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About the 10-Month Manuscript Group Program
The 10-Month Manuscript Group Program at PVWW is for writers in any genre who are serious and committed to completing (or revising) a book-length manuscript over the course of ten months (March - December). The program is completely virtual,
intensive and comprehensive, and was
designed in the spirit of building a community of writers committed to supporting each other through the rigorous and sometimes lonely process of completing (or revising) a full manuscript. Each workshop group is limited to ten writers, meets (virtually) once a month for three hours (12 meetings total), and also involves communication with the group between meetings via an easy-to-access online classroom space (Google Classrooms). At their core, the workshops in PVWW's 10-Month Manuscript Program are centered around giving and receiving feedback, craft instruction, building a supportive community, and the push toward completing a full-length manuscript. Over the course of the program, writers will be guided to set active, clear goals that will help them both get to the finish line and better understand craft elements related to their genre.
The program is open to writers at all stages of the process, in any genre, but it does require a rigorous commitment to your work, a clear project in mind that you plan to work on for the entire year (though any stage from initial idea onward is fine), as well as a commitment to the writers in your cohort and the various aspects of the program. If you have not already, we recommend that you review the complete information on the
10-Month Manuscript Program
page before applying, which also includes a month-by-month breakdown of what each workshop will cover.
About the Instructors
The Novel (First Draft & Revision):
KATE SENECAL
is the Assistant Director of PVWW and the Director of PVWW's Manuscript Program. She is the former fiction editor of
Storychord
, a fiction instructor at Grub Street, and a professor at UMass Amherst. She's received an honorable mention in Glimmer Train’s 2019 Short Fiction Contest, and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2016. She holds
an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and her fiction has been published in
The Laurel Review, The Foundling Review,
and in
Storychord.com.
Memoir
:
DORIAN FOX
is a writer and freelance editor in Boston, where he teaches courses at GrubStreet, a nonprofit creative writing center. His essays have appeared in
The Rumpus
,
Gay Magazine
,
Atticus Review
,
Longridge Revie
w,
Under the Gum Tree
,
december
and elsewhere, and received special mentions in the Anne C. Barnhill Prize and Curt Johnson Prose Awards contests, among others. More of his work can be found at
dorianfox.com
.
Poetry Hybrid & Nonfiction:
CAROLYN ZAIKOWSKI
is is the author of the hybrid novels
In Dream, I Dance by Myself, and I Collapse
(Civil Coping Mechanisms, 2016) and
A Child Is Being Killed
(Aqueous Books, 2013). Her fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared in
The Washington Post, Denver Quarterly, The Rumpus, PANK, West Branch, DIAGRAM, Everyday Feminism,
and elsewhere. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics and is currently an English professor and volunteer death doula.
Application for the 2023 10-Month Manuscript Program
Before you begin
: Please be aware that this application form does not autosave and should be completed in one sitting. We strongly recommend saving your answers to the short answer questions in a separate document. We also strongly recommend that you read through everything on the
Program page
and understand fully what this program entails before submitting your application. All applications must be receive before or on January 3, 2022 to be considered for the 2023 program year.
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Indicates required field
Name
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Email Address
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How did you learn about PVWW's Manuscript Program and/or Pioneer Valley Writers' Workshop?
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Since these workshops meet virtually, writers can participate from anywhere in the world. Where would would you be joining us from? (City, Sate or City, Country)
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Program Commitment and Engagement
Before beginning this application: Have you thoroughly read our program page that describes the 10-month program and the workshop to which you are applying?
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Yes. I have read the program description thoroughly and understand what this program entails.
Are you aware that this course is extensive in the amount of materials it offers and commitment it requires from participants?
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Yes, I am aware of that and I'm looking for a rigorous, intensive program such as this one.
Are you fully aware and comfortable with the fact that this course is virtual, happening on Zoom, and that materials will be shared and interacted with via Google Classrooms (which requires a Gmail account)?
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Yes, I am completely comfortable with Zoom, Gmail, and Google Classroom.
Yes. I am either comfortable or very willing and able to learn those platforms. I recognize that this may require some practice and investigation on my part to gain comfort.
