Applications to the workshop are now closed. Thanks to everyone who registered.
Summer Writers Conference
Join One Story in Brooklyn
July 22nd - 27th, 2018
Application Fee: $20
Price: $1,400
Member Price* : $1,300
This summer, One Story will offer our annual week-long writing conference for fiction writers, hosted in our home, the historic Old American Can Factory in Brooklyn.
The twenty conference participants will be divided into two intimate ten-student workshop groups, each of which will be led by workshop instructor Will Allison or Anna Solomon. Each day will begin with a three-hour intensive writing workshop. Afternoons will focus on writing exercises and craft lectures led by established writers and editors, exploring fiction’s most important elements. Evenings will feature panel discussions with agents, editors, and industry professionals. Over the course of the week, students will work toward completing a publishable manuscript, create new work, and build long-lasting ties with the New York literary community.
“I learned so much not only about craft but also about the business of writing. I loved every minute of it!”
— Diana Quiñones, Summer Writers Conference, 2017
“Like a growth spurt for my writing craft.”
— Joe Cary, Summer Writers Conference, 2017
“This is the most comprehensive workshop I’ve ever attended. It addresses all aspects of the writing life with equal fervor. The attention to craft, personal development as a writer, the business of writing, and networking all contributed to this being a transformative experience for me.”
— Jan Elman Stout, Summer Writers Conference 2016
“Participation in this workshop was a game changer for me. Thank you, One Story!”
— Jennifer Kircher Carr, Summer Writers Conference 2015
Instructors:
Will Allison: Former executive editor of Story and former editor-at-large for Zoetrope: All-Story, Allison is the author of the novels What You Have Left and the New York Times bestseller Long Drive Home. His short stories have appeared in One Story, Glimmer Train, The Kenyon Review, Shenandoah, and elsewhere. Since 2011, he has served as a contributing editor and workshop teacher for One Story. He lives with his family in South Orange, New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.willallison.com.
Anna Solomon is the author of the novels Leaving Lucy Pear and The Little Bride. Her short stories have twice been awarded the Pushcart Prize and have appeared in One Story, Ploughshares, The Georgia Review, Harvard Review, and elsewhere. Her essays and criticism have been published in The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, Tablet, The Boston Globe, and Slate, among other places. She is co-editor with Eleanor Henderson of Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today’s Best Women Writers and the recipient of fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo, Bread Loaf, and elsewhere. Anna holds a BA from Brown University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop and has taught widely, most recently at Barnard and the Warren Wilson MFA program.
Sample Conference Schedule
Every morning, you will read and constructively talk about one another’s work, while Anna Solomon or Will Allison lead the discussion and teach you how to make good writing great.
Choose your lunch from a menu with a variety of options. Last year, the conference was catered by Runner & Stone, a local Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant.
Afternoon craft lectures will be given by guest authors and editors. An example from last year’s Conference: Myla Goldberg, author of Bee Season, gave a lecture entitled “Write What You (Don’t) Know,” where she discussed the craft of writing the unfamiliar.
There’s plenty to explore in Brooklyn! During the break, you are encouraged to visit some of the local coffee shops, bookstores, bars, and museums outlined in a guide provided (and made) by One Story staff. This is also a good time to catch up on some reading or take a walk in nearby Prospect Park.
This evening will offer you the opportunity to meet with some of New York’s finest agents. Past guests have included Sarah Burnes, Claudia Ballard, Renée Zuckerbrot, Duvall Osteen, Samantha Shea, Rebecca Gradinger, and Jim Rutman. Agents will answer your questions about how to best go about getting an agent and offer their own stories and advice from the frontlines of the industry.
After the panel, you’ll have a chance to talk one-on-one with these agents over a glass of wine, and ask more in-depth questions about the authors and books they represent.
Application Guidelines:
The One Story Summer Writers Conference is open to fiction writers 21 years of age and older.
The deadline to apply for the conference is 11:59pm ET April 3rd, 2018. There is a $20 application fee. All submissions must be sent through One Story’s Submission Manager. Choose the genre “Workshop for Writers 2018” when submitting your application and portfolio. All applicants will be notified of acceptance by April 24th, 2018.
We are seeking applicants who are excited about a career in fiction writing and ready for a fun and productive week. Applicants will be chosen based on the strength of their portfolio and their personal statement.
The Personal Statement: On the submission form in the “comments” box, please include a 150-300 word personal statement explaining why you would like to attend the program and where you are in your writing career. Applications without a personal statement will not be considered.
The Portfolio: Your submitted portfolio should contain a short story or novel excerpt of up to 5,000 words that best represents your writing. Note that, if selected, this will not necessarily be what you workshop during the conference. Submissions should follow this format:
- Portable Document Format (.pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), or Text (.txt)
- Up to 5,000 words
- Double-spaced
- 12 pt. font
- 1 inch margins
- Use asterisks to indicate section breaks
- No header or footer
- Include author name on first page
- Include author address and email on first page
- Please ID your work as a short story or novel excerpt
- Please include a title for your work (even if it is “untitled”)
Applications to the workshop are now closed. Thanks to everyone who registered.
Fees and Lodging:
Application Fee: $20
Conference Fee: $1,400 (Member Price*: $1,300)
The cost of the conference includes:
- Workshops, craft lectures, and panels
- Coffee, tea, and lunch daily
- Welcome reception
- Evening wine and cheese receptions
- Final reading and dinner
Please note that upon acceptance, a nonrefundable $400 deposit will be due on May 15th, and is required to confirm your place in the workshop. The final payment is due on June 15th.
Housing is not provided for the Summer Conference. New York offers many housing opportunities in all price ranges. We will assist accepted students in finding housing that fits their budget and needs.
A Note for Commuters: If you’re thinking of commuting, please know that each day follows the same basic schedule outlined above. There is usually a break between 4:30pm and 6:30pm. All events will take place in or around The Can Factory in Park Slope/Gowanus (232 3rd St. Brooklyn, 11215). The Can Factory is wheelchair accessible.
Member Discount: In order to qualify for our member discount, you must be a member at the time of registration. Please note that the discount is for our members only. Members commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in the organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers are members. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a member, you can do so here.
If you have any questions, please contact lena.
