Category: Workshops

Posted in Chapter Books, Kidlit, KidLit Craft, mentor texts, Online Class, Workshops, Writing Goals

2025 Goal: Write a Chapter Book

Posted on by beckylevine
Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels.com

At the end of last year, I set myself a few 2025 writing goals. One was to draft my first chapter book. I wasn’t sure when I’d get started or how I’d get an idea or how I’d learn the genre craft (other than, as always, mentor texts). Well, all that has changed.

  • I got started. I read a pile of first books in various chapter books series and fell in love with some, recognizing a bit of what I want to include in a book I write.
  • I got an idea…for a chapter book series. I’m in love with this idea, and–if I can do it–it’s going to be full of adventure and humor and conflict and at least one “aww” moment per book.
  • I’m starting to learn. Yes, yes, yes to mentor texts, but also–with magical timing–I signed up for Marcie Colleen’s two-session workshop on Planning & Plotting a Series for Young Readers, in the Inked Voices community. The class is finished, but if you are even considering playing around with chapter books or early/beginning readers, keep your eyes open for any learning opportunity with Marcie. I learned SO much!

I am in love with this idea and, already, with my characters. I know that first book often (rarely!) make it to bookstore or library shelves, but I honestly believe that my premise, at least, is something kids will love. I realized that I wanted this book/series to be active and energetic and positive and funny. I totally believe that kids need escape stories, especially when they’re learning to read for themselves, and I also totally believe that this author needs escape writing–especially when they’re learning to deal with the next four years. I’m happy when I’m brainstorming ideas for these books, I’m happy when I’m doing character studies, and I’m happy when I’m playing with plot. And I am realizing, as I get further into things, that this is going to be a series which will make kids feel seen and heard, which will validate the importance of anything that is important to them.

So…on I go. I added a Chapter Book Series board to my Pinterest page, with the first book in my favorite series there for you (or the young readers in your lives) to discover. While I was there, I also updated several other boards and added a couple of boards for grownups (slim pickings on these, since I read so little of these books; on the other hand, if a book is on a grownup board, you know it’s GOOD!)

Happy reading & writing!

Posted in Chapter Books, Uncategorized, Workshops

Adventuring in a Summer of Sameness

Posted on by beckylevine

Still here, still in a place of luck and gratitude, still on a rollercoaster of anger and grief, still stepping into the chaos, and still pulling back when I need self-care.

And still striving to add new things to make daily life feel like it includes change and some kind of forward progress. In June, I made my first batch of (delicious) gluten-free scones AND a batch of gluten-free bread that actually worked for sandwiches. Next up: more scones, hamburger buns, and then I think it’s a toss-up between soft pretzels and donut muffins. Writing-wise, I decided I needed some possibility in my life, so I submitted two applications to Justin Colón’s #pbchat mentorship program. Announcements come at the end of the month–crossed fingers are appreciated!

And then July. With all the sheltering in place, virtual opportunities have been popping up everywhere I look. And I decided it was time to take advantage of that. So I signed up for my first Highlights workshop: Developing a Series in Chapter Books, with Debbi Michiko Florence and Kashmira Sheth.

Did I have a chapter book manuscript? Nope. Outline? Nope. Idea? Well, yes, but when I went back to look at it, I fell instantly out of like with it. So I came up with another idea for which I felt a much stronger affection. And with nothing but that idea, I registered. Which pretty much tells you how much I need an adventure right now, how much I need a shot of adrenaline that isn’t riding along on a wave of fear or hate or anger.

And the adrenaline worked. I’ve been reading piles of mentor texts.

The idea has stretched into a character, a problem, and a world. I’ve gone a few rounds with an outline. And I still have six weeks to draft a first chapter. As with everything, I have no idea where this will lead, whether I’ll end up with a first draft, whether I’ll work through any revisions.

Whether I’ll end up with anything I would want to show an agent.

But right now my brain is craving change. It wants some hours and days that feel different than all the others. It wants to learn. And, this summer, that means giving myself a Highlights retreat right here at home.

Posted in Capital City Young Writers, Workshops

Capital City Young Writers Workshop

Posted on by beckylevine

Yesterday morning, I got up before 4:00 to drive up to Sacramento and talk to teens at this summer’s Capital City Young Writers workshop. Capital City Young Writers is the magical brain-child of Verna Dreisbach, and I feel incredibly lucky to be getting involved.

I stopped about halfway and rode the rest of the way with the other speaker for the morning, Linda Joy Myers (author of Don’t Call Me Mother and The Power of Memoir, as well as founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers. We had a great drive, got there in time to re-wake up with a bit of coffee, and then joined the kids.

Here’s Linda Joy and me at the workshop. Thanks to Elizabeth Donham for the pic!

What a great morning. I loved hearing Linda Joy’s talk about turning true stories into fiction and watching the kids listen to her and work on their own pieces. After the break, I talked to them about sharing their writing with another author, about how to build the trust that turns the experience into a good one, and I had them practice digging into a sample scene and coming up with some critique feedback. Which they did beautifully.

The biggest surprise–I had set up to do some role-playing, just a bit, and I’d checked with Linda Joy that she’d do back-up and join me up front if the kids didn’t feel comfortable. SO not necessary–there were hands in the air right away, and the kids totally got into it–even hamming it up a bit to get the right emotion into their lines. I couldn’t stop smiling.

The morning was, in so many ways, what I would have loved to be part of when I was a teenager. On the other hand, it’s very possible that, in my shyness, I might not have made it there, even if someone had set up the opportunity. But, see…yesterday, the opportunity was there, and the kids took it. And they seriously rocked.

As does Verna. She has put so much work into this organization; she is always thinking about what else she can do, how she can make something better. The day-long conference I went to in Marin a few weeks ago–that was hers, for the kids, with volunteer authors and speakers coming along to make an incredible event for them to be part of. She’s setting up a literary journal for teen authors this year, with teen editors, as well, who will be picking the material and preparing it for publication. The kids will have mentors who help them learn more about the genre they’re editing and give them pointers about doing their job. And, yes, there’s a new mentor on board: me.

I’ll be mentoring the editors for the Book Reviews category. Am I happy to do this? More than happy. I’ve been looking for a way to work with teens, for the kids and for me, and yesterday it was obvious that I’d stepped into another section of the venn diagram that is my tribe. (Don’t you love how I occasionally sneak in the math?)

Am I still a bit sleep-deprived? Oh, yeah. Was it worth it? Totally.