I am not comfortable with these platforms and am not sure if I will be.
While we provide an initial orientation to the program and to the Google Classroom space, if you are learning skills like navigating email, using Zoom, and interacting virtually for the first time, you will very likely need to seek outside assistance. While we of course understand there may be initial questions, PVWW cannot function as a constant tech support service. Please make sure you are willing to seek out and learn the types of platforms used in this course on your own.
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I am already familiar with all platforms used in this program (Zoom, Google Classrooms, Gmail)
I am not yet familiar with all platforms used, but I fully understand this and will plan to seek outside help if needed.
Outside of monthly group meetings, each instructor curates a virtual Google Classroom space for writers to stay involved with each other and the course material in between meetings. The virtual classroom includes readings, craft lectures, writing prompts, discussion questions, and other resources all centered around the monthly craft topic. How engaged with this aspect of the course do you foresee yourself being?
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Very engaged! I am looking forward to all of the materials and resources and am excited to actively engage throughout the month with the course materials and group.
Engaged. I hope to be an active participant in the Google Classroom, yet this may depend on my schedule and other commitments.
Somewhat engaged. I'm glad the resources are there, though I'm mostly looking forward to referencing them later, when I have more time.
Not that engaged. I am applying to the program because of the monthly workshop element and cannot foresee being actively engaged with a virtual classroom space.
In addition to regular work on your own manuscript, involvement in the workshop requires writers to read and offer thoughtful feedback on sections of their classmates' manuscripts on a monthly basis. How do you feel about the feedback-aspect of the program?
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Excited! I learn best in environments where I am both giving and receiving feedback. I am excited to read the work of my classmates!
It makes sense and I'm fine with it.
I'm fine with it, though I do worry about having enough time for my own manuscript.
I am not a huge fan of giving frequent feedback.
In addition to monthly group meetings, the program puts writers in smaller groups to check-in with each other throughout the month (Accountability Buddies). These small monthly groups/pairings are an opportunity to get to know the writers in your workshop and their projects more thoroughly, and to give/receive more feedback than simply your monthly workshop. Are you willing, able, and excited to interact and "show up" in your monthly Buddy pairings with workshop classmates?
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Yes! I'm very excited for this aspect of the program and will be sure to "show up" in my Accountability Buddy pairings/groups.
I am less excited about this aspect of the program, although I will try my best.
Outside of unforeseen emergencies that would require you to miss workshops and/or withdraw, how serious would you be about attending all class meetings, participating fully in all aspects of the course, and sticking with your group over the course of the ten months?
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I am completely committed and foresee nothing that would interfere with my commitment to my manuscript and the group.
I am committed, but there are a few possible conflicts that could make the commitment difficult.
I will try my best, but I really have no way of knowing.
If you answered that there are a few possible conflicts that could make attendance and/or sticking with the group over the course of the year difficult, please elaborate on the nature and likelihood of the conflict here.
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How flexible is your availability on the listed weekday your workshop meets? (We ask this because some classes may need to be rescheduled, and while the day would be kept the same - for example, if your class meets on a Tuesday, all rescheduled classes will be for Tuesday also - sometimes an additional day that month will be needed.)
*
I am flexible and mostly available on that day/evening.
My availability is limited, and I am not available on my workshop's meeting day except once a month.
What are you looking for in a manuscript program? Why do you think you'd be a good fit for PVWW's program in particular? What aspects of the program most appeal to you?
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Past Experience
What's your experience with writing workshops?
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Lots of workshop experience at a high level; MFA or equivalent degree
Lots of workshop experience at rigorous programs like Bread Loaf, Tin House, and others, but no MFA or long-term study
Casual workshop experience at smaller, local, and/or non-application-based organizations, such as Grub Street
At least one prior workshop
Very casual workshop experience with friends and writing groups
No workshop experience
Please elaborate on any relevant past experience, with workshops, programs, publications, etc.
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The Workshop Groups
Which 10-month workshop group are you applying to be in?
