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This meeting will be a live chat with Ms. Aronson. More details on how to log into the chat will follow.

 CRAFTING AN EYE OPENING BEGINNING:

It goes without saying that a great beginning draws the reader into your story.  It creates a vital first impression, inviting the reader into the world of the protagonist.  Sarah Aronson will examine the essential elements of an eye opening beginning, drawing from her experiences as a writer, teacher, and 3 time host of NE-SCBWI's annual First Pages Panel.  During the seminar, we will dissect some great published beginnings and figure out why and how they work.  This class will challenge you to understand what steps you can take so that your beginning will hook your next reader--a friend, an editor, or an agent.


BIO

Like a lot of writers, Sarah Aronson always loved telling stories.  But she didn't always want to be a writer.  Over the years, she has been a physical therapist, a religious school director, a book seller, and a spinning instructor. When she decided to find out if she could write a book, she started attending SCBWI events.  Later, she was accepted at Vermont College and in 2006, earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.  Sarah enjoys working in all kinds of genres.  She has published two completely different books:  a retelling of The Princess and the Pea: a very short pop up (Little Simon) and a YA novel, Head Case (Roaring Brook Press), which was named a 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.  In Summer 2011, her first middle grade novel, Beyond Lucky, will be published by Dial Books for Young Readers. 

Currently, Sarah teaches a ten week manuscript review class for children's writers on www.writers.com.  She is the co-founder and organizer of the Novel Writing Retreat at Vermont College  She speaks regularly at SCBWI events and writing conferences and reviews teen novels for Jewish Book World.  She is a regular contributor to the craft blog, Through the Tollbooth.  Her writing mantra is: Try everything!  She lives in Hanover with her family, where they play a lot of Scrabble, shovel snow, and drink way too much cappuccino.  You can find out more about Sarah at www.saraharonson.com or www.greenhouseliterary.com.