Must read! Our own Alison Green Myers and Alexandra Villasante sat down with Mitu Malhotra of Cynsations (and also one of our Retreat Assistants!) to talk about our new name, scholarships, and some great upcoming workshops!  cynthialeitichsmith.com/2026/02/a-sa...

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!

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...

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...

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

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...

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

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...

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

🔉 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.

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...

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...

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...

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!)

I'm at @highlightsfound.bsky.social and my brain is swirling! saraharonson.substack.com/p/a-place-fo...

Centerville -> CVG -> IAD -> Scranton -> Milanville Grateful to @highlightsfound.bsky.social for the gift of a week to write and be in community #amwriting #booksky

It’s so good to be back. @highlightsfound.bsky.social

Word garden inspiration: Let Children Laugh Forever! 💙💚

FREE event! #HFGather: Writing for and Writing WITH Kids Join authors Valerie Bolling and Diana Ma to learn ways to enhance your school visits, strengthen community engagement, and honor the voices of the aspiring storytellers you inspire! Click the link in bio to register for this FREE event!

Grill night! A summer camp tradition with Chef Amanda and Megan 🌲⛺🔥

Help us pave the way! 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧: 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 Our Executive Director, George Brown, shares a little about our goals with this project by creating a series of paved pathways linking buildings (and people) across our 66-acre campus www.highlightsfoundation.org/pathways-to-...

July & August Minis are here! Two-day online workshops for just $59. Head to the link below for more information! www.highlightsfoundation.org/upcoming-wor...

Halfway through 2025, with six months to go! Now’s the perfect time to refocus on your creative goals. Book your personal trip to campus to rest, recharge, and turn the rest of the year into your most creative yet!

#amwriting @highlightsfound.bsky.social

I have nothing but incredible things to say about the Highlights Foundation and I already miss it so much 🥰😭 THANK YOU to @highlightsfound.bsky.social for all the love and inspiration ❤️ 📚 #highlightsfound #kidlit #amwriting

Come hungry, leave happy!

No cooking. No cleaning. No distractions. No schedule. Just peaceful days filled with creating and inspiration! Book your 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 today and give your story the space it deserves!

What's your favorite creepy crawly? "Ode to a Slug" is based on a little friend I saw outside the barn at @highlightsfound.bsky.social on Thursday. And yes, I know slugs are not bugs, but the rhyme is to delicious to resist. #watercolor #collage #coloredpencil #digitalart #poetry #kidlit #sluglove

Spotted: a toad soaking up the sunshine on a Word Garden rock labeled ‘Red Eft.’ 🐸 Nature’s little coincidences are the best!

Our 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 Programming Schedule! 📘𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 📕𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶 📙𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 📗𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 📘𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧) 📕𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶 Click the link in bio for more information!

Another wonderful retreat at @highlightsfound.bsky.social in the books! (Three books, to be exact.) 😉

Good news to begin my day: the collection of stories I've been working on is going to contract! My recent residency and retreat at Highlights Foundation Retreat Center brought it home. Thanks, Highlights!

Join Alicia and other amazing faculty for the Whole Novel Workshop, August 17th- 22nd! This is a rare chance to have your entire manuscript (up to 80,000 words) read with in-depth written feedback, two private consultations, and an inspiring retreat at our campus. 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟑𝐫𝐝!

Join us TONIGHT for our #HFGather: The Resilient Writer—Writing Through Trauma and Grief with author Heather Demetrios. This is a FREE event! Click the link below to register. www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/fre...

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Revision Retreat!

Please join @jashammonds.bsky.social and me this summer @highlightsfound.bsky.social! We look forward to seeing you! www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/bla...

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Highlights Foundation alum and faculty member Meg Eden Kuyatt on her new MG novel in verse, The Girl in the Walls, out now! Learn more about Meg Eden Kuyatt's publishing journey with The Girl in the Walls on our blog. Link in bio! @medenkuyatt.bsky.social

May is Mental Health Awareness Month Our faculty members, Crystal Allen and Katie Keridan, have created a powerful booklist of middle grade and young adult novels that highlight the diversity of representation in mental health narratives for kids and teens. Click the link in bio for the full list!

If you write nonfiction, @jacquilipton.bsky.social and I will be teaching a course on Building Brilliant Book Proposals with @highlightsfound.bsky.social on June 3 and 5. The workshop will be recorded if you can't make it live. More info at www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/bui... #kidlit

Helpful Tips for Authors! 📚 Stephanie Gibeault shares how she approaches writing a nonfiction book proposal! Learn more from her and Jacqui in their workshop Building Brilliant Book Proposals! Sign up now! www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/building-brilliant-book-proposals-a-two-night-mini/