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Writing Workshops Vermont 2023

Writing Workshops Vermont brings together fiction and nonfiction writers for an intensive four days of workshops, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and in-depth discussions on the craft and business of writing led by Kyle Minor (nonfiction) and Chaya Bhuvaneswar (fiction). Our program is inclusive, intentionally small, and will take place on 18 acres between the vistas of the Green Mountains and the splendor of Lake Champlain.


Each workshop will have no more than 10 participants each. All writers will submit two completed pieces of writing. One submission will be workshopped by your cohort and instructor and a second piece will be submitted for your one-on-one meeting with your workshop leader. Daily craft talks are open to all participants and led by program staff or faculty.


Our workshops are open to writers who want to strengthen their voice, develop a greater understanding of craft, and forge a path to publication along the way. We take your writing seriously and place the highest importance on teaching the craft of writing so that students can produce meaningful and memorable work that has the opportunity to find a readership beyond the workshop. Our mission is to bring your writing out of the wilderness and into community, and for a long weekend every October we think there is no better place to do this than in the Green Mountains of Vermont when the fall colors will be their most brilliant at our workshop retreat.

Applications for our October 2023 Vermont Workshop are CLOSED. Please join the list for 2024.


2023 Workshop dates:

October 5th - October 9th, 2023

Though our admissions process is competitive and the quality of writing high, all interested writers are encouraged to apply.


Workshop Faculty:

Fiction Instructor Chaya Bhuvaneswar is a practicing physician, writer and PEN American award finalist for her debut collection White Dancing Elephants: Stories, which was also selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Debut Fiction and Best Short Story Collection. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Salon, Narrative Magazine, Tin House, Electric Literature, Kenyon Review, The Sun, The Millions, Joyland, Michigan Quarterly Review, Masters Review, Black Warrior Review, The Awl, and elsewhere. She has received fellowships from MacDowell, Squaw Valley/ Community of Writers and Sewanee Writers Workshop. She teaches courses for WritingWorkshops.com (including a 12 week fiction class, a requested repeat from previous years and now in its fourth cycle). She also teaches for Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, Hudson Valley Writers, Grub Street Writers, and has been a visiting writer for Yale University Summer Writing Workshop, Westchester Community College, UCSF Medical Humanities program, University of Rhode Island graduate writing program, and was an invited speaker for the SUNY-Canton Visiting Writer Series as well as most recently at Harvard Medical School's Visiting Writer Series at Countway Library.

Nonfiction Instructor Kyle Minor is the author of How to Disappear and Why, a new book of essays forthcoming from Sarabande Books in August 2023; it is a collection of essays about people who want to disappear, people who have disappeared, and people who have been disappeared. Kyle is also the author of Praying Drunk, winner of the 2015 Story Prize Spotlight award. Recent stories, essays, interviews, and reviews appear online and in print in Best American Mystery Stories, Best American Nonrequired Reading, Esquire, The Atlantic, Salon, Iowa Review, Missouri Review, Story Magazine, The Believer, and  TheNew York Times Book Review. Kyle holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Lodging at The Essex Resort & Spa

Immerse yourself in both comfort and inspiration for 5 days, 4 nights at The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa. This 4-star resort and wellness spa is surrounded by 18 acres of landscaped grounds and only 9 miles from the town of Burlington. Hotel accommodations are included in your full tuition payment.


Class Size

Each fiction, poetry, and nonfiction workshop cohort will have no more than 10 participants, led by Kyle Minor (nonfiction) and Chaya Bhuvaneswar (fiction). Each writer will submit two completed packets of writing. One submission will be workshopped by your cohort and instructor and a second submission will be submitted for your one-on-one meeting with your workshop leader. Daily craft talks are open to all participants and led by workshop faculty.

Schedule


Thursday, October 5th, 2023

3:00PM: Hotel check-in begins.

4:30PM: Dinner meet & greet.


Friday, October 6th - Monday, October 9th, 2023

Mornings: Workshops and one-on-one instructor meetings led by Kyle Minor (nonfiction) and Chaya Bhuvaneswar (fiction).

Afternoons/Evenings: Lunch Break followed by optional craft seminar, led by workshop faculty. Optional mid-afternoon/evening activity followed by dinner.


Monday, October 9th, 2023

11:00AM: Final check-out.


