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Why Your Teens Need Writing Conferences

By Karen Reeder on June 13, 2025 / Articles, For Teachers

Neal Shusterman, Margaret Peterson Haddis, Marissa Meyer present on a panel at youth writers conference

Writing Conferences

I had the opportunity to volunteer at a writing conference for teens this year, and it was incredible! I seriously feel like that was an understatement. I hadn’t brought my own kids because I signed up to volunteer last minute and I didn’t realize how amazing it would be. Now I want every school and family to know about these opportunities.

Author speaking to teens at writers conference

Haddix Inspires Young Writers

The conference I attended is called StoryCon, previously known as Teen Author Boot Camp. This is only one of multiple writing conferences for kids in my state (there are also conferences for adults and some specifically for educators). I am willing to bet that there are some in your area as well, so I want to help you find them.

Why Should I Go To a Writers Conference?

First off, they are so much fun! The energy there from the speakers, volunteers, and attendees is amazing.
Interacting with friends. Whether you bring them with you or make them there. It is always fun to have friends who have an interest in books like you.
What’s that you say? You’re not interested in writing? Then this next reason is for you! You may discover some new skills and interests you didn’t know that you had. And even if you aren’t into writing, if you are a reader it is so cool to hear from these amazing authors about how and why they write.
Which brings me to my next point. These conferences are so inspiring. Margaret Peterson Haddix is up there in all humility saying things like, “and when you get published, because you will get published…” If we’re speaking honestly, it is hard work to get published, and here we have an author who has really made it in the publishing world, standing up there encouraging YOU! Believing in YOU! These presenters were so motivating that even if you just have a tiny seed of interest in writing, they will help you water and grow that seed into something more.
After the panel presentation teens had the opportunity to ask questions
For you teachers who are looking for opportunities for kids to do something good (in addition to maybe the great athletic opportunities offered), this is why you should organize a group from your school to attend a writing event! Can you imagine getting a group of students from your school excited about books! What would that look like to you? How would it feel for you to have made a difference to these kids in developing an interest in writing talents?
Develop skills. What if you’re not a writer… yet? That is why you are going to this conference. My friend, we all start somewhere and some of these events will have times for you to start right then and there learning and applying what you are hearing.
Meet authors and get some of your books signed! This conference I attended had some incredible names that I already knew and loved. Neal Shusterman. Marissa Meyer. Magaret Peterson Haddix. Shannon Hale. Brandon Mull. Jennifer A. Nielson. Dhonielle Clayton. Janet Sumner Johnson. As well as some that I got to meet and discover a new love for. Kaela Rivera. Frank Cole. Aubrey Hartman. Rena Barron. And so many more.
Meeting the author of Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
So get signed up. Sit with your friends (or new friends). Get fired up about writing. Set some practical goals. And then take the energy from the conference and keep it going in your life. Extra advice – come again next year. You don’t want that new little seed to shrivel up and be forgotten. There will be new authors presenting with new things to inspire you with.

How To Find the Best Writers Conference for You

I found out about this conference through a writer friend, but the first and easiest thing to day is to go type this phrase into your favorite search engine: writer’s conference in (add your state). Also check with local universities to see if they have any conferences, camps, events. Sometimes they don’t name them ‘writing conference’ so it can sometimes take some digging. You might try other phrases like: teen writer (switch it to writing), teen writing camp, books for young readers, conference with authors of children’s books (or middle grade or young adult). Another place to ask is your local library, they sometimes know about these events. Or ask your school/school district. These conferences often reach out to school districts to share their information and not all of it gets passed on. I’m going to pick some random cities around the US and do these searches and see what we come up with here:

While this one in Georgia has already happened for 2025, you could put it on your radar for next year. What I really like about this one is that it is FREE for teens in the Southeast Georgia area.
This one in Chicago seems cool! It offers a summer camp and even mentions scholarship opportunities. Here is another summer camp in the same area focusing not only on writing, but also art.
This one seems great, but I couldn’t find a ton of information about it yet. Maybe more is to come? “An event filled with workshops and presentations designed exclusively for the next generation of writers. Middle & High School Students, Ages 9 – 17“
When I typed in ‘writers conference teens massachusetts 2025’ I found quite a lot of promising events. Here are two of them grub street and a free program at CapeCodWritersCenter
This seems like another great summer option, this time in the Kansas area.
And of course I have to mention the conference that I attended. Storycon in Salt Lake City.

Clearly this does not cover every state and every option for teens. And there are even more options for educators, librarians, and other adults interested in writing or fostering a love of reading/writing. But hopefully some of these links will get you excited to start your own search of what might be available or your area.

What if I Can’t Afford to Attend a Writers Conference?

