Is there a fellowship or workshop/retreat that accepts YA writers (bonus points if it prioritizes and/or offers scholarships for marginalized writers) and it is missing from this list? Drop us an email and we will add it!
Fellowships & Residencies
Baldwin For the Arts Residency
- Eligibility: Emerging & established creatives in the U.S. who are not currently in university
- Accepting Submissions: Until April, Notified by July
- Residency Period: 1 Week Max During October-May
Kweli Journal Fellowship Program
- Eligibility: Only writers who have not yet published or been contracted to write a book-length work are eligible. Only one submission per person is allowed. Do not submit a piece you have previously submitted to Kweli Journal
- Accepting Submissions: Closed
- Fellowship Period: February 9, 2026 – November 9, 2026
- Stipend included in award
Retreats & Workshops
- Location: Vallombrosa Center – Menlo Park, California
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Date: October 24 – 27, 2026
- Registration Price: $950 – $1,200
Big Sur Children Writing Workshops
- Locations: Big Sur, CA & Cape Cod, MA
- Dates: October 30 – November 1, 2026 (Cape Cod) & January 29 – 31, 2027 (Big Sur)
- Registration Price: $1,600 – $1,900
Book Farm @ The Writer’s Center
- Current YA Workshops: One Year to Your YA Novel w/ Betsy Cornwell September 15 – June 22, 2027 (Online) $5,400
Boyds Mills (formerly the Highlights Foundation)
- Location: Milanville, PA (Near the Poconos Mountains)
- Current Workshops: Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group For Finishing Your Draft September 23-November 11, 2026 (Online) $399
- Whole Novel Workshop: A Virtual Course For Middle Grade & Young Adult Writers October 6 – December 1, 2026 (Online) $2,199
- Whole Novel Retreat: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists August 19, 2027 – August 24, 2027 (In Person) $2,899
- Whole Novel Retreat: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists October 23, 2027 – October 28, 2027 (In Person) $2,899
Grub Street Young Adult Novel Generator
- Location: Online (Zoom)
- Date: September 15, 2026 – April 13, 2027
- Registration: Open
- Price: $3,900
- Location: Hotel Providence – Providence, RI
- Date: January 21–24, 2027
- Price: Approx. $1100 (including tuition, meals, retreat & hotel)
McCormack Writing Center Spring YA Workshop
- Location: Portland, OR
- Accepting Applications: Closed (Last Opening was February 27 – March 30, 2026)
- Most Recent Workshop Period: May 28-June 1, 2026
- Cost: $1,200 not including travel to/from Portland, scholarships available
- Submission Guidelines: 21+, First 4,000 words of novel you plan to workshop
- YA Author and former co-chair of faculty in the VCFA MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, Martha Brockenbrough hosts/instructs retreats (in person) throughout the year. Click here to stay up to date on the latest retreats.
- YA Author, Nova Ren Suma instructs numerous workshops (in person and online) throughout the year specifically geared toward writing YA novels. Click here to stay up to date the latest workshops she instructs.
- Current Workshops: How to Write YA Fiction September 19, 2026 (Online) $75
- SOLD OUT Writing Books for Kids September 17, 2026 – October 29, 2026 (Online) $560