Optional Afternoon Activities will be included throughout the retreat. Full 2023 schedule detail is forthcoming.

Tuition

Tuition is $2,695 and includes the following:

  • Lodging at The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa for 5 days, 4 nights
  • 3-day writing workshops in small groups of no more than 10 writers, led by Kyle Minor (nonfiction) and Chaya Bhuvaneswar (fiction).
  • Critical feedback on two writing submissions
  • Several craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars
  • One-on-one conference with faculty
  • Optional afternoon activities
  • The time of your life
  • Payment Plans: accepted writers will have the option to pay their tuition in full or opt for a payment plan divided into equal monthly payments by selecting Affirm (for U.S. & Canadian residents) or Lay-Buy (for applicants outside of North America) at checkout.
  • Please Note: meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are not included in the price of tuition.
  • FAQ at the bottom of this page.

Testimonials

"I achieved exactly what I set out to do, but what I had no expectations for, just hope: complete two manuscripts with my standards and meet the people who I could create real relationships with. More than worth the tuition and expense; in fact it's invaluable. But you guys already know that ;) Morgan's group was well curated for the most part, and everybody did their due diligence. Very pleased with how it turned out, and the feedback I came away with. Morgan was so kind and real and acute with his criticism. He said my piece was pretty much done, and I nearly scoffed at him! I trust his experience and knowledge of craft and business." -Christina C.

"The instruction and leadership were excellent and James Tate Hill is a wonderful instructor. I had a great week and will come on a trip again!" -Ashley S.

"Writing Workshop Vermont re-inspired me. Congenial co-writers/co-attendees, in a beautiful setting, at a top-notch resort, with planned recreational activities made the week fun. Greatest gift of the workshop was the individualized feedback on my writing, encouragement to keep going, helpful suggestions and advice, and the privilege of receiving guidance from author/teacher James Tate Hill. Transformative four days. So glad I attended. This was my first experience with WritingWorkshops.com, and I can't think of anything I would change." - Rosanne G.

"The workshop exceeded my expectations. J.T. and Morgan were incredible instructors. The location was stunning and my room just perfect. I learned so much and am very excited about putting it all into action. I found the nonfiction workshop to be an amazing experience. The experience of having my memoir reviewed and critiqued by my cohorts, as well as our instructor, was priceless. All of the people in my group were excellent writers and they all took their task of reading and reviewing very seriously. They gave thoughtful comments that were very helpful in making my book much better. I fully plan to attend future workshops." -Kathy W.

"This was a perfectly planned retreat so you can just write and enjoy the scenery. Writing Workshops provides a writing space where everything is planned for you. If you're looking for a writing experience that leaves you feeling revitalized and like you belong to a community that supports your writing journey, I highly recommend these retreats. It was an amazing experience. James Tate Hill left me feeling inspired to revise and to continue writing; he is thorough, professional, and personable, and provides in-depth critiques and is helpful and knowledgeable about the writing and publishing process. I want to attend any and every workshop where JT teaches." - Corrie C.

"I loved the morning workshops and the seminars. Writing is as much about community as it is about craft. To come together and meet other writers from across the country and receive mentorship from the brightest talents is a luxury. Our itinerary was very clear and didn't put any expectations on us to attend or not. Definitely felt safe in the vans on the trips and that Blake & Mike really took their work seriously, and I saw how invested they were in making a great weekend. They were fantastic guides! So A+." -Daniel M.

"If you're an aspiring writer and you can get into one of their workshop, go. It's worth it." -Rob W.

"Morgan Talty is a unique talent and an incredible mentor. I received much more feedback than I would have anticipated. The best thing about this retreat was the ambiance, the other writers, as well as the staff, who were very good at keeping everything real. I will always remember this wonderful experience. The hotel was in a beautiful setting and worth the money, along with the networking contacts." -Gloria C.

Sample Schedule Detail

**Final Schedule for Vermont 2023 Forthcoming**


Program Staff:

Executive Director Blake Kimzey worked as a bicycle tour guide in Paris in his 20s. He is the founder of WritingWorkshops.com and has an MFA from UC Irvine. Blake sits on the Board of the Elizabeth George Foundation and his fiction has been broadcast on NPR and published byTin House, McSweeney’s, VICE, Longform, Redivider, Short Fiction, Smokelong Quarterly, Hobart, The Los Angeles Review, The Masters Review, and The Best Small Fictions. Blake’s collection of short tales, Families Among Us, was published by Black Lawrence Press.