There are often scholarships available through the conference itself. You could also check into funding through your school PTA, district offices, or seek out local sponsors. This conference I was at offered a significant discount if you brought of group of 10 or more people. Even if you are just an interested parent you could contact your school to help get a group organized or create a homeschool (or book or writers club) group to qualify for the discount. This event even offered a complimentary educator pass for the teacher accompanying the group of students. Believe me, adults will love attending their own classes or being a part of the contagious spirit of the event.

Next year I am going to this same writers conference, but this time I am taking all three of my kids who are old enough to go. I know there are writers conferences, camps, and events for teens (and others) interested in writing in most states. So you should start taking advantage of some amazing opportunities.

Interview with Rom-Com Author G.F. Miller

By Natalie Rompella on June 6, 2025 / Articles, Author Interviews

I am excited I got to interview G.F. Miller on her newest book, What If You Fall For Me First. You can read my interview with her on Not If You Break Up with Me First which posted almost exactly a year ago!

About the Book

Hi G.F.! Can you give us a short summary about the book?

Sofia is sick of her goody-two-shoes reputation and desperate for her crush to notice her. To help her level up from forgettable to fierce, Sofia enlists trendy and confident Holden—the guy who everyone else has written off as a total player and a first-class jerk. Under Holden’s guidance, Sofia learns to revamp her style, ride a skateboard, and stand up for herself. At the same time, Holden learns that when he’s alone with Sofia, it’s safe to drop the cool guy act and just be himself.

When their efforts start to pay off, and Sofia’s crush finally seems interested in her, she’s faced with a choice. Should she stick with the plan—and risk losing herself in the process—or take a chance on the person everyone says will break her heart?

I love that there were many things about this that felt like a classic teen movie from the 80s (best rom coms ever!). What movies were inspiration for it? Can I guess? I felt Pretty in Pink (or at least Duckie Dale) and Can’t Buy Me Love vibes!

Ooh, those were good ones. I love CBML. I mean, how cute was Patrick Dempsey circa 1987?? I see your classic rom coms and raise with “She’s All That”—another adorable (if somewhat problematic) movie. (And did you see the gender-swapped remake, “He’s All That?” Love <3). So, bestie, I’m thinking movie night?! I’ll bring the popcorn!

I’m surely up for an 80s Rom Com movie night! LOL. I like how this book has the feel of a YA book but is for those kids (like me!) who enjoyed reading about high school relationships. Can you share what you feel keeps this in the middle grade realm vs young adult? I know a lot of authors have difficulty knowing where to categorize their work.

It’s solidly middle grade! I was very conscientious about keeping the romantic chemistry, the language, and the themes at the right level for tween readers. In fact, as we edited, I ran every word, phrase, reference, and plot point through the litmus test of, “Would I want to explain that to my 10-year-old?” Parents and teachers can feel confident recommending this book to kids who are interested in reading romance but don’t want (young) adult content.

About the Author

Did you sneak anything from your childhood into this book? (Who hasn’t fallen for a Mark??)

I won’t pretend I was ever as purely kind and gentle as Sofia is, but I do relate to her desire to change herself and grow up on the double. I remember that moment in junior high when I thought, “I have to burn everything little kiddish and bury all weakness and grow out my bangs and prove to myself and the world that I am a baddie.” (Please see attached photo for the results.)

Glow-Up (Kind of)

And, um, yeah—crushes galore! If you’re a male human reading this, and you attended Indian Trail Junior High School for more than a week between the years 1990 and 1992, I probably had a crush on you at some point. Now you know. Sorry for making it awkward.

Which character would you say you’re most like?

There’s a lot of me in every character, to be honest. I find my own cluttered headspace to be an endless well of source material. Sofia’s desire to transform and prove herself. Holden’s conflicted relationship with himself and others. Even the teachers and various mothers are really exaggerated versions of me in my best and worst moments.

What authors (and/or books) were some of your favorites at this age?

In junior high, I was devouring Lois Duncan books. High schoolers falling in love and running for their lives and having out-of-body experiences—that was my jam. When the covers fell off all the Duncan books, I read my share of Sweet Valley High and Harlequin Classics. But then I discovered Christopher Pike, and I was instantly addicted. Not only were those books creepy and thrilling, but the tone felt so real—like the author actually knew how teenagers talk and think and act. If you’re reading this Lois or Christopher, thanks for the memories!

Research/Writing

Where did the idea for this book begin—The problem? The resolution?

This book started with Holden. He was behaving very badly in Not If You Break Up With Me First, and I didn’t like him at all. When we started to dream about what might come next, he was the one character that I most wanted to get to know to see if maybe there was someone lovable under all that bad-boy bravado. As soon as Holden’s backstory and character arc came into focus, the rest of the story fell into place pretty easily. Sofia was the obvious perfect foil for Holden, and her crush on Mark in Not If You Break Up With Me First, was so fun to dig deeper into.

