2025 Children's Lit Conference
July 9-13, 2025 (5 days)
Workshops in Writing Picture Books, Middle Grade and YA Fiction
"If you're dreaming of becoming the next J. K. Rowling, we've got the perfect place
for you—the Southampton Children's Literature Conference." – School Library Journal
The Southampton Children's Lit Conference provides a unique forum in which to study and discuss the craft of writing for children.
World-renowned authors, illustrators and editors offer inspiration and guidance through workshops, lectures, group discussions and special presentations on the beautiful campus of Stony Brook Southampton, a stone's throw from the gorgeous beaches and historic villages of the Hamptons.
Writing workshops are the heart and soul of the conference experience, meeting every morning for a total of five 3-hour sessions, from Wednesday-Sunday. Enrollment is limited to 12 students per workshop. Remaining hours are devoted to electives - lectures, readings, and panel discussions featuring faculty members and distinguished visiting authors, editors, publishers, and agents. Participants also enjoy a rich schedule of social gatherings— author receptions, open-mic nights, breakfasts, lunches and dinners “under the tent.” During free time, participants can draw inspiration from the Hamptons’ beaches or explore our charming nearby towns.
Scholarship deadline: March 15
General Deadline May 15.
Lesléa Newman: READ IT AGAIN!–THE ART OF WRITING PICTURE BOOKS
What makes a picture book so compelling that young readers want to hear the same story again and again and again? Whether you are writing prose or verse, fiction or nonfiction, humorous or serious, realistic or fantasy, you already have many tools at your disposal to make your writing the best it can be. As Elsa Gidlow said, “Writers are not special people. Every person is a special writer.”
Each of us will practice drawing from our unique memories, imagination, and observation skills to craft our own unique stories. We will discuss aspects of writing such as character, setting, action, conflict, and theme to further develop our skills. Each session will be a combination of discussion, in-class writing exercises, and manuscript critiques. Writers of all levels are welcome. Bring something to write with, something to write on, an open mind and an open heart.
Lesléa Newman has created 87 books for readers of all ages, including the picture books Ketzel, The Cat Who Composed (Massachusetts Book Award); Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story (National Jewish Book Award); Joyful Song: A Naming Story (Kirkus and Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year); Alicia and the Hurricane: A Story of Puerto Rico (Junior Library Guild Selection); Sparkle Boy (Massachusetts Book Award Honor); and Heather Has TwoMommies (Book Riot Best Books of All Times). In addition, she has received poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. From 2008- 2010, she served as the poet laureate of Northampton, MA. Currently she teaches writing for children and young adults at the Naslund-Mann School of Professional Writing.
Kekla Magoon: What's Your Perspective?–The Sneaky Truth to Mastering Voice and Character
(Middle grade/YA)
The key to mastering voice is to fully immerse yourself in your character's viewpoint and learn to observe the world from within their skin. Via discussion, exercises, and interactive prompts, we will explore craft techniques for grounding your story in the point-of-view character's perspective, thus deepening the expression of that character on the page.
Kekla Magoon (she/her) is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of many novels and nonfiction books for children and teens, including The Secret Library, The Season of Styx Malone, and Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People, which was a Michael L. Printz Honor winner, Coretta Scott King Honor winner, and National Book Award Finalist. Kekla received the 2021 Margaret A. Edwards Award for her significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. She lives in Vermont with two energetic orange cats.