2025 (August 17 - 22) Application for the Whole Novel Workshop: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists

2025 (August 17 - 22) Application for the Whole Novel Workshop: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists

DEADLINE IS ON - OR BEFORE - JUNE 3 (with final notifications on or before June 10)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, starting immediately through June 3. Once the program is full, all accepted applicants will be added to the Waiting List.
If your application is scholarship dependent, please use the scholarship application portal for your application instead of this application. (https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/scholarships/)
We also have flexible payment plans for those accepted who do not have a scholarship to apply towards the cost of the program.
Program cost ($2,799) includes 6-day retreat at the Highlights Foundation retreat center, pre-course Zoom sessions, Brain Trust workshopping, your whole novel review with a detailed feedback letter, and two, 1:1 consultations with your faculty reader.
There is NO fee to apply, though once accepted and full manuscript submitted (July 1), there is a $1100 cancellation fee.
More details about this application can be found at https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/whole-novel-workshops/

Questions? Contact us at support@highlightsfoundation.zendesk.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

First Name*

Middle Name (optional)

Last Name*

Email*

SUBMISSION

UPLOAD Your Submission Here*

Your submission should include:

A one-page synopsis (or summary) of the novel you wish to workshop in this program.
The first 10 - 15 pages of the novel you wish to workshop in this program. (Whole Novels are due July 1, once you have been accepted into the class.)

Please format your submission:

As one pdf document, beginning with your synopsis.
In 12-point font with your name on each page of the document.
Name your file as FirstName.LastName_Genre_Title (example: Reilly.Lou_YAHistorical_The Last Home in Ireland.pdf)

Drag and drop files here or

YOU AND YOUR WORK

Brief Summary/Pitch of Project*

Please provide a summary of this project at 100 words or less.

Novel Word Count (or projected word count)*

Current status of novel*

How far into this project are you at this time? Full draft? Partial draft? Revised draft? Please explain.

Why are you interested in this particular program?*

Tell us a little about what connects you to this project and why you think the Whole Novel Workshop will be a good fit for your goals.

Please tell us more about yourself.

We seek a diverse cohort of voices at our programs and events. To your comfort level, please tell us more about yourself, including ways that you identify. Please share any identity markers that you are comfortable sharing: race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity (including expression), neurodiversity, disability, socioeconomic status, age, geography, appearance, linguistic or cultural identity, veteran status, and/or any other details that you would like to share.

First choice of session*

August Retreat (in person)

Please check here if you would be open to having your application considered for another Whole Novel opportunity.

In the event that the Whole Novel workshop that you've applied to attend becomes full, would you be willing to move your application for review to another Whole Novel opportunity (within the same year)? To see all Whole Novel opportunities, please visit: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/whole-novel-workshops/

Yes, please consider this application for other Whole Novel opportunities should my first choice of sessions become full.

Send me a copy of my responses

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