Posts by WU Advertiser
Whether you’re writing your first novel or your tenth, there is a temptation to pin it to the page before it disappears. It’s such a brilliant idea and you can see the whole thing shimmering in your mind, just out of reach. Maybe you do some work on character development and plotting, but you’re a racehorse at the gate, ready to run, ready to write.
Blueprint for a Book: Build Your Novel from the Inside Out is an argument to stop and define the foundational elements of your story before you keep writing – which means understanding your motivation as a writer, considering your reader’s expectations, and making sure your story has a solid structure that will hold up inside and out from beginning to end. This clarity is what gives a novel its power and a writer their confidence.
I’m the creator of the Book Coach Certification program at Author Accelerator and I’ve taught hundreds of book coaches and thousands of novelists how to use the Blueprint for a Book system—and the Inside Outline at the heart of it — to help them produce their best work in the most efficient way.
Join me on September 24th for three free Working Sessions around the Blueprint – and watch me coach New York Times bestselling writer KJ Dell’Antonia on the Inside Outline for her third novel.
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ROMANCE, SUSPENSE, AND ADVENTURE!
DiANN MILLS DELIVERS ALL THREE IN TRACE OF DOUBT
TRACE OF DOUBT by DiAnn Mills
September 2021 Release
Available in hardcover, softcover, audio, & ebook.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4964-5185-9
432 pages
To view a short video promo about TRACE OF DOUBT, please CLICK HERE
Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.
Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she’s out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won’t be easy for an ex-con.
FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He’s always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account. So he’s going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.
But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It’s up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby—and the truth—forever.
Trace of Doubt is recommended for fans of the following:
If this novel is of interest, you may also be interested in DiAnn’s other stand-alone reads!
Endorsements
“Trace of Doubt is a suspense reader’s best friend. From page one until the end, the action is intense and the storyline keeps you guessing.” – EVA MARIE EVERSON, bestselling author of FIVE BRIDES and DUST
“DiAnn Mills serves up a perfect blend of action, grit, and heart. . . .Trace of Doubt takes romantic suspense to a whole new level.” – JAMES R. HANNIBAL, award-winning author of THE PARIS BETRAYAL
“Well-researched . . . with some surprising twists along the way. In Trace of Doubt, Mills weaves together a tale of faith, intrigue, and suspense that her fans are sure to enjoy.” – STEVEN JAMES, award-winning author of SYNAPSE and EVERY WICKED MAN
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In every story, there’s a messy middle between “Once Upon A Time” and “They all lived happily ever after”. Even if you’re writing regularly, the story of your writing life as a whole, might feel a little messy.
It’s gap the between “I want to be a writer” and “I’m living a writer’s life”, that’s the problem.
How do you bridge that gap?
I’ve built the StoryADay WRITER Code Masterclass to unlock a process that helps you navigate the messy middle between your dreams and the everyday practice of being a writer. It’s a process you’ll use over and over again, at every stage of your writing journey, whether you’re writing your first short story since high school, submitting your first piece, getting your first rejection, getting your fiftieth acceptance, or revising the first novel in that 2-book contract you just signed.
(And yes, I’ve been with people in the StoryADay community as they’ve gone through each of those things.)
In Lesson 1 you’ll learn what The WRITER Code is, and how you can Get Started simple things TODAY, that will make creating a writing life you love less of a mystery.
In Lesson 2 I’ll show you how you can begin writing (and finishing) stories, any day of the year, navigating the awkward gap between your aspirations and your achievements.
In Lesson 3, We’ll talk about the secret to making persistent progress.
And in Lesson 4 we’ll put it all together, so you’re ready for the StoryADay May challenge or whatever writing challenges you’re facing.
Plan your writing roadmap
Set out with confidence…and don’t get lost
Enjoy the whole journey of becoming the writer you were meant to be
IS THIS YOUR TIME?
The WRITER Code is an Inner path for you to follow regardless of the twists and turns being thrown at you on your road to living a writer’s life.
ACCESS THE FREE MASTERCLASS NOW
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Dear WU community,
I’m so happy to share my new book with all of you, a book that’s had quite a journey …
The Sound Between the Notes is the story of a woman’s struggle with timeless questions—Who am I? Where do I belong?— told through the unique perspective of a musician. It’s also the story of an adoptee searching for what it means to be a daughter, a mother, and a sister.
