The workshop is designed to help writers struggling to find the right opening for their novel or for those looking to perfect the all important first five pages before submitting for publication. Why the first five pages? Because if these pages aren't compelling, no agent, editor, or reader will continue reading to find out how great the rest of your story really is! We take December off, and will re-open in January. So get those pages ready - we usually fill up in under a minute!
Happy Writing (and revising!)
Erin
Erin Cashman is AYAP's 1st 5 Pages Workshop coordinator, and a permanent mentor. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, three kids, and an energetic rescue dog. She writes YA fantasy. UNCHARTED is coming fall of 2018, and THE EXCEPTIONALS, a Bank Street College of Education best book of the year, is available now. For up to date information about the workshop, you can follow Erin on twitter here
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Guest Mentors
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Assigned Permanent Mentors
Erin Cashman, the workshop coordinator, is a YA author whose debut fantasy novel, THE EXCEPTIONALS, was named a Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book. Her second novel, UNCHARTED, a contemporary fantasy, will be published in fall of 2018. She primarily writes YA and middle grade fantasy while eating chocolate and drinking tea. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, three children, and very energetic rescue dog.
Melanie Conklin is a writer, reader, and all-around lover of words and those who create them. Her debut novel for middle grade readers, COUNTING THYME, was published by Putnam & Sons in April, 2016. She lives in South Orange, New Jersey with her husband and two small maniacs.
S. D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult fantasy and science fiction. She is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency and author of SCARLET MOON and the forthcoming SUMMONER. She currently has four books under contract, including the remainder of her YA fantasy series Children of the Blood Moon. When she’s not writing or editing, Sarah enjoys reading (of course!), practicing kickboxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu, training dogs, and binge-watching shows with great characters. Her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-sized dog.
Stasia Ward Kehoe is the author of YA novels THE SOUND OF LETTING GO and AUDITION, both published by Viking. She grew up performing at theaters along the eastern seaboard, then shifted from stage to page and has been writing fiction, marketing copy and educational materials for almost two decades! She holds a BA in English from Georgetown University and MA in Performance Studies from New York University, is represented by Catherine Drayton of Inkwell Management, and still enjoys choreographing the occasional musical.
Sheri Larsen is a writer, reader, and Maine-iac ice hockey fan, who has watched more hockey games than she could ever count. She loves books that open up secret passageways and hidden worlds to inspire and challenge the heart. Her debut novel for middle grade readers, MOTLEY EDUCATION (Leap Books) is now available, and her debut young adult novel, MARKED BEAUTY, is set for release October, 2017; both are written under S.A. Larsen.
Lisa Maxwell is the New York Tim bestselling author of SWEET UNREST, GATHERING DEEP, UNHOOKED, and THE LAST MAGICIAN. When she's not writing books, she's an English professor at a local college. She lives near DC with her very patient husband and two not-so patient boys.
Stephanie Scott writes Young Adult for teens and those young in spirit. Her debut ALTERATIONS is set for release by Bloomsbury Spark. Her writing is also featured in WELCOME HOME, a YA anthology focused on adoption themed stories. Stephanie is an active member of Romance Writers of America and its online YA chapter YARWA, and a current writing mentor in online pitch contests. She enjoys dance fitness and cat memes, and Pinterest is driving her broke. One current life goal is to cosplay Hoth Leia from The Empire Strikes Back. Born and raised in Kalamazoo where there are no zoos, she’s a Midwest girl at heart. She now lives outside of Chicago with her tech-of-all-trades husband.
Ron Smith is the author of the Middle-Grade novel HOODOO, awarded the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe New Talent Award, and THE MESMERIST, both from Clarion Books.
Wendy Spinale is the author of EVERLAND and UMBERLAND, both from Scholastic. She's a published professional journalist with the AOL/Patch Media’s Pleasanton Patch and an active member of both the California Writers’ Club and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. A former Disneyland Cast Member, she is familiar with the world of "make believe."
Rob Vlock is an author trapped in the body of a struggling jazz musician who, in turn, is trapped in the body of another, somewhat shorter author. (It’s complicated. And kinda crowded.) Rob’s debut middle-grade action/comedy series kicks off with SVEN CARTER AND THE TRASHMOUTH PROTOCOL, which comes out on October 3rd. (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin). When he’s not writing, Rob can be found somewhere in the greater Boston area trying to make his trumpet sound like something other than a dying goose. It’s a work in progress.
Learn more about our permanent workshop mentors here.
