sent to faculty and small groups: Week of September 4, 2023
Showtime! October 12, 2023
Scholarships
We are excited to be able to offer two scholarships to authors of diverse ethnic, cultural, and/or other backgrounds underrepresented in the canon of children’s literature (including but not limited to Native American, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic, LGBTQ, Middle Eastern or Muslim, Pacific Islander, Special Needs).
Scholarship recipients will receive full membership tuition for the workshop, food and lodging (excluding travel).
Applicants must be over the age of 18, should not have agent representation, and must be unpublished by a traditional publisher.
If applying for the scholarship, in addition to other requested material, please send an email to darceyr@comcast.net with the following in the body (no attachments please):
1. An autobiographical statement and career summary in 250 words or fewer
2. A short statement describing why your work will bring an underrepresented voice to children’s literature in 250 words or fewer
Location
Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park is located on a ten-acre site that was originally the home of E.W. Hopkins, the nephew of Mark Hopkins. The Hopkins home, known as the Old Mansion, was built during the Civil War period. Originally a simple wooden structure, it was later expanded and decorated with its distinctive Italianate touches. More information here.
Questions?
Email: darceyr@comcast.net Subject line: Workshop
Or visit our contact page to send us a message.
This is not an SCBWI event