Classes run weekly on Saturdays at noon EST from September to April. There are some breaks for holidays. In April, as students go into mentoring, class frequency drops to one or two a month. Classes tend to last an hour, though some go to an hour and a half.

We ask that you make every effort to attend class. The interaction with your professors and the other students is part of what sets the Writing Academy apart from other online programs. Classes are recorded and are generally edited and available in the class group within a week.

You certainly can! Bear in mind that the program is constantly evolving and growing as new pedagogies and trends take center stage in literature. In general, however, the basic idea of the schedule can be found here.

We don't assign letter grades to class assignments. Rather, the professors critique them and give feedback on the concepts covered.

The goal of the academy is to help you bring your writing to the next level. Though many students use the time in class to work on one novel, some use it simply to improve their skills. In April, your mentors will expect to see what you have completed during the academy, whether it's a novel, half of a novel, or a few short stories.

This program is what you make of it. Attend the classes, do the assignments, and take time to work on your manuscript. Students who make it through class and send work to their mentors will graduate.

Definitely not! We encourage you to take the time to do several drafts of your work in progress, incorporating the feedback from your mentors, sending it to beta readers, and turning it into the cleanest copy you can produce before sending it to any publishers. The Writing Academy does not put a time limit on finishing your novel. Once you have submitted your work to the mentor in April, you have essentially completed the class, though we will have a few classes in May and June.

Many of our students have gone on to publish the work they created during their time in the academy. You will be introduced to writers and publishers within the lesfic community and you will be given advice and tips on submitting to publishers. We do not, however, guarantee publication

We have had students who have never written a book and students who have already published three, four, and five books. The writing academy is an excellent program for anyone who wants to hone their writing skills. We never stop learning. We never should stop learning.

A computer, smartphone, or tablet. (We do recommend a tablet or computer.) We use GoToTraining. The format allows for viewing instructor slides while listening to them speak. Students also have microphone access which makes the class more interactive. Since some students do not have microphones, or sometimes have to take classes in a place where they can't speak, there is a chat function as well.

The Writing Academy chooses professors based on academic degrees, teaching experience, established bodies of work, and distinction within the field. Guest speakers are generally well-established writers with a special talent in the subject on which they are speaking. Mentors are well-established writers with an award-winning body of work and experience mentoring writers.

I asked one of our current students what she wished she had known before she started and she wrote:

How much more I would learn about things I thought I already knew pretty well.
That getting up early on Saturday mornings would become a welcome thing.
That I would make such awesome friends.

Many of our past students are still friends with their classmates. The interactive format, the Facebook group, the peer-review forums, and the optional writing dates create a bond of peers that can last a lifetime.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to CONTACT US