Operations Director Mike Franz was General Manager and Tour Guide at Fat Tire Bike Tours, Paris, for seven years. His tours were featured on Rick Steves-Paris, The Independent-UK, and the television show 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Mike taught government, economics, and public speaking for ten years at Headwaters High School in Austin, Texas, where he won teacher-of-the-year award after his first year of teaching.

Application & General FAQ

What is the application deadline?

Applications for our October 2023 Vermont Workshops are now open. Early applications are encouraged. Click here to apply now.

What is your COVID policy?

It is the responsibility of attendees of Writing Workshops Vermont to have the appropriate documentation required and to meet any COVID vaccination requirements implemented by the state of Vermont.

If the state of Vermont or the United States government forbids entry to the state of Vermont, or if The Essex Resort & Spa closes, for the dates of October 5 - October 9, 2023, Writing Workshops will offer a full refund for program fees. Writing Workshops will not reimburse for any airline tickets or additional trip-related expenses incurred. If the Vermont 2023 writing workshop takes place on the dates planned, no program fees will be reimbursed, regardless of attendance.

What will my application include? 

  • Brief bio  informing us of your involvement in the writing and literary community,  as well as any prior or forthcoming publications. (250 words max)
  • Purpose statement  explaining why you would like to participate in Writing Workshops Vermont. You can also discuss current manuscripts or writing projects that  you might choose to workshop. (500 words max.)
  • Writing sample excerpt in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. This does not have to be published work, though that is acceptable, nor does it have to be a piece you plan to workshop. Complete works under the word count are not required;excerpts are acceptable. (Fiction/nonfiction: 2500 words max. Poetry: 3-5 poems of no more than 5 pages max.).
  • Applications are open. Click here to apply now.

When will I know if I've been accepted to the workshop?

We cap our workshop participation at 10 writers in each genre cohort (fiction, nonfiction, & poetry) for the week. Our goal is to provide an intimate, rigorous workshop environment so participants can form meaningful connections and receive excellent feedback on their work. Due to the volume of applications and competitive acceptance, writers are encouraged to apply early. We employ a reading committee of professional writers and editors, and applicants will be notified after the application window closes.

How much does it cost?

Tuition is $2,695. If your application is accepted, full tuition is due within ten days. Upon acceptance, you will have the option to pay your tuition in full or opt for a payment plan by selecting Affirm at checkout. There will be no refunds after tuition is paid. We have this refund policy because the balance of our Vermont hotel deposit and all group expenses are due and are also nonrefundable.

Are Payment Plans Available?

Yes. Accepted writers will have the option to pay their tuition in full or  opt for a payment plan divided into equal monthly payments by selecting  Affirm or Shop Pay (for U.S. & Canadian residents) or Lay-Buy (for applicants  inside or outside of North America) at checkout.

Are Scholarships Available?

Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to offer scholarships for this workshop. However, we do have payment plans available.

What does tuition include? 

  • Lodging at The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa for 5 days, 4 nights
  • 3-day writing workshops in small groups of no more than 10 writers, led by Kyle Minor (nonfiction) and Chaya Bhuvaneswar (fiction).
  • Critical feedback on two writing submissions
  • Several craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars
  • One-on-one conference with faculty
  • Optional afternoon activities
  • The time of your life
  • Please Note: meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are not included in the price of tuition.
  • Note: accepted writers will have the option to pay their tuition in full or  opt for a payment plan divided into equal monthly payments by selecting  Affirm or Shop Pay (for U.S. & Canadian residents) or Lay-Buy (for applicants  outside of North America) at checkout.

What is tuition payment schedule? 

If your application is accepted, full tuition is due no later than 10 days after acceptance. You can pay your tuition in full or opt for a payment plan by selecting Affirm at checkout.

Where is the hotel and workshop venue?

Immerse yourself in both comfort and inspiration for 5 days, 4 nights atThe Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa. This 4-star resort and wellness spa is a place of intentional peacefulness on 18 acres between the vistas of the Green Mountains and the splendor of Lake Champlain.

How late can I apply? 

We will accept applications through August 31st, 2023.

I have a question not answered here.

Please contact us and we’ll reply promptly. You can also Chat with us (lower left of your screen).