Do you make an outline? (Are you a plotter or a pantser with the genre?)

I do outline. And then the characters do whatever they want, so I go back and re-outline. And then the characters mess with the story again. And I re-outline… Thus, I plot my way through by the seat of my pants, and when I go back and read my first draft outline, I have to shake my head at how wrong I was about practically everything.

Can you share any tips for writing rom coms? Do you have any good sources for authors?

Rom coms are possibly the most character-driven of all the genres. The entire set-up, plot, and pay-off is driven by these two characters and how they bounce off each other. My tips are: (1) focus on character and (2) read and watch every possible rom com (if you’re even thinking about writing a rom com, you’re doing this already, right??). A good craft book is Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Mernit. It’s a screenwriting book, but the story principles still apply!

I appreciate your knowledge of technology trends and slang you use in your book. (Sadly, I hadn’t heard the expression “glow up” before.) What are some sources for keeping up-to-date on both what kids are doing on social media and what words/expressions are in?

I don’t know of any better way to keep up than to hang out with lots of teenagers. My kids and niblings teach me new stuff every day! They are so fluent in this language—not only do they know all the terms, but they seamlessly use them in new and surprising ways. They each have their own unique spin on the language.

If you don’t have time to volunteer at your local Boys & Girls Club, you could start by following @mr_phlindsay_sped on Instagram. He’s a comedian and middle school teacher, and you’ll pick up some lingo from him.

For Teachers

Photo Credit: Shannon Ly for Shannon Ly Photography

Do you have a curriculum guide or discussion questions posted online?

I do! You can find classroom resources at gfmiller.com/educators-press

Are you doing school visits related to this book?

I don’t have a formal school visiting program, but I’d be open to discussing it! When I visit junior highs, I typically talk about story craft and publishing. But if you want an unqualified person to talk about how to handle middle school relationships, I’m game for that too!

How can we learn more about you?

Visit me at gfmiller.com and follow me on Instragram @author.gfmiller

Thanks for your time, G.F.

Thank YOU, Natalie!

June New Releases!

By Karen Latchana Kenney on June 2, 2025 / Articles, Book Lists, New Releases

It’s finally summery out, perfect for lounging with a good book! And this month, there are many new middle grade reads to check out. Here are few to spend some time reading out on the patio or the beach. Hope you enjoy these wonderful new releases!

Encounter at Owl Rock by Rucker Moses

A pulse-pounding middle grade sci-fi adventure following two brothers and their best friend on an epic quest to thwart an alien invasion in their Atlanta suburb. Twins Cypress and Oakley Young, and their best friend Jaz are making a movie at an abandoned theme park when Oak mysteriously vanishes into Owl Rock. Cy and Jaz’s search leads them to Orion Industries, a company excavating the park with a suspiciously keen interest in Oak’s whereabouts. Their quest quickly turns into a thrilling mission to save Oak and the world too. It uses an alien invasion to explore the real experiences of urban communities while celebrating Black boyhood.

Leah vs. Art bookcover

Leah vs. Art by Joy McCullough and Veeda Bybee

Leah’s ambitious extracurricular plans cause trouble in this second book in the Team Awkward middle grade series that’s The Baby-Sitters Club meets Dork Diaries. How organized, driven Leah was born into her family, she’ll never know. They’re as different as can be. For example, while she’s trying to finish unpacking boxes from their move and get to bed at a decent time, her parents are listening to indie rock records and eating ice cream sundaes. Sometimes it feels like she’s the only responsible one in the house! So when her parents sign her up for art club—to “loosen her up” and “get her creative juices flowing”—Leah decides to ditch in favor of Quiz Bowl, which meets at the same time. But as she secretly attends Quiz Bowl and lies to her parents, her competitive spirit begins to take over, threatening her scheme and her friendships.

The Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Esme Sun absolutely does not care about winning shiny trophies or finally receiving some of the praise her mother bestows so lavishly on her three older, brilliant sisters. But, actually… it would be nice to be good at something. So when Esme discovers on the first day of summer, opening day at the community pool, that her growth spurt over the winter has made her a really fast swimmer, she wonders if she just might have found that thing.After Esme has an uncomfortable encounter at the pool with a new girl, Kaya, Esme worries she may have hurt Kaya’s feelings. Then, embarrassed by Esme’s awkwardness, her friend Tegan, the cool girl at school who seems to do everything perfectly, makes Esme promise that from now on, she’ll be chill, not act so babyish and intense about things–especially not swim team.But when their swim competitions begin, and Esme starts winning, she finds that she actually cares a lot. In fact, she wants to break the pool’s freestyle record. That doesn’t mesh so well with her promise to Tegan. And as Esme tries to navigate swimming and her friendships, she searches for a way to apologize and make things right with Kaya.Esme’s mom’s focus on winning confuses her, though, and she begins to wonder: Is winning really as important as she thinks, even if it means being unkind to your friends and teammates? Or is there another way to compete, to be a good sport and a good friend?

