Admission Guidelines
Our workshop is designed for writers who are already deeply engaged in their craft, and the application is simply a way for us to get to know your work better. We ask that applicants have completed at least one manuscript and have some familiarity with giving and receiving critiques so that everyone can get the most out of the workshop. To apply, please submit a brief synopsis and the first five pages of a completed draft. If you’re traditionally published, you may list the title(s) of your published work on the application instead.
If admitted, you may submit either 25 pages of a work in progress (it can but does not have to be the same project you provided in your application) OR a detailed outline and main character studies for a WIP (not to exceed 25 pages). Your submission will be submitted to one faculty member and 5-6 other participants four weeks prior to the workshop. On our first day, we will meet in these small groups and each person will receive a 30-40 minute faculty-led critique of their pages.
Application
Cost
Costs including lodging, food, presentations, and critique sessions:
Single Room – $1,200
Double Room – $950
Deadlines and Timeline
Early-bird application deadline: March 1, 2026
First round of acceptances: March 15, 2026
Regular application deadline: June 1, 2026
Notifications of acceptance: Within 2 weeks of submission
Payment required: July 6, 2026
Submission of pages for critique: September 1, 2026
Scholarships
We are excited to offer two scholarships to authors of diverse ethnic, cultural, and/or other backgrounds who are underrepresented in children’s literature.
Scholarship recipients will receive full membership tuition, food and lodging for the workshop (excluding travel).
Applicants must be over the age of 18, not yet represented by a literary agent, and unpublished by a traditional publisher.
If applying for the scholarship, please apply through the link above. In addition, please email Darcey with the following in the body of the email (no attachments please):
1. An autobiographical statement and career summary in 250 words or less
2. A short statement describing why your work will bring an underrepresented voice to children’s literature in 250 words or less
Location
This year, Better Books will return to the Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park, California. The Old Mansion, where our meetings will take place, was originally the home of E.W. Hopkins, the nephew of American railroad magnate, Mark Hopkins. The ten-acre site features simple rooms, rich green lawns and lush, towering trees. Conveniently located, Vallombrosa is walkable to downtown Menlo Park with its shops and restaurants, and a short drive from San Francisco International Airport.
Questions?
Email: darceyr@comcast.net Subject line: Workshop
Or visit our contact page to send us a message.
This is not an SCBWI event