Revise your novel in 6 months!

Have you written a novel but don’t know where to begin revising? Or maybe you’re feeling stuck in the middle of drafting your novel and need help moving forward to the end? This intensive, six-month novel revision workshop is open to writers of all genres and forms of the novel. In a supportive workshop atmosphere, writers will workshop their novel three times alongside a group of dedicated peers. 

The revision workshop will be broken into three primary phases: understanding your project’s core; conducting an assessment of where to lean in and where to let go; and using exploratory and generative exercises to either help you keep going to the end or to augment existing scene work, character work, and narrative movement/plot. Craft topics covered will include: revising beginnings and sorting through the muck of the middle (a challenge for all writers!); setting as a function of plot and a tool for characterization; the use of secondary and tertiary characters to further plot/narrative movement; narrative structure, novel shapes, and story containers; utilizing scenes, white space, and chapter breaks; line-level polish; how narrative repetitions and beats show up in our work. 

In addition to craft discussions, writers will engage in peer workshops, receive instructor feedback, set goals and measure their progress, meet deadlines, share strategies and ideas for balancing writing with life commitments, and receive support for the challenging commitment required for a novel-length work. For writers who are considering pursuing publication, we’ll also touch on publishing, including query letters and submission strategies. 

By the end of the six months, writers will have workshopped up to 250 pages of their novel, and will have likewise read and provided feedback to their fellow writers. Students will also have a one-on-one meeting with the instructor during the workshop and an optional post-workshop meeting to be scheduled approximately four to six months after the workshop’s completion. 

Whether you’ve made it to the end of your draft or are muddling through the middle, this six-month workshop will help you reconnect with your project so you can finish your draft and polish your book.

The max. enrollment for this workshop is 9 students. 

Join the Virtual Info Session

Meet Lacey N. Dunham, instructor for our Novel Overhauler workshop, and have all your questions about the program answered!

FREE RSVP >>>

Other Class Info

This intensive workshop is for writers who have completed a novel draft or who have written a significant chunk (at least half, or approximately 35,000 words) of a novel-in-progress, and who are ready to make a strong commitment to their work. Writers must be willing to make the time to read and provide feedback on their peers’ novels. Almost every class will include a reading assignment to be completed ahead of time, and students will be expected to arrive to class prepared. In order to build a supportive and trusting community, students will be expected to participate in the entire program on all dates, and to participate fully in each workshop.

Writers will have the opportunity to workshop their novel three times, providing up to 50 pages in the first workshop; up to 125 pages in their second workshop; and up to 75 pages in the third workshop. 

THE USE OF GENERATIVE AI IN THIS WORKSHOP IS ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED. If you have used AI to “write” your novel, do not apply to this workshop. AI uses stolen labor from working artists and undermines a thriving literary ecosystem. The instructor has a zero tolerance policy for the use of AI at any stage of the writing process (whether prior to the workshop or during it). If you are found to have used / to be using AI, you will be removed from further participation in the workshop without a refund.

Who is this class for?

• This class is best for students who have a completed novel draft or who have made substantial progress towards a complete draft but find themselves flailing in the middle.
• This class will also serve writers who have completed the year-long writing intensive and are looking for additional post-intensive support revising their novel.

Schedule

This class will meet virtually every other Thursday, with 12 total sessions. Workshop dates run from July 16, 2026 – December 10, 2026, 7:30 – 10 pm ET. 

July 16, 30
August 13, 27
September 10, 24
October 8, 22
November 5, 19
December 3, 10*

*please note the December dates fall on consecutive weeks

1:1 Mentoring

All workshops will be held over Zoom, with additional opportunities to meet 1:1 with Lacey upon request. All enrolled students will have the option to schedule an individual follow-up meeting (1 hour) with Lacey approximately 6 months after the conclusion of the workshop.

To Apply

Application Deadline: Monday, June 15, 2026

To apply, submit the following materials via this GOOGLE FORM or directly via email to emily.holland@writer.org:

• The first 10-12 pages of the novel you would be revising during the workshop
• Responses to the following questions (required):
  • Describe the project you’ll be revising. Please include genre (e.g. literary fiction, mystery/thriller, young adult, etc.) and number of drafted pages you currently have. (Please respond in 100 words or less)
  • Where are you in the writing/revision process? (e.g. struggling with the middle; have revised several times but feel it still needs work; recently finished a complete draft and have no idea where to start with revising, etc.)
  • How do you envision this workshop helping you? (Please respond in 500 words or less)
  • What excites you the most about the opportunity to revise with a cohort of peers? What scares or intimidates you, if anything? (Please respond in 500 words or less)
  • What are your primary concrete goals for this program? (Please respond in 250 words or less)
  • I confirm that I have not used nor will I use generative AI at any stage in the brainstorming, drafting, writing, or editing/revision of my manuscript. (Yes or No)
  • I confirm that I am able to attend all of the workshop dates listed above for the full length of time. (Yes or No)
  • If you replied No, please provide dates you cannot attend with a brief explanation as to why.

Acceptance into the workshop is required before registering.

About Book Farm @ The Writer’s Center

The Writer’s Center hosts a series of workshops for serious writers to complete book-length projects, generate new work for publication, or master the elements of craft within a specific genre. You’ll work with an acclaimed author, guiding you through 4-12 months of lessons, workshops, and revisions. Our instructors are all accomplished educators with a track record of student success. Limited enrollment with rolling admission up to the application deadline, so apply right away to secure your spot!

All Book Farm participants receive an exclusive tote bag, a craft book recommended by the instructor, and a $100 gift certificate good toward future TWC workshops. Participants also receive exclusive access to The Writer’s Center staff, all of whom are accomplished writers with extensive experience in editing and publishing.