I’m all these things. A mother by adoption. A daughter. A “serious amateur” pianist. But it took me several tries, over several years, to create a novel that would capture these powerful themes with the love, understanding, and respect they deserved. Although the book is launching after my debut, Queen of the Owls, it was written (and rewritten) before I wrote Queen of the Owls, and then rewritten again. What, finally, enabled me to write The Sound Between the Notes in the way it needed to be written? The secret: I had to become a better musician. I had to understand music more deeply before I could make the protagonist, Susannah, the person you’ll meet on the pages of the book.
I hope you’ll see what I mean when you read the book for yourself!
With gratitude,
Barbara
THE SOUND BETWEEN THE NOTES
What if you had a second chance at the very thing you thought you’d renounced forever?
Susannah’s career as a pianist has been on hold for sixteen years, ever since her son was born. But now, suddenly, she has a second chance. There’s just one problem: somewhere along the way, she lost the power and the magic. She needs to get them back. Now.
As her now-or-never concert draws near, Susannah is catapulted back to memories she’s never been able to purge—and forward, to choices she never thought she’d have to make.
Praise for The Sound Between the Notes
“The characters are well-drawn and the tight plot is just one agonizing twist after another … a tour de force steeped in suspense … A sensitive, astute exploration of artistic passion, family, and perseverance.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A great story that had me turning the pages nonstop, a tale of passion, identity, and art . . . The Sound Between the Notes is so beautiful, so lyrical, so musical that it was hard to put down …This is a wonderful story from a skillful writer, one that appeals strongly to the heart. It features awesome characters, a twisty plot, and gorgeous writing.” —Readers’ Favorite Reviews
“In her second novel, Barbara Linn Probst delivers yet another powerful story, balancing lyrical language with a skillfully paced plot to build a sensory-rich world that will delight those who loved Queen of the Owls and win countless new readers.” —Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY best-selling author of Perennials
“Beautifully told, The Sound Between the Notes is a story of tragedy and triumph, of the push and pull of family, of the responsibility we feel to ourselves and those we love. Once I started the book, I couldn’t put it down until I reached the last gorgeously written note.” —Loretta Nyhan, author of The Other Family and Amazon charts bestseller Digging In
“In this spellbinding novel, Barbara Linn […]
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Craft books. Conferences. Seminars. Workshops. Webinars. The answers on how to write a book are out there, but in a million different places, and sifting through the information to find the essential bits takes so much time. Time you probably don’t have.
We’ve been there. And we decided there had to be a better way. So, we created one: The 5th Semester. Next month we’re thrilled to be offering a fully virtual residency where we help anyone take their book from inspiration to publication.
What all did we put in this magical program, you might ask? Pretty much everything we wish we’d have had at our fingertips when we were starting out:
All of this, from instructors who are not only authors, but also tenured university and MFA writing professors.
We’re really proud of this program because IT WORKS – just this year, four of our past students have landed book deals with major publishers – and Drexel University’s MFA program has hired us to teach our system to their cohorts.
So, if you’re ready to #WriteTheDamnBook, join us at our virtual residency and use the code UNBOXED for 10% off.
And if you’re not ready yet, that’s okay, too! You can stay up to date with what’s going on with The 5th Semester – from musings to new courses and special offers – by signing up for our very occasional newsletter.
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The Odyssey Writing Workshop
One of the top workshops in the world
for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror
Held at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH,
June 7-July 16, 2021
Only 15 students. The most intense learning experience you’ll ever have.
Application deadline: April 1
Six weeks of directed study with Jeanne Cavelos,
former senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell,
bestselling author, and winner of the World Fantasy Award
Guest Lecturers:
David Farland * Gregory Ashe * Meagan Spooner
Djéli Clark * Melissa Scott * Sheree Renée Thomas
Virtual Guests:
David Brin * Scott H. Andrews
In only six weeks, the Odyssey Writing Workshop taught me more about the craft and business of writing fantastical fiction than years of reading writing books, attending writing seminars and other workshops, and my many attempts at writing a novel that works.
–Scott Gray, Odyssey class of 2020
Odyssey was life changing; Odyssey was eye-opening. It’s one of those rare experiences that changes the way you approach everything for the rest of your earthly existence, and I’m so grateful I got the chance to attend.
–R. F. Kuang, award-winning author of The Poppy War and Odyssey 2016 graduate
Become the writer you’ve always known you could be!
6 scholarships and 1 work/study position available
Learn more at https://odysseyworkshop.org/
Novels and short fiction start with the same ingredients, but each creates a different experience—-for the reader and for you.
You know writing short stories could transform your craft and build your audience. If something’s holding you back from making progress in your short fiction, I have a challenge for you.
