Decoding the Craft and Business of Writing a Novel

In This Section

Whether you’re attempting your first novel or plotting your fifth, traditionally published authors Wendelin Van Draanen and Mark Parsons will dive into the craft and business of writing a novel. For craft this will cover voice, setting, plot, genre, etc. For business, they will discuss agents, editors, and publishers, and how to acquire and interface with each… both before and after the book deal. This class is suitable for novels of all age ranges and genres.

There will be a Q&A after each segment—come with questions!

DATES: Friday, September 26, 2025

TIME: 9:00am-12:00pm

FEE: $150

LOCATION: San Luis Obispo Campus Room TBD

Meet the Presenter
Mark Parsons	Mark Parsons has written primarily non-fiction for several years, penning over two hundred articles for national publications as well as a pair of non-fiction books before turning to book-length fiction. His first YA novel ROAD RASH (Knopf/Random House) was named to the ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list, as well as Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year list. His newest novel, THE 9:09 PROJECT (Delacorte/Random House) explores the healing power of art. It was a Kirkus Reviews Best of The Year selection, and a Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2023 selection. It has received critical acclaim (Kirkus calls it “A brilliant literary portrait…wryly funny, extremely intelligent, and sweetly romantic” in a starred review) and is being translated into Russian, Polish, and Chinese. Find more info at MarkHParsons.com @MarkHParsons (X), Mark.Parsons.733 (Facebook) and Coffee With The Authors on YouTube.
Wendelin Van Draanen	Wendelin Van Draanen is an international award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty traditionally-published titles that range from picture books to YA novels and are enjoyed by readers around the world. Two of her books have been produced as movies, including Flipped which became a Rob Reiner directed Warner Brothers feature film. Additionally, Wendelin’s non-fiction book on writing, Hope in the Mail, is an informational and inspirational guide for emerging adult writers, and her most recent novel, The Steps (Holiday House, Sept 2, 2025), is a YA thriller described as “Riverdale meets The Queen’s Gambit.” To learn more about Wendelin’s work, visit WendelinVanD.com, find her on social platforms at @WendelinVanD, or visit Coffee With The Authors on YouTube.

Meet the Presenter

Mark Parsons

Mark Parsons has written primarily non-fiction for several years, penning over two hundred articles for national publications as well as a pair of non-fiction books before turning to book-length fiction. His first YA novel ROAD RASH (Knopf/Random House) was named to the ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list, as well as Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year list.

His newest novel, THE 9:09 PROJECT (Delacorte/Random House) explores the healing power of art. It was a Kirkus Reviews Best of The Year selection, and a Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2023 selection. It has received critical acclaim (Kirkus calls it “A brilliant literary portrait…wryly funny, extremely intelligent, and sweetly romantic” in a starred review) and is being translated into Russian, Polish, and Chinese. Find more info at MarkHParsons.com @MarkHParsons (X), Mark.Parsons.733 (Facebook) and Coffee With The Authors on YouTube.

Wendelin Van Draanen

Wendelin Van Draanen is an international award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty traditionally-published titles that range from picture books to YA novels and are enjoyed by readers around the world. Two of her books have been produced as movies, including Flipped which became a Rob Reiner directed Warner Brothers feature film.

Additionally, Wendelin’s non-fiction book on writing, Hope in the Mail, is an informational and inspirational guide for emerging adult writers, and her most recent novel, The Steps (Holiday House, Sept 2, 2025), is a YA thriller described as “Riverdale meets The Queen’s Gambit.” To learn more about Wendelin’s work, visit WendelinVanD.com, find her on social platforms at @WendelinVanD, or visit Coffee With The Authors on YouTube.

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