12 Months To A Full Short Story Collection: A Generative Fiction Workshop with Nathan Dragon, Starts January 30th, 2025
The program Will Start on January 30th, 2025
Please do not pay for the program until you receive a formal acceptance notification via email.
Click HERE to Apply. Early applications are encouraged as space is limited.
Any questions about this mentorship? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.
Instructor Nathan Dragon is a writer whose work has appeared in NOON, The Baffler, Fence, Annulet, and New York Tyrant. He was a DiTrapano Resident, Fall 2023. His forthcoming short story collection, The Champ Is Here, will be available from C4G Books later this year. Along with Raegan Bird, he is the co-founder and editor of the publishing project Blue Arrangements.
Read an interview with Nathan about this upcoming year-long program.
12 Months To A Full Short Story Collection: A Generative Workshop with Nathan Dragon
First Page To Final Page: Write Your Collection in a Year
35 sessions / Tuesdays 6:00PM — 8:30PM EST
The thing that’s missing from writing a book in solitude is accountability and community. In this year-long course (with breaks), students will be able to find the support and encouragement they need to make it from that first page to the last.
1. Readings, lectures, exercises, and guest speakers (20 sessions: January 30th 2025 — June 11th 2025)
The first section of the course will consist of craft lectures and readings of first story collections by Mary Robison, Mark Richard, Larry Brown, and more. This part will focus on how established writers launched their careers.
Guest authors will join the class to talk about their work.
Throughout this section, writers will also complete craft exercises intended to aid in their story-writing process. Writers will have an opportunity to share new passages–should they wish–every time the class meets. Each student will have two individual meetings with Nathan.
2025 Guest Faculty TBA. In the past, Guest Faculty for year-long programs has included:
- Isaac Fitzgerald, author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts
- Samantha Mann, author of Putting Out and Other Essays
- Melissa Faliveno, author of TOMBOYLAND
- Jill Louise Busby, author of Unfollow Me: Essays on Complicity
- Andrew Bomback, author of Doctor
- Frances Badalamenti, author of I Don’t Blame You
- Michelle Tea, author of Against Memoir
- Elissa Bassist, author of Hysterical
- Jen Winston, author of Greedy: Notes From a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much
- Amy Fusselman, author of The Pharmacist’s Mate
- Emma Bolden, author of The Tiger and the Cage
- Greg Mania, author of Born To Be Public
- Cheryl Klein, author of Cry Baby: Infertility, Illness, and Other Things That Were Not The End of The World
- Aaron Burch, author of The Body
- Jason Schwartzman, author of No One You Know
2. Peer Workshops (10 sessions: September 10th —November 12th, 2025)
During the workshop phase, each student will receive two peer workshops of their manuscript using the Critical Response Process and will meet with the instructor twice individually to discuss their work-in-progress.
3. The Literary World + Submitting (10 sessions: November 19th 2025— February 4th 2026)
The final two months of the course will be devoted to professionalization.
What you will receive:
- 120 hours of instruction
- A finished book to submit to contests, editors, and agents
- Access to ask questions to guest authors, editors, and agents
- Peer and Instructor feedback
- Five 45 minute 1:1 sessions with Nathan
- Writing tools that will last a lifetime
- Exercises and readings
- New friends and community
- A sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with finishing a book
Click HERE to Apply.
TESTIMONIALS:
"Nathan fostered an environment that was low-stress, and welcoming. His classes were clearly organized and provided a great schedule to ensure that there was no miscommunication on the weekly assignments. He gave continuous and engaging feedback that clearly showed he had taken proper time in reading my material, which ultimately led me to create better work. He taught multiple technique and styles and encouraged us to attempt these styles in our writings with no judgment." -Former Student
"Nathan encouraged freedom in our writing and I took inspiration from the authors that we read and discussed." -Former Student
"Nathan had us read all different kinds of authors and types of creative writing. He exposed us to a lot of types of writing and styles which helped me grow and broaden my scope." -Former Student
"Not only did I feel more engaged by this seminar style of discussion, but I could tell my classmates were also more engaged, as I heard far more from other students than I have in any other English class I have ever taken - I have been taking advanced writing classes since I was 13." -Former Student
"It is clear Nathan cares for us as humans, not just students." -Former Student
"Thanks to this class, I reconnected with my passion for writing." -Former Student
Tuition Payment:
Full Tuition for the 12-month program is $7,200 USD. You can pay the tuition in full or payment plans of varying installments are available upon acceptance to the course. Accepted writers must commit to the full year and meet all assigned deadlines.
FAQs:
Why not an MFA program?
This program combines the best things about an MFA program—community, mentorship, and intensive craft analysis—with specialized and practical publishing advice.
Why does this class cost so much?
The 12-month mentorship is an MFA-level course, taught by a published writer who is also an experienced educator with years of creative writing teaching experience at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Your tuition helps pay your instructor a living wage, and covers the cost of booking guest speakers, arranging second readers, scheduling events, and administering the program.
Can I get a refund if I do not complete the program?
Once paid, your full tuition is nonrefundable. This is a selective program with limited spots. We are making a commitment to you for the full year and expect that you will do the same. For this reason, there are no refunds after your tuition has been paid.
I finished the mentorship When will I get published?
We can’t promise that every writer who leaves the 12-month short story collection generator will get published right away, or ever. Publishing is a tricky business, involving lots of luck and time—as students who enroll in this course will learn! That said, as publishers ourselves, we strongly believe that we can help prepare emerging short story writers to better navigate the publishing industry, and that our program and the connections made here will increase your chances of success.
In the course description, there are mentions of meetings with guest speakers. I want the details right now! Why can’t I have them?
People who work in publishing are busy, and we confirm guest speakers on a rolling basis, as their schedules permit.
I barely have an idea for an short story collection. Is this class too advanced?
Maybe. How serious are you about the idea? If you just have an inkling, but you’re committed to coming in and focusing on that idea over the course of the year, this class might be the right fit for you. The key thing is that on the first day, you come ready to write. No one will write the pages of your collection for you, but this course can help you apply structure to your idea, and motivate you to finish the draft.
I have written several drafts of a short story collection, and I can’t seem to find an agent or figure out the next steps. Should I take this class?
Absolutely. Sometimes taking a collection to the next level requires cracking it open and figuring out how it works, and the insight of new readers can help that process along. This class will give you a new perspective on your work and offer concrete next steps for you and your short story collection.
Additional Program Information:
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Tuition is $7,200 USD.
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No more than 10 writers will be accepted
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Program Starts January 30th, 2025
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The Mentorship is fully online and students may participate from anywhere.
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NOTE: Shifting some dates around may be necessary but any changes will be communicated well in advance, if possible.
Contact us HERE if you have any questions about this program.
Click HERE to Apply.