Edit Your Work to Enhance Voice with Sara Grant

Date: Friday 26 September on Zoom

Time: 8:00 - 9:30 PM (Amsterdam time)

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Presentation/workshop

9:00 pm - 9:30 PM: Q&A with Sara

Price: $20 members, $25 non-members/registered users

Last day to register: Thursday 25th September at midnight

A distinctive voice separates competent stories from publishable ones. Every writer works to create a fresh voice that springs off the page. It’s easy to spot books with a distinctive voice, but it’s difficult to understand and hone the voice of your novel. Author, editor, mentor and lecturer Sara Grant will offer practical tips and straight-forward exercises to help you hone the voice in your novel. These exercises and advice are from Sara’s new book The Ultimate Guide to Editing Your Novel: A Revolutionary Approach to Transform Your Writing, published by Bloomsbury, June 2025.

Materials: Those attending should print out a copy of one page (two at the most) that they feel best represents the voice of their piece. (They will be able to do the exercises on their computers, if they prefer.)

Also have a few highlighters and coloured pens or pencils handy.

OPTIONAL FOR MEMBERS ONLY: If you wish Sara to critique up to the first 2,500 words and a one-page synopsis of your novel for children/teens/YA (no picture books), you can do so for an extra $35 - Only 7 slots open, first come, first serve. Participants will receive their critiques end of September.

Scholarships Available

A limited number of free scholarship places are available for writers traditionally underrepresented in children’s publishing, including those who identify as a creator of colour, LGBTQIA+, disabled or working class. We recognise all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA+, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. We subscribe to a broad definition of disability, which includes but is not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses (this may also include addiction). Furthermore, we subscribe to a social model of disability, which presents disability as created by barriers in the social environment, due to lack of equal access, stereotyping, and other forms of marginalisation. Please email [email protected] and send your text by September 12th to apply for your place up to the first 2,500 words and a one-page synopsis of your novel for children/teens/YA (no picture books).

Please submit your pages pages to Fanely at [email protected] no later than September 12th and write "Sara Grant" in the subject line.

For those based in Europe and elsewhere, do not worry. The system will automatically change the currency to dollars when you send payment.

The event will be recorded for the participants who can’t attend live and will be available for one month.

Registration closes Thursday 25th September at midnight, no exceptions.

Questions? Email Fanely at [email protected] or Mayra at [email protected]