Novel Writing Project

Participants will be assigned four novels to read and learn from throughout the year. Examples of past cohort novel assignments include:

• That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam

• The Wildlands by Abby Geni

• The Rending and the Nest by Kaethe Schwehn 

• Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

• The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli

• Once in a Blue Moon Lodge by Lorna Landvik

• Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

• A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

• Dear Committee Member by Julie Schumacher

• The Dead Lands by Benjamin Percy

• Vacationland by Sarah Stonich

• Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden

• Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

• Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

• The Turner House by Angela Flournoy

Throughout the year, four to six visiting writers and publishing professionals will meet with your cohort as special guests. Examples of past guests include:

• Laila Lalami

• Rumaan Alam

• Mira Jacob

• Courtney Maum

• Benjamin Percy

• Sarah Stonich

• Emily St. John Mandel

• Joseph Boyden

• Chris Cander

• Shannon Gibney

• Linda LeGarde Grover

• Leif Enger

• Julie Schumacher

• Kaethe Schwehn

• Lorna Landvik

• Richard Blanco

• In addition to many other visiting writers and publishing professionals from local and national publishing houses, publications, and literary agencies.