MFA in Writing for Young Readers Boot Camp

Read like a writer, develop critical and creative writing skills, engage in post-graduate level workshops, and prepare for an MFA in Writing for Young Readers program.

This 10-week, MFA in Writing for Young Readers Boot Camp course is designed for pre-published and published degree-holding writers eager to prepare for and explore graduate level studies in writing for young readers. Develop application materials and gain the essential skills needed to succeed in an MFA in Writing for Young Readers program.

Designed With You in Mind

Ready to take your storytelling to the next level? This course prepares writers for post-graduate studies through analytical reading, critical writing practice, and creative writing workshops, culminating in a polished package of application-ready materials.

Come As You Are: Whether you are published or just starting out, this course prepares you for the rigors and expectations of graduate-level study in writing for young readers.

Read Like a Writer: Learn to read everything from picture books to young adult novels with the discerning eye of a writer able to engage in high-level craft discourse.

High-Level, Low-Stakes Learning: Participate in rigorous yet confidence-building creative writing workshops that mirror the graduate-level environment.

Critical Writing Skills: Brush off or gain academic writing skills necessary for critical essays and annotated bibliographies.

Expert-Led Instruction: Learn from Michael Leali, an award-winning author and MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults with extensive industry experience.

Find Your Community: Find a community of like-minded individuals passionate about writing compelling, earnest stories for young readers.

Course Information

• Schedule: 10 weeks, one session (2.5 hours) per week
• Format: This is a 10-week online program, held one day per week. The instructor-led sessions are conducted live via Zoom.
• Time Commitment: Weekly sessions plus reading and writing assignments.
• Prerequisites: Undergraduate degree, any field.
• Continuing Education Units: 2
• Cost: $1195. $795 for USF alumni, $425 for USF students

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Meet Your Instructor

Michael Leali is an award-winning author of books like The Civil War of Amos Abernathy, which won SCBWI’s Golden Kite Award. His work has been twice nominated for Lambda Literary Awards. He is a veteran high school English teacher, seasoned writing coach, and is currently a We Need Diverse Books mentor, among serving for other mentorship programs. He holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Course Learning Outcomes

When you complete the MFA in Writing for Young Readers Boot Camp, you will:

• Analyze children’s and young adult literature with a writer’s eye which will inform your writing process
• Engage in critical writing and discourse about children’s and young adult literature that will develop your writing style
• Participate in graduate-level workshop discussions of your writing and that of your peers’
• Produce high-quality application materials suitable for an MFA in Writing for Young Readers program

Course Overview

Reading like a Writer

Read, analyze, and discuss dynamic, diverse, and inclusive picture books, early chapter books, middle grade, and young adult works, including novels-in-verse, graphic novels, and hybrid texts. Emphasis will be placed on reading with the writer’s eye, building vocabulary and knowledge to dissect and discern craft and content at the graduate level.

Creative & Critical Writing

Engage in imaginative creative writing prompts that develop creativity, voice, and an understanding of craft and content specific to young readers, culminating in 20+ pages of application-ready material. Critical writing tasks will include two 3-4 page craft essays and multiple high-level annotations that parallel expectations of an MFA program.

Workshop Participation

Partake in thoughtful, inclusive, and empathetic workshops that help writers ask questions, develop writing processes and revision plans, and positively yet critically contribute to a community of like-minded individuals.

Application Process

You must have already earned an undergraduate degree or hold a master’s degree in a related field. The application asks:

• a one-page statement about your desire to engage in this course
• a creative writing sample: one picture book manuscript, or a five-page middle grade or young adult excerpt

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