*
Novel: First Draft (with Kate Senecal)
Novel: Revision (with Kate Senecal)
Memoir (with Dorian Fox)
Nonfiction (with Carolyn Zaikowski)
Poetry and Hybrid (with Carolyn Zaikowski)
If applicable to your manuscript and/or writing goals, please let us know your SECOND CHOICE if you do not get into your first choice workshop group:
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Novel: First Draft
Novel: Revision
Memoir
Nonfiction
Poetry and Hybrid
The group I am applying for is the only one I am interested in. If I do not get in, I am not interested in any other group.
FOR NOVEL REVISION APPLICANTS ONLY: In the Novel Revision Workshop, writers read and workshop each others' full manuscripts (see course description for more details). Do you feel you are able to actively participate and keep up in a workshop that requires this level of reading and feedback?
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Yes, I am looking for a serious workshop group where this level of feedback and manuscript exchange happens. This is exactly what I need and I am prepared to participate and give back fully to my classmates!
I will try my best, and I think I'll be able to manage!
I am not sure I'll be able to balance this level of reading and feedback.
Your Manuscript
Tell us about the project you'd be working on over the course of the year! How far along are you? What's your current process like?
*
What are your big-picture goals for the manuscript?
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Work Sample
Guidelines:
Please upload (or copy/paste below) a sample of your work, from the project you propose to work on during your year in the program, or from a work in a similar genre (though we do recommend sharing an excerpt from the project you'd be working on). Please note: If you are just beginning your project and/or you do not have a readable excerpt yet, it is completely fine to include a different work sample.
Please follow the formatting criteria below:
For prose writers: Writing samples should be no longer than 1000 words, or 5 double-spaced pages.
For poets and hybrid writers: Writing samples should be anywhere from 5 - 10 pages in length.
Please make sure your submission follows standard formatting (Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double-spaced, page numbers, etc.)
All files must be either a PDF or .doc/.docx. We will not be able to open any files other than these!
Include your name, email address, genre of the work, and which workshop you are applying to on the top of your work sample.
Applications without work samples will not be considered for admission.
Upload your work sample here:
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Max file size: 20MB
Or copy/paste your work sample here, with requested info at the top:
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Please give a short description of the work sample above, especially if it is an excerpt from a longer work. Please make clear if this is from the manuscript you are planning to work on if accepted into the program.
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Payment & Policies
The cost of the 10-Month Manuscript Program is $1900 ($2500 for the Novel Revision Workshop). Pioneer Valley Writers' Workshop does not have the ability to offer financial aid or scholarships for participation in the program, and with very few exceptions*, we are not able to accommodate payment plans. Because of this, all participants in the program must be able to pay full tuition, which is due by the end of February 2023. Please let us know if this is possible for you.
If accepted into the program, are you able to pay full tuition by the end of February?
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Yes, if accepted I am able to pay the full tuition by that date.
Yes, although I am only able to pay the full amount with a payment plan.*
I am not able to pay the full tuition. I am interested only if I can receive partial financial aid, and I understand that this may not be possible.**
* We have limited ability to offer payment plans. Because of past issues, please recognize that this may not be possible and hence may affect your acceptance.
* *Please note that if you can only attend with aid, you will be offered a spot
only if
we have available aid for the workshop to which you are applying. We do not officially or regularly have financial aid available for this program, although occasional exceptions happen.
**If you are only able to attend with financial aid, please tell us a little bit about your situation, as well as what percentage of the tuition you would be able to pay.
*
Refund Policy: Except in the case of serious unforseen medical emergencies, we are unable to refund participants who need to withdraw from the program midway through the year, or at any point after deposits have been made. This policy is strictly upheld. Each group is small, admission is selective, and frequent withdrawals undermine the integrity and sustainability of the program. For this reason, we must make sure that all applicants understand and accept this policy.
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I understand that if accepted into the program, my tuition payment is nonrefundable.
Thank you for your interest in PVWW's Manuscript Program! We look forward to reviewing your application. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of January 2023. Workshops begin in March.
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About Us
What People Are Saying
Our Team
Policies
Contact
Creative Writing Classes
Current Workshops & Classes
10-Month Manuscript Program
Events
Readings & Events (Virtual)
Community Writing
Editing & Consulting
Store
