The program consists of an Autumn, Winter and Spring Quarter workshop. The program provides advanced writing tools, information and encouragement to writers dedicated to completing a novel which will be submitted for publication. Participants must demonstrate a knowledge of character development, scene writing and building, writing dialogue and plotting. Applicants must have completed at least one-third of a novel. See admission requirements for details.
Students further develop their work in progress and produce a polished novel proposal.
The seminar also covers the outline, advanced critique, and plot development, with special focus on filling holes. The final product of the first workshop is a concise, well-written outline that gives the author a clear road map to the completion of the project, and highlights the novel's strengths to a publisher. In addition, students hear four guest speakers from the publishing industry and experience intensive critiques of their work in progress. In this seminar, students learn the elements of the synopsis, as well as how to use one to advantage and the purposes a synopsis serves in the publishing industry. The final product of the of the 10 weeks is a concise, well-written synopsis that highlights the project's strengths, author's talent and knowledge, and pinpoints marketability of the project.