Chess Club: The Winning Move by Rebecca Donnelly

Chess is Halima Kasim’s favorite thing in the world. But with no local chess club in her small town, she has no one to practice with offline. Yearning for worthy opponents IRL, she recruits newbies: her next-door BFF Jem (a dedicated friend reeling from the recent loss of her grandfather), Jem’s long-lost friend Parker (eager to escape the shadow of his sport-star siblings), and Daniel (itching for answers after discovering a mysterious note left for him inside a book). Together the team forms their own chess club, navigating not just the board but the highs and lows of middle school social life. Along the way they’ll learn that it takes more than practice to be great—it’s teamwork, confidence, and the power of friendship. And never forget . . . chess is a game full of surprises.

AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Grayshark by José Pablo Iriarte

When AJ and Jayden discover a gold coin washed up on the shore of Miami after a hurricane, they think it might be the answer to all of their problems.They suspect the dingy old coin may be part of the long lost treasure of Captain Grayshark, whose loot was valued in the millions. That much money could help the Torres’s sinking family business and more importantly, allow Jayden to stay in Miami with his mom, instead of moving miles away from his best friend. The boys set out on a quest, along with resident ghost expert, Andrea Wade, to unearth the pirate’s treasure on a nearby haunted island. But the pursuit of treasure might prove more perilous than they could ever imagine—with treacherous waters and a crew of angry ghost pirates waiting for them on Scream Island . . . A slightly scary, laugh-out loud adventure about searching for gold, but finding much more along the way.

Chef’s Secret (Front Desk #6) by Kelly Yang

Jason Yao has a secret . . . actually, lots of secrets! For one thing, it’s hard being a professional chef, helping to run a motel, and being a regular kid! And now that Mia Tang is officially his girlfriend, Jason’s life has reached a whole new level of exciting–and terrifying! After all, Mia is amazing, and Jason is . . . just Jason. But he’s determined to be the best boyfriend ever, and he knows exactly what he needs to do:

Plan the perfect first date. Thanks to his dad’s new scheme to bring fancier guests to the motel, Jason is working harder than ever–and earning even bigger tips, which means he can treat Mia to the dinner of her dreams!
Be less cringe, especially around other guys. And try to make some guy friends his own age! Maybe then he can finally move on from those bullies who tormented him in fourth grade.
Don’t let Mia know the real him. Mia can never find out the darkest secrets that Jason is keeping–no one can!

Jason knows he’s got his work cut out for him, but hey, if he can date a girl like Mia Tang, anything’s possible, right?

The Incorruptibles by Lauren Magaziner

Fiora Barrowling lives in a world where sorcerers rule over humans. After surviving an encounter with The Radiance—the very worst of the sorcerers—she’s whisked away to the incredible Incorruptibles (“Inc”) Academy, a school for resistance fighters in training. But most of the other students think Fiora hasn’t earned her place there, and when things start to go wrong and it seems the sorcerers have a spy in the academy, all eyes are on Fiora. With all odds stacked against her, can Fiora prove that she belongs?

Bison: Community Builders and Grassland Caretakers by Frances Backhouse

Bison are North America’s largest land animals. Some 170,000 wood bison once roamed northern regions, while at least 30 million plains bison trekked across the rest of the continent. Almost driven to extinction in the 1800s by decades of slaughter and hunting, this ecological and cultural keystone species supports biodiversity and strengthens the ecosystems around it. Bison: Community Builders and Grassland Caretakers celebrates the traditions and teachings of Indigenous Peoples and looks at how bison lovers of all backgrounds came together to save these iconic animals. Learn about the places where bison are regaining a hoof-hold and meet some of the young people who are welcoming bison back home.

Mysteries of the Human Body: Weird and Wonderful Anatomy Explained by Neon Squid and Azmain Chowdhury

You know your heart is always beating, your intestines digest your food, and even that your brain is still awake when you’re asleep—that’s no mystery. But why do we get “brain freeze” if we eat ice cream too quickly? And why on earth do we get butterflies in our stomach when we’re nervous? And is it true we can squirt milk from our eyes?! This book focuses on the bizarre things all of our bodies do—including things we don’t understand (looking at you, appendix). Dr. Azmain also asks the burning medical questions we’ve all been wondering about:
Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?
How long can we stay awake for?
Can our hearts actually break after a romantic break-up? (Asking for a friend).Filled with gross, surprising, and downright terrifying facts, it’s bloated with cool science to impress your friends.

Karen Latchana Kenney is a children’s author and editor who loves creating all kinds of STEM books and classroom content. Find her at https://www.karenlatchanakenney.com/.