Fiction Bootcamp: Writing a Novel that Sells

You’ve got a great story in mind…but you’re not quite sure how it ends. Or your incredible characters have stagnated. Maybe you’re ready for the big revision that will make your work publishable.

In this intense week of writing and revision, you’ll discover the elements of dramatic structure that power strong stories, and when to confidently abandon traditional plot points to serve your own novel. Learn the four key things your first pages must do to hook agents, editors and readers, and how to strengthen your scenes for maximum emotional and dramatic impact. 

Transform your first/early draft into a structured, powerful story with engaging characters and a strong hook. You’ll gain techniques to improve your manuscript right away and sustain your enthusiasm through the creative process. And we’ll live-edit participant work to show how to establish your voice, intention, purpose, and story on every page. 

Find your focus, identify what to write (and what to skip!) and plan your manuscript draft or revision to done. 

This workshop will cover: 

• How genre guides your writing process
• Turning points—writing your book’s most important scenes 
• The Dramatic Question: setting up your ending from the beginning
• Writing a powerful opening that starts your story in the right place
• Finding your voice
• Characterization and Character Development
• The building blocks of strong scenes
• Revision techniques to finish faster

This workshop is right for: 

• Writers with an idea who need a plan
• Novelists with an early draft who need guidance on revisions
• Writers hearing feedback that their book lacks tension, needs a stronger hook, or an agent “just didn’t connect” with the story
• People with a powerful story idea who want to learn to write it

Note: This workshop includes “live-editing.” Participant pages are projected on the screen, while Allison edits, explaining her suggestions and giving tips to everyone in the room to improve their own work. We do not read each others’ pages for feedback or discussion.

INDEPENDENT STUDY OPTION

Prefer to focus on your own book? Spend a dedicated week developing your work. Independent Study includes: 

• editorial feedback on 50 pages before the retreat, and a 45-minute Zoom call to review the feedback and plan your writing time
• drop in on your choice of the daily group classes to get the craft techniques most helpful to your process
• daily check-ins and two individual meetings to review pages and progress
• editorial feedback on 25 pages after the retreat

Limited availability.

Testimonials:

“Allison teaches incredibly well, not only with a vast pool of writing-craft knowledge and impressive retention of other people’s stories, but in the way she uses humor, psychological insight and accountability to engage and inspire us. (Watching Allison edit a piece on the screen in real time was nothing short of magic!) I came away from that extraordinary week a changed person—tired in a good way, and happy and excited to be on a path that felt good to me, and still does.” Heidi Croot

“My work with Allison was life-changing. As a result of my manuscript revision, an agent who had given me a “Revise and Resubmit” offered to represent me, then sold the book to Penguin Random House!” Karen Fine, author of NYT Bestseller, The Other Family Doctor

“Allison understands at a molecular level what makes prose work. As a sounding board, beta reader, and drop-everything-I’m-doing-to-meet-her coffeehouse workshop partner, Allison has made my writing better. Let her do that for you.” Christopher Buehlman, author of The Blacktongue Thief and The Daughters’ War

Workshop Schedule:
Sunday Night: Welcome Reception at 6pm
Monday – Friday: 9am – 4pm
*Subject to change*