Work-in-Progress Intensive

Work-in-Progress Intensive

This unique two-week workshop, open to YWW alumni only, is designed for writers working on book-length material: fiction or nonfiction. This cohort of just eight writers will meet and write for two weeks. Week one will be on-campus, and week two will be virtual. This is a competitive program.

Please submit a 1000 word sample from the manuscripts you plan to submit and answer these questions in your application:

1. Is your submission Fiction or Nonfiction?
2. What is the working title of your manuscript?
3. How many words have you written?
4. What is that status of the draft? Just Starting, half written, completed first, or second draft?
5. Who has offered / given you feedback on the draft?

Pin:This workshop will be taught by YWW faculty members Kirsten Bakis and Sergio Troncoso

Writers will complete both generative and revision-based activities in a dynamic, exploratory, and energetic environment. The first week the writers meet in-person on campus; the second week the writers meet virtually for three additional workshops. Individual conferences will be arranged by faculty. Expect to meet online prior to your arrival on campus.

In Week 1, writers will critique 7,000 words from their fellow writers’ manuscripts. Exercises and readings will be assigned prior to arrival. Week 2 will allow writers to process their on-campus experience to the page, and meet virtually with the established cohort to discuss revision, and strategies to completing their manuscript for submission.

The Work-In-Progress Intensive is appropriate for any writer who has 7,000 words or more of a draft and a desire to turn that draft into a book. Priority will be given to writers with confident first drafts. In the workshop, writers will dig deep to look at the strengths, challenges, and potential of their manuscript. The small group size allows writers to intimately know each other’s work.

Writers participate in a total of nine workshops over fourteen days. Attendees can attend all craft talks and panels over the two weeks.

“That was a great two weeks. So many of the speakers had unique and useful advice for writing. I think it's the best group of speakers I've experienced. Well done!”    Adelma Gillespie, 2023 Intensive Participant

Flash Interview with Kirsten 

Kirsten: I am very excited to teach the 2024 Work-in-Progress intensive. It’s an experience like no other, as we work together in a small group over the course of two weeks and get to know everyone’s novel intimately. There are close reads and critique, there’s generative work and play, and most of all we form a lasting bond, rooting for everyone’s novel and on the edge of our seats to see them all published.

Flash Interview with Sergio

Sergio: I am excited to teach an intensive workshop to lead our group deep into their manuscripts, including characterization, narrative structure, setting, and revision strategies to complete full-length drafts of their work. I love to teach and to help students find their voice so that they can realize their literary ideas on the page, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph.

Important Dates 

• Program Dates: June 3-17, 2023
• Application Opens: January 17, 2023
• Application Deadline: January 27, 2023
• Decisions Released: February 3, 2023
• Payment Due to Secure Your Spot: February 10, 2023

Costs for 2024 (Housing Costs will be updated shortly)

We expect a high amount of interest in this intensive workshop and a waiting list will be made if necessary. Writers applying for the intensive workshop should list alternative workshops on their application in case they are not selected.