Melanie Conklin is a writer, reader, and all-around lover of words and those who create them. Her debut novel for middle grade readers, COUNTING THYME, was published by Putnam & Sons in April, 2016. She lives in South Orange, New Jersey with her husband and two small maniacs.
S. D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult fantasy and science fiction. She is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency and author of SCARLET MOON and the forthcoming SUMMONER. She currently has four books under contract, including the remainder of her YA fantasy series Children of the Blood Moon. When she’s not writing or editing, Sarah enjoys reading (of course!), practicing kickboxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu, training dogs, and binge-watching shows with great characters. Her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-sized dog.
Stasia Ward Kehoe is the author of YA novels THE SOUND OF LETTING GO and AUDITION, both published by Viking. She grew up performing at theaters along the eastern seaboard, then shifted from stage to page and has been writing fiction, marketing copy and educational materials for almost two decades! She holds a BA in English from Georgetown University and MA in Performance Studies from New York University, is represented by Catherine Drayton of Inkwell Management, and still enjoys choreographing the occasional musical.
Sheri Larsen is a writer, reader, and Maine-iac ice hockey fan, who has watched more hockey games than she could ever count. She loves books that open up secret passageways and hidden worlds to inspire and challenge the heart. Her debut novel for middle grade readers, MOTLEY EDUCATION (Leap Books) is now available, and her debut young adult novel, MARKED BEAUTY, is set for release October, 2017; both are written under S.A. Larsen.
Lisa Maxwell is the New York Tim bestselling author of SWEET UNREST, GATHERING DEEP, UNHOOKED, and THE LAST MAGICIAN. When she's not writing books, she's an English professor at a local college. She lives near DC with her very patient husband and two not-so patient boys.
Stephanie Scott writes Young Adult for teens and those young in spirit. Her debut ALTERATIONS is set for release by Bloomsbury Spark. Her writing is also featured in WELCOME HOME, a YA anthology focused on adoption themed stories. Stephanie is an active member of Romance Writers of America and its online YA chapter YARWA, and a current writing mentor in online pitch contests. She enjoys dance fitness and cat memes, and Pinterest is driving her broke. One current life goal is to cosplay Hoth Leia from The Empire Strikes Back. Born and raised in Kalamazoo where there are no zoos, she’s a Midwest girl at heart. She now lives outside of Chicago with her tech-of-all-trades husband.
Rob Vlock is an author trapped in the body of a struggling jazz musician who, in turn, is trapped in the body of another, somewhat shorter author. (It’s complicated. And kinda crowded.) Rob’s debut middle-grade action/comedy series kicks off with SVEN CARTER AND THE TRASHMOUTH PROTOCOL, which comes out on October 3rd. (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin). When he’s not writing, Rob can be found somewhere in the greater Boston area trying to make his trumpet sound like something other than a dying goose. It’s a work in progress.
Learn more about our permanent workshop mentors here.
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Workshop Entries
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Mentors: Robin Constantine, Melanie Conklin, Rob Vlock
Original Submission with Comments
First Revision with Comments
Final Revision with Comments
Agent's Comments
Captain Valencia by Alanna Peterson
Genre: Young Adult Mystery, Erin Cashman, Lisa Maxwell
Mentors: Robin Constantine,
Original Submission with Comments
First Revision with Comments
Final Revision with Comments
Agent's Comments
Shook by Steph Sorensen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Mentors: Robin Constantine, Stephanie Scott, Sarah Grimm
Original Submission with Comments
First Revision with Comments
Final Revision with Comments
Agent Comments
Ghost Town Diaries: Stanton's Shadow by Sue L. Weems
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Mystery
Mentors: Robin Constantine, Wendy Spinale, Ron Smith
Original Submission with Comments
First Revision with Comments
Final Revision with Comments
Agent's Comments
The Mirror Maker by T.K. White
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Mentors: Robin Constantine, Sheri Larsen, Stasia Kehoe
Original Submission with Comments
First Revision with Comments
Final Revision with Comments
Agent Comments
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Previous Workshops
- October 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Kaitlyn Johnson and Author/Editor Amy Dominy
- September 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Lauren Spieller and Author/Editor Kate Brauning
- July 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Gabrielle Piraino and Author Laura Williams McCaffrey
- June 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Connor Eck and Author Becky Wallace
- May 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Hillary Jacobson and Author Kit Allow
- April 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Justin Wells and Author Jennifer Longo
- March 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Wendi Gu and Author Catrina Burgess
- February 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Kristy Hunter and Author Kelly Barson
- January 2017 Workshop with Lit Agent Lauren Spieller and Author Shea Berkley
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