I’m Julie Duffy, the host of StoryADay. I’m inviting you to spend three days with me (virtually, of course) as I share with you the best lessons from 10 years of running the StoryADay May challenge…but without asking you to make a month-long commitment!
Instead, I’m inviting you to a 3-Day Challenge.
Perhaps you need someone to lead you through the recipes and techniques to help you whip up a perfect batch of short stories.
I’m inviting you to focus part of your day, for three days, writing and finishing three short story drafts in a guided, focused way.
You’ll come out of the 3-Day Challenge with:
What it is:
Carve out some time for your writing (maybe this weekend?) and take the 3-Day Challenge. Think of it as a part-time, virtual writing retreat—without the need to leave your real life behind.
Take 3 days to discover how to write short stories that entertain you, develop your craft, and delight readers.
— Julie Duffy, Director, StoryADay
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Are you looking for a quality conference that helps writers on all levels move closer to their publishing goals? Do your objectives include instruction from respected professionals within the industry, an opportunity to pitch to agents and editors, and discussions with successful writers who have experience and knowledge? How about options to participate either in-person or virtually?
Look no further! The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference—May 30 through June 3 is for you!
Directors Edie Melson and DiAnn Mills work year-round to ensure this conference soars beyond writer’s expectations. Often referred to as the premier conference of the south, the BRMCWC always brings the finest professionals in the industry. In addition, acclaimed Robert Benson will instruct a day-long post-conference workshop Friday, June 4th on the topic of “Writing to Discover the Movement of the Holy One in Your Life.”
The 5-day conference includes workshops, practicums, and continuing classes which cover nonfiction books, articles, devotions, screenplays, fiction, children’s books, marketing, promotion, social media, and spiritual guidance. These sessions are taught in beginning, intermediate, and advanced instruction levels, referred to as Act I, II, or III. Each level of class assists writers in adding more tools to their craftsman belt.
We encourage conferees and faculty to network, giving everyone numerous opportunities to grow before, during, and after the BRMCWC. We also urge writers to join our Blue Ridge Conference Facebook Group where questions are answered, and discussions enlighten writers all year long.
The Ridgecrest Conference Center nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina offers hotel-like accommodations at different price points, spacious meeting areas, and a spirit-filled environment. A favorite spot is Clouds, a coffee house with the best coffee in the state, one of many places all over the campus where conversations and laughter echo across the mountains.
Register now at The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and reserve your in-person or virtual ticket at this life and career changing conference.
See you there!
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ROMANCE, SUSPENSE, AND ADVENTURE!
DiANN MILLS DELIVERS ALL THREE IN AIRBORNE
Dear Reader,
Airborne follows the story of Houston FBI agent Heather Lawrence as she works under quarantine to find the person responsible for deliberately unleashing a deadly virus on a plane full of people. The prime suspect? Dr. Chad Lawrence, an expert in his field . . . and Heather’s estranged husband. As more victims fall prey days after the initial outbreak, time’s running out to track down the killer, one who may be closer to the victims than anyone ever expected.
When bestselling author DiAnn Mills began writing a novel about the shocking outbreak of an unknown airborne virus, she had no idea just how relevant it would become, coinciding with the real-life spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. “The storyline for Airborne came to me three and a half years ago,” she explains. “All I had was a what-if: a virus unleashed on an international flight.” Airborne was originally scheduled for publication in September 2020. While print editions of Airborne release as planned, Tyndale released the e-book in April 2020 in response to growing consumer interest.
Mills, whose romantic suspense novels have won two Christy Awards, asserts that her vision for Airborne is to champion the selfless service of first responders during times of crisis: “My mission is to show a story that weaves together hope, reality, and the sacrificial work of first responders when a deadly virus spreads among innocent people.” As the world faces an unprecedented time of uncertainty and fear, Mills aims to be a source of encouragement. “My prayer is that people will experience God’s presence during our current global crisis.”
Here’s a direct link to the book’s page on DiAnn’s website where you can find a chapter excerpt, discussion questions, and more: https://diannmills.com/books/airborne
To view a short video promo about AIRBORNE, please CLICK HERE,
Praise for DiAnn Mills….
