The Muse & The Marketplace 2024

Workshops are designed to provide writers with community, accountability, feedback and inspiration. Sometimes, though, the workshop ends just as the group begins to gel and hit its stride. But what if your workshop could last 6, 9 or even 12 months? Drawing from the wisdom and experience of the intensive programs in fiction, memoir, short story and essay at GrubStreet, and the Pioneer Valley Writers’ Workshop Manuscript Program, and elsewhere, this session will discuss the benefits of longer form (months-long) workshops and why they can be great alternatives to multi-year and more expensive programs such as MFAs. These advantages include the ability to work on book-length manuscripts and collections or more advanced material; to engage in a deeper workshopping experience; to have a more robust revision process; to be exposed to publication and networking opportunities; and to experience a transformative community building among your peers and instructor. Come to this session with questions about long form workshops or experiences you like to share.