Write your novel with bestselling author Julia Phillips!

This 10-month intensive class is open to writers working on a book-length work of fiction. It focuses on creating a propulsive story that is truly satisfying for the reader. Together, we’ll explore the different aspects of craft that help make a thrilling, fulfilling novel, including stakes, characterization, voice, and structure. By studying narratives both in and out of our workshop time, we’ll work to figure out how fiction functions. Our goal as a class will be for you to gain clarity on your own story as well as storytelling as a whole.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 2, 2025

Virtual Info Session

Meet Julia Phillips, instructor for our Novel Year workshop, and have all your questions about the program answered! Recording now available!

Format

Class meetings will consist of brief lectures focusing on different craft elements, group discussions on those aspects of craft, writing exercises, and workshops. You will workshop your work three times during the year for a total of up to 75 pages. After each of those times, you can choose to have a 30-minute one-on-one call with Julia for further discussion. The last two class meetings will be dedicated to workshopping student query letters or one-page book outlines, giving us the opportunity to prepare together for future writing, revising, or seeking publication.

You will read and prepare written comments on up to 50 pages of your peers’ work for each class meeting. You may also read a short story, novel excerpt, or excerpt of a craft book (no more than 50 pages and provided by Julia) to prepare for class discussion. As the class continues, we’ll cover writing, outlining, revising, and seeking publication, with the aim of supporting your process in creating your book and sharing it with the world. And we’ll build community with each other so that support might continue far past the class’s end date.

Schedule

This class will meet over Zoom every other Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – February 25, 2026, for a total of twenty sessions, with breaks for holidays and independent work. Between Zoom meetings, you can expect readings and assignments.

Applications

To be admitted into the program, please submit:

• A 10- to 20-page writing sample from your book in progress
• A brief cover letter explaining why you want to take this class, what your book in progress is about, and where you’re at in your project (e.g., in the middle of writing a first draft, on your fifth round of revisions, doing a final polish before querying)

Admissions will be on a rolling basis, and the number of participants will be limited to 12, so please submit early. Send your submission to laura.spencer@writer.org by May 2.

Acceptance to the program is required before registering.