Novel Writing Project Testimonials
The Novel Writing Project is a year-long endeavor led by one of our stellar teaching artists, Peter Geye. For the duration of the project, participants meet in a cohort with Peter and work on completing and editing their manuscripts, with the goal of having a submission-ready piece by the end of the project.
Think this could be the program for you? Check out what past participants have to say:
I signed up for the whole plan—the deadlines, Peter, the workshops, the group. I knew it was going to be a lot of work and the main thing I focused on this year. It's definitely met that expectation, and I'm glad I decided to do it. Peter is great, and I'm learning a lot from him. I particularly appreciate his ground rules for the workshops and the level of care he's brought to all the critiques.
Above all, though, I appreciate Peter's honesty. He doesn't waffle on what he thinks about the writing, the amount of work required to finish a novel by December, or the problems in the publishing industry. He's handled challenges without losing sight of what we're all in this for. He's a helpful resource in class, he responds to emails, and the individual meetings are extremely valuable.
—Marti L.
Magnifico! I have so enjoyed this experience! I also enjoyed having some cross-program exposure to the Memoir Writing Project teaching artist Nicole Helget. She is very helpful.
I heard great things about Peter Geye before taking the class, but I am a skeptic. Have to say, Peter is out-of-this-world—in a good way. A published novelist does not necessarily a good teacher make, but he is an excellent teacher. His level of commitment to pushing us to be our best writer selves was truly outstanding. Cannot say enough good things about Peter.
—Elissa M.
I was thrilled to take part in Peter Geye’s exceptional Year-Long Novel Workshop at The Loft. Peter Geye let me know from the very beginning that my work mattered and guided my steps into this new adventure lending me his keen eye and precious insights. The support and critiques were informative, in-depth and inspiring. It was a gift to share work with fellow writers I now consider friends. I am grateful to The Loft for this unique opportunity. My novel The War Ends At Four will be published by Regal House Publishing in the summer 2023, and I am very thankful for the foundation that the Loft provided for my work.
—Rosanna S
Peter is a superb teacher, and he stays the course. Since completing the NWP, Peter has helped me with two extensive revisions as a consultant. I learned so much reading and critiquing the work of others and having my own work critiqued by Peter and the other eleven members of my cohort. My writing improved immensely, and that is the outcome I sought. Peter has very high standards: a definite plus. He also brought in other writers, agents, publishers, and experts so that at the end of the year I had a good idea of the publishing world.
—Richard L.
Being part of the Novel Writing Project was a game-changer for me and my writing. I signed up not knowing what to expect and ended up pleasantly surprised—and motivated to move my manuscript off my computer and into an agent’s in-box. Peter Geye is a great instructor, insightful, thorough, and spot-on with suggestions for making a scene flow better.
I especially enjoyed our weekly classes, the special guests, the one-on-ones with Peter, and my fellow novelists. It’s a testament to the Loft, to Peter, and to the camaraderie created by a year’s worth of intense focus, that two years later a handful of us still meet monthly to check-in, discuss each other’s current projects, and celebrate our successes. I highly recommend the program.
—Linda K.
I heartily recommend Peter Geye’s Novel Writing Project class. One benefit was meeting other writers. I and other members of the 2018 class have continued to meet monthly, even after we had to move to virtual meetings due to the pandemic. In addition, class deadlines helped establish a regular writing habit, which I continue to this day. Also, by submitting work for class feedback I overcame any shyness I felt about letting other people read my work. Peter always kept the feedback positive and helpful. In short, taking the class made me feel more like a writer. Since then, I have edited the novel I wrote in class, and I have written another novel and several short stories. One of my short stories, “Duc Pho Delivery,” is included in Dim and Flaring Lamps: A Historical Fiction Anthology of America, available on Amazon.
—Bonnie O.
In 2017, the Loft began offering its year-long Novel Writing Project (NWP) class. I enrolled in that first class. It was officiated, taught, managed, therapized, and more by novelist Peter Geye. I cannot use enough accolades (or words) to thank Peter for his insight, advice, and guidance. He’s a serious novelist and a phenomenal instructor. I know the final version of the novel on which I worked, Killing Monarchs, was significantly improved by his—and the class attendees’—careful reading and commentary.
I am also profoundly grateful for my year-long NWP classmates, who as part of our mutual efforts read and commented on large portions of each other’s work. I not only benefited from their remarks and advice on my novel, but also on reading and critiquing their work as each of their titles evolved.
While it is almost a side note to the previously mentioned benefits of Peter’s class, it is worth mentioning that Killing Monarchs was picked up in the last year and will soon be published. Thank you, NWP!
—Cary G.
The Novel Writing Project was a godsend, encouraging me to devote myself fully to the practice of creative writing. I applaud the Loft and Peter Geye for its creation and urge potential novel writers to participate. The year-long schedule requiring one to consistently produce scenes and chapters and imagine fully-rendered characters, settings, and plots is priceless in revealing what needs to be done to create a book-length manuscript. Peter’s responses were always encouraging and supportive, and at the same time, informative in revealing what might need improvement. And the workshop format with other class members furnished an exciting writing group that continued after the course ended and still meets monthly. The course was all that I hoped for and much more.
—Debra B.
