In Verse: Writing YA/MG Strories

This course is designed for anyone interested in or currently working on a middle grade or young adult novel in verse. In this crash course we will read selections of YA and MG novels and short stories in verse featuring young adult and middle grade protagonists and how authors use poetic elements to craft and tell the story. We will focus on how writing a story "in verse" differs from traditional prose novels and what makes this genre appealing for young readers. We will discuss what literary elements, plot points and scenes help make novels in verse effective and have a chance to engage in a Q&A for authors working on a specific project. We will engage in a few short introductory writing activities and exercises using what we've learned.

About the Facilitator:

Jasminne Mendez is a best-selling Dominican-American poet, translator, playwright, audio book narrator and award winning author of several books for children and adults. Including the middle grade novel in verse Aniana del Mar Jumps In (Dial) which received the 2024 Pura Belpre Honor Award. Her other books have received prizes from the Texas Institute of Letters, the Writer’s League of Texas and the International Latino Book Awards. She is an MFA graduate of the creative writing program at the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University and a University of Houston alumni. She is the Program Director for the literary arts non-profit Tintero Projects and she lives and works in Houston, TX.