Boyds Mills

OUR 2026 SCHOLARSHIP WINDOW IS NOW OPEN!

Boyds Mills offers scholarships each year thanks to the generous support of our community!

Apply now!

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄
January 22 – February 9

Click the link in our bio for all the details!

Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for sharing!

Banner for "Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors" on January 27 and 29, online, via boydsmills.org, with photo of Harold Underdown

In 1 week, I go live online via @boydsmills.bsky.social with all you need to know to get out on submission with a #kidlit or #yalit ms.: preparation, strategies, resources, case studies, query letter basics, myth-busting, handouts. Questions, a recording. $59

boydsmills.org/workshop/suc...

Our 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 Programming Schedule!

▪️𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹

▪️𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀

▪️𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟬𝟭 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶

▪️𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶

www.highlightsfoundation.org/upcoming-wor...

Banner for online workshop on "Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors" presented by Harold Underdown via the Highlights Foundation on January 27 and 29.

Coming up Jan. 27/29, online via @highlightsfound.bsky.social, what works, what doesn't, query letter basics, case studies, handouts, and more! It will be recorded. $59.

Please repost and otherwise spread the word.

Registration is open: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/suc...

Novels in Verse: A Generative Retreat In Person | October 26-29 $1299 Faculty: Verse Novelists Rajani LaRocca, Chris Baron, and Meg Eden Kuyatt Join celebrated authors Rajani LaRocca, Chris Baron and their special guest, Meg Eden Kuyatt, for a retreat designed to infuse your verse novel with emotion and support your creative journey.

Last year this was such a wonderful retreat. And I’m so grateful for the Kay Yoder Scholarship for History that allowed me to go to the @highlightsfound.bsky.social Novel-in-Verse retreat. Highly recommend! #KidLit

Spotlight on the Middle of Your Novel: A Generative Retreat - Highlights Foundation

One more day to get $100 off on the Spotlight on the Middle of Your Novel retreat w/ me & @exrpan.bsky.social at @highlightsfound.bsky.social June 11–14, 2026! This generative writing retreat is for published & pre-published novelists of all genres...

www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/spo...

We can't wait to see you next summer!

Join Jennifer and Lisa to learn practical techniques for discovering your story’s theme and turning it into a clear, impactful pitch to guide your drafting or revision!

Sign up now!
www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pit...

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨…

Mark your calendars! Our 2026 In-Person Schedule goes live on 𝗡𝗼𝘃 𝟱 𝗮𝘁 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗣.𝗠. 𝗘𝗧. Don’t miss your chance to find your magic in 2026! ✨

#findyourmagic

@saraharonson.bsky.social

Putting yourself first You're not being selfish.

Check out faculty member Sarah Aronson’s Monday Motivation newsletter! She’s on campus for the Whole Novel Retreat, and in her newsletter, she shares about the first night of the retreat and the magic of being on campus! 💙💚

#findyourmagic

saraharonson.substack.com/p/putting-yo...

Now Open: Winter 2026 Personal Retreat Dates!
Come stay on campus this winter! Enjoy uninterrupted time to focus, reflect, and create. Take a break from everyday stresses and reconnect with your creativity this winter!

www.highlightsfoundation.org/personal-ret...

Inspiration is in the air here…along with the smell of perfectly toasted (or burnt) marshmallows!

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗶𝗻 #kidlit 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Join Editor Harold Underdown for a two-night online workshop, where he’ll guide you through the different kinds of changes in the publishing world and show you how to position yourself to respond effectively.

www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pub...

We can't wait!!

Join Cynthia, Jasmine, and Anne! Learn how to create your own graphic novel!
Sign up: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/fro...

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Picture Book Authors and Illustrators: Working Retreat!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Middle Grade Writers: A Generative Retreat!

What kind of picture book are you writing?

With @nikkishannonsmith.bsky.social concept, it’s easy to distinguish the difference between the two!

To learn all things picture books, join Nikki and special guest Esther in the 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀: 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁, 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 Online Workshop

Great blog post! Thank you for retreating with us! We hope to see you back on campus soon!!

Congratulations! See you soon!

🔉 Sound on! 🔉

You can hear the bees busy at work, buzzing through the bushes!

September & October Minis are here! 🍂

Two-night online workshops for just $59!
Head to the link in our bio for more details.

5 Ways to Make Your Nonfiction Manuscript Capture an Editor or Agent's Attention - Highlights Foundation

Check out this blog written by Jennifer Swanson: "5 Ways to Make Your Nonfiction Manuscript Capture an Editor or Agent’s Attention"

🗓️ Join Jennifer online this October for Intro to Writing Nonfiction: History, Biography, STEAM, and Much More!

www.highlightsfoundation.org/2025/08/06/5...

Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Fall) - Highlights Foundation This workshop takes all creatives from goal to finished draft. Find support via live sessions, writing prompts, studio dates, and more!

Registration is open! This is the class for you if you are looking for accountability, community, and opportunity! We will help you get words on the page!
www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/jus...

How Do You Know If You've Written a Picture Book? - Highlights Foundation So you have an idea for a children’s story. Great! Many times, our thoughts rush to PICTURE BOOK. Picture books are warm and dear to many of our hearts, harkening […]

helpful article for #kidlit peeps working on picture book manuscripts: How do you know if you've written a picture book? smart #craft tips! Thanks @darcypattison.bsky.social @lesliehelakoski.bsky.social and @highlightsfound.bsky.social www.highlightsfoundation.org/2018/03/08/h...

Small, individual cabin in a verdant, misty setting for writing

Interior of a very large, rustic "barn" made for meetings and writing

Two empty green chairs facing a small creek, surrounded by lush greenery

View from inside a tall lodge building looking through many windows onto a lovely porch setting surrounded by trees and greenery

Attended the @highlightsfound.bsky.social Whole Novel writing retreat last week in Pennsylvania, and it was LIFE CHANGING! #amwriting #writingcommunity #amediting you need to check this out for next fall (scholarships available)! The braintrust groups and mentors are amazing! (blog post to follow!)

Thank you for retreating with us! We hope to see you back on campus soon!