Description of Class
Next cohort will begin January 2020
APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
Novel in a Year: Young Adult and Middle Grade is a unique opportunity for aspiring novelists to study the art of fiction, refine their craft, share their work, get and give constructive feedback, and join a supportive, educational, and literary cohort of fellow writers. Benefit from special Master Classes with visiting authors, individual manuscript review from the instructor, a writer’s retreat with other novelists, and the priceless benefit of joining an active and talented writing community..
Award-winning YA author James Klise will lead workshops, offer craft lessons, and provide comprehensive, supportive feedback on your young-adult or middle-grade manuscript. Within the workshop, your group will examine the total novel-writing process, from initial drafting through revision, and conclude with some tips for approaching agents and editors with your work.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
The class is appropriate for writers anywhere in the first draft of a novel. Some students already may have completed 100 pages (or more) of their manuscripts; others may have nothing more than a first chapter or initial scenes. Work of any genre is welcome.
It will help all students to have some knowledge of the marketplace: Do you eagerly read middle grade novels and/or young adult novels? If not, this will be a good year to dive in! There’s never been a better selection of diverse, compelling, imaginative, and meaningful work for young readers.
This application-based class is selective. We are looking for students with talent and drive, though familiarity with the workshop process or previous experience writing a novel is not necessary.
Please note: StoryStudio offers several Novel in a Year classes, each designed for students at a specific experience level so you find the program that is the best fit for you. Skill and determination are a prerequisite for all the classes, and you will find remarkable, gifted, and devoted writers in every group.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
- The Author’s Promise (to the reader and to herself/himself)
- Voice, Tense, & Point of View
- Character Building
- Effective Openings
- Setting & Description
- Using Scene & Summary
- Plotting and Pacing
- Tension & Dialogue
- Satisfying Endings
- Revision
- How Publication Works
- Submitting Your Novel to Agents/Editors
HOW IT WORKS
Students will meet monthly for three-hour sessions to discuss the writing process, learn about novel craft, problem-solve particular issues in their work, workshop scenes, and share some snacks and beverages. In between class sessions you’ll have plenty of time to write and generate new work while still staying in touch with other students via StoryStudio’s private online class forum.
We’ve structured this program to provide maximum benefit without demanding too much time away from focusing on your own writing. In addition to workshopping short scenes in class, participants will meet individually with James for one 100-page manuscript review each.
Moreover, students enrolled in this course will receive complementary admission and early registration to four classes from our acclaimed Master Class series throughout the year—a $300 value. (Recent and upcoming writers include Jennifer Haigh, Stuart Dybek, Alexander Chee, Téa Obreht, and Natalie Moore.)
The class also includes a one-day off-site writers’ retreat, where you canwhere you can spend the day writing and thinking, with breaks to mingle at lunch and over drinks with students in our other novel workshops. Additionally, throughout the year we will organize two optional evening social gatherings.
YOUR WRITING COMMUNITY
Whether you’ve already made headway on your novel or are just gathering ideas, your cohort will provide the structure, companionship, feedback, good humor, and emotional support to help you see your project through. You’ll also join StoryStudio’s larger community—in person and on social media—where you can connect with students from other classes, receive “first chance” invitations to special programming, and stay informed about literary events around the city. The Novel In a Year program has been training novelists for six years strong, and you will have the opportunity to benefit socially and professionally from a wonderful network of alumni, many of whom are getting published and finding agents.
PLEASE NOTE: This program is for novelists who are ready to make a strong commitment to their work. Students will be expected to participate in the full program.
PROGRAM FEE: —
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
This course is limited to 12 students and is submission based.
You will be asked to submit a 10-page writing sample in a Word document.
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