Write your book.

The Manuscript Intensive with Dori Ostermiller, is an intensive, year-long generative program for writers with prose manuscripts in progress that call for new writing and feedback.  Writers can be working on novels, short story collections, memoirs or essay collections.  This group will provide the structure, support, inspiration and critical feedback to help writers complete a book-length manuscript.

Program Guidelines:  Participants are writers who have made some headway in a writing project (at least 50 draft pages), and are seeking support, structure and editorial guidance in order to complete it.  Writers agree to meet the deadlines for manuscript submission, to read and critique in advance the manuscripts of other group members, and to discuss them at the Friday evening/Saturday intensives.

The basic structure of the group includes seven deadlines with extensive feedback, five Friday evening/Saturday craft and critique intensives and two email deadlines. The intensive workshops will run every five-six weeks or so, on a Friday night (6:00 – 9:00) and the following Saturday (9:30 – 4:00) online and in-person at our lovely Florence, MA studio.  We use hybrid technology at the studio, so long-distance applicants are welcome and can attend via Zoom.  See dates below.

Admission to the group also includes three private conferences with Dori.  These conferences serve to help writers envision the overall shape of their manuscripts, address specific challenges and provide individualized support for issues of craft, process or time management, as needed.   

Manuscript group members are given the opportunity to use the WIP studio to write together one morning a week, and receive a special 20% discount on any additional WIP workshops and retreats during the year.  Additionally, manuscript group members receive a special discount on editing/consulting services with Dori for a full year after the group’s culmination.

Unlike other area groups, this manuscript series is limited to just 6 writers, who will make a commitment for the full year.  Participants will receive the invaluable benefit of having all group members, and the leader, reading and responding to their work in progress. Intensives take place at Writers in Progress studio (and/or online) and include manuscript critiques, writing prompts, take-home exercises, handouts, and discussions on craft and process.  We will also spend some time at the end of the series discussing agents and queries. Saturday intensives at the studio are brown bag, so participants can either bring their own lunches or can dine at one of the many cafés and eateries within walking distance of the studio.

Manuscript submissions for each intensive include up to 43 pages of double-spaced prose (up to 301 pages total for the year) and are sent to all group members 2 weeks ahead of each scheduled intensive.  Members are responsible for getting their manuscripts to all participants by the dates indicated on the calendar and attending all intensives. The series will culminate with a celebration and public reading (Date TBD).  Accommodations are not included, but Dori will be happy to help locate nearby lodging for Friday night/Saturday intensives.

This is amazing and deep work that gets books written! Dozens of finished manuscripts have emerged from this process, and many have gone on to publication, including Dinah Mack’s Pirates of Cologne, Dusty Miller’s Alice Ott Mystery Series, Ruth Lehrer’s Being Fishkill, JoAnne Jones’s Headstrong, Steve Bernstein’s Stories from the Stoop, Megan Tady’s Superbloom, and Dori’s Outside the Ordinary World, among others.

Cost: $3750 includes all tuition and materials (handouts, over 50 hours of instruction, writing exercises and prompts, many pages of detailed professional critique on installments, individual consultations, publishing advice, studio time and light refreshments during in-person intensives).  A $500 deposit is due at the time of registration.  While you are obligated to pay the entire tuition if you are accepted into the program, you may arrange to pay the tuition in installments to fit your needs.

How to apply: Write a one page letter to Dori, describing your project, your progress to date, your short and long term goals, and why you believe the Manuscript Series is a good fit for you.  Email the letter, along with a 10 -15 pages sample of your manuscript, before June 30th to:

Dori Ostermiller
doriostermiller@writersinprogress.com

When applying, please mail your deposit as well.  If you are accepted, the deposit is non-refundable.  If you are not accepted, it will be refunded in full.