“Fast-paced and riveting action flow throughout [Fatal Strike] to keep the reader engaged and turning pages. . . . A great read . . . don’t miss it!” —Fresh Fiction
“DiAnn Mills will appeal to fans of Dee Henderson’s romantic suspense stories.” —Booklist
“The tension level rises as layers of lies are peeled away in multiple plot twists.” —Library Journal
“A complex action suspense filled with unforeseen surprises, twists and turns [that] also includes touches of humor, spirituality, and subtle romance.” Midwest Book Review Bookwatch on Burden of Proof
“Mills keeps a lot of plates nicely in the air. . . . Fans of clean romantic suspense will enjoy this well-plotted winner.” Publishers Weekly on Deadly Encounter
“[High Treason] will keep you guessing. DiAnn Mills knows how to develop her characters and make them seem real.” The Suspense Zone on High Treason
“DiAnn Mills is a master at fast-paced & intricately plotted romantic suspense.” —Colleen Coble, Bestselling author
“DiAnn Mills never disappoints….This story will tug on every emotion.”—Lynette Eason, Bestselling author
“In Burden of Proof, DiAnn Mills create[s] a suspense-packed story that will keep readers captivated until the very last page.” Nancy Mehl, Bestselling author
“DiAnn Mills has raised the bar for romantic suspense yet again. Good thing she continues to write such powerful novels.” Lauraine Snelling, Bestselling author
_________________________
Are you […]
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Gabriela Pereira, founder of DIY MFA, has unlocked her three-video workshop series: Stop Dreaming, Start Doing.
Like all readers of Writer Unboxed, you have a story to share. Whether it’s based on your own experiences or it comes straight from your imagination, one thing is for sure: that story is unique and no one else can tell it but you. But writing isn’t easy and many people say they want to write a book, but very few actually do it.
You don’t have to be one of those people. It’s time you doubled-down on your writing and finished that book once and for all. This video series will show you how.
Whether you’re a seasoned writer who’s been battling it out in the trenches or you’re completely new to the craft, this three-video workshop series is designed to help you break through common creative blocks, so you can write more, write better, and—most importantly—write smarter.
No more spinning your wheels trying to figure out the creative process. This video series will help you get your mind right so you get the words on the paper and write the book of your dreams!
This FREE video workshop will help you…
Like all good things, these videos won’t be around forever. They go back into the DIY MFA Vault at midnight on September 25th. Plus, Gabriela and her team have even more exciting (and free!) writing resources they’ll be sharing over the next few weeks.
Hop on over via the link below and watch that first video. On that page, you’ll also be able to sign up with your email so you can be first to hear when other goodies get released.
CLICK HERE for instant access to the first video.
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Waisted tells the story of two women who torture themselves over the number on the scale, and are brutalized by others around weight issues.
What’s it like to have the scale be the scariest thing in the house? And why is that more true for women than for men?
Those were my initial questions when I set out to write Waisted. I wanted to write (and read) a novel based on “What if a woman’s desire to be thin overrides everything else in her life?” — all ranges of women from every background.
The first line—Everyone hates a fat woman, but none more than she hates herself—reverberated for years. They were words that came from the hate I often felt scalding me, but I kept them locked away, not wanting to face my scale-terror, my life-long battle with food. Yet, I found strength writing this novel, though once embroiled in the writing, I wanted never to eat again, and I wanted to eat every minute. I remembered how my mother stashed cookies on top of the tallest kitchen cabinet—teaching me to be a mountain climber—and how I began hiding cookies in the bottom of the hamper.
In Waisted, Alice and Daphne—both successful working mothers, both accomplished and seemingly steady—harbor the same secret: an obsession with their weight overshadows concerns about their children, husbands, work, and everything else of importance in their lives. Scales terrify them.
Daphne, plump in a family of model-thin women, learned at her mother’s knee that only slimness earns admiration.
Alice, break-up skinny when she met her husband, risks losing her marriage if she keeps gaining weight.
The two women meet at a remote Vermont mansion, at a free program that promises fast, dramatic weight-loss. Alice, Daphne, and five other women are desperate enough to leave behind their families for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The catch? They must agree to always be on camera; afterward, the world will see Waisted: The Documentary.
The women soon discover that the filmmakers have trapped them in a cruel experiment. With each pound lost, they edge deeper into obsession and instability until they decide to take matters into their own hands.
Emotional memories fill this novel. I remember my lovely grandmother scolding herself for having a piece of cake at her 94th birthday, as though she still hoped to zip up that mythical size-two dress.
I stumbled into memories of an uncle shaking his head, staring at my aunt lying in her casket. “She used to be stunning. Look how fat she got.” Then he turned and shook his head. “You better watch out.”
Our family’s words that assess or define their own lives can affect us as much as her critical remarks. My mother would look at my sister and me and say, in her most serious warning voice, “Never get old, girls.”
