Whale Rock Workshops

Do you ever wonder why editors make the decisions they make? Why do they reject some projects and acquire others? How do they balance the demands of the market with their quest for voice and story?

Join esteemed Charlesbridge editor Karen Boss for this two-part series designed to give you insight into both the business and the art of publishing. You'll integrate these newfound insights into your craft, using prompts, exercises, and mentor texts. And of course, there will be plenty of time for questions and answers. 

WEEK 1: Creativity vs. Commerce. Creators live at the intersection where creativity and commerce meet. You need to write about what energizes you while you also considering what’s selling and what the market wants. Are these two forces in opposition? Maybe, but maybe not! Learn how to find this balance in your work.

WEEK 2: Use Your Voice! Books with strong voice resonate with readers, inspire young people, and sell well. How do you as an author interrogate voice and find the best voice for any given project? It’s hard! Together with Karen, you'll look at author voice versus character voice and explore how to strengthen both.

Karen Boss is a senior editor at Charlesbridge, where she works on fiction and nonfiction picture books, and middle-grade and young adult works.