Now I am many years older than she was at the time of that warning. Would I rather be dead? Not old? No surprise, my mother did not age happily. My sister and I fight the fear of birthdays that she engendered in us. We are determined to accept and enjoy our lives at this and every age, but it requires daily work. We are not alone in this.
After writing Waisted, I wanted a nonfiction companion for my novel. I compiled […]
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Dear WU community,
Over these past few months, I have been trying to immerse in the things that bring me comfort and joy . . . spending time with my family, puttering in my garden, testing new recipes, and losing myself in the reading and writing of books. If you have yet to check it out, I wanted to share with you my new release, The Lost Girls of Devon.
The Lost Girls of Devon is recommended for fans of the following:
Women’s Fiction
Small Town Mysteries
Family Fiction
Anglophiles and armchair travelers
I love writing about mothers and daughters and the complex, annoying, rewarding, painful aspects of that relationship. In this book, three sets of mothers and daughters grapple with each other, along with grandmother/granddaughter tangles to mix it up.
One of my favorite things is the setting, a small village on the Devon coast, where the cliffs are dangerous and the sea restless, and tales of smuggling and pirates and drowned witches hang in the air. This is a story of betrayals, secrets, and reconciliation, along with some bittersweet romantic threads. I hope you’ll come away with me!
Barbara
One of Travel + Leisure’s most anticipated books of summer 2020.
From the Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids comes a story of four generations of women grappling with family betrayals and long-buried secrets.
It’s been years since Zoe Fairchild has been to the small Devon village of her birth, but the wounds she suffered there still ache. When she learns that her old friend and grandmother’s caretaker has gone missing, Zoe and her fifteen-year-old daughter return to England to help.
Zoe dreads seeing her estranged mother, who left when Zoe was seven to travel the world. As the four generations of women reunite, the emotional pain of the past is awakened. And to complicate matters further, Zoe must also confront the ex-boyfriend she betrayed many years before.
Anxieties spike when tragedy befalls another woman in the village. As the mystery turns more sinister, new grief melds with old betrayal. Now the four Fairchild women will be tested in ways they couldn’t imagine as they contend with dangers within and without, desperate to heal themselves and their relationships with each other.
Praise for Barbara O’Neal:
(Starred review) “A woman’s strange disappearance brings together four strong women who struggle with their relationships, despite their need for one another. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will appreciate the emphasis on nature and these women’s unique gifts in this latest by the author of When We Believed in Mermaids.” —Library Journal
“The Lost Girls of Devon draws us into the lives of four generations of women as they come to terms with their relationships and a mysterious tragedy that brings them together. Written in exquisite prose with the added bonus of the small Devon village as a setting, Barbara O’Neal’s book will ensnare the reader from the first page, taking us on an emotional journey of love, loss, and betrayal.” —Rhys Bowen, bestselling author
“The Lost Girls of Devon is one of those novels that grabs you at the beginning with its imagery and rich language and won’t let you go. Four generations of women deal with the pain and betrayal of the […]
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StoryADay May is just around the corner.
2020 marks the StoryADay Challenge’s 10th birthday and Therese was kind enough to offer me some bytes here, so I could invite you to the party.
What StoryADay May Is
StoryADay May is a month of extreme short story writing. It’s also a challenge, with optional writing prompts, and an online community with a sensibility you’ll recognize – friendly, supportive, feel-good.
In its purest form, during StoryADay May you pledge to write (and complete) a short story every day in May.
We write first drafts, with no editing or critique allowed during May.
It’s just you and a commitment to creativity. This concentrated focus allows you to block out the voices that tell you not to write, because you’re ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’.
StoryADay is my modest attempt to save the world, by saving writers.
What StoryaDay May is Not
It is not an attempt to write 31 good stories.
In fact, it’s an attempt to lower your standards enough to get you writing prolifically so that you can find out:
And so much more.
StoryADay is also not strict.
You make up your own rules and use our community to keep you accountable to them.
You can use my prompts when you need them or completely ignore them. You can pledge to write every day, or three days a week or every day except Thursday, because you never could get the hang of Thursdays. It’s up to you.
In the past people have used StoryADay to write
You also get to make your own rules about how often you write. Just make sure you’re pushing yourself a little.
Why Short Stories?
I know a lot of people here at WU are novelists. Heck, after my first year of writing a StoryADay I became a novelist too, because I realized that writing the same story for months wouldn’t be any harder than writing a new story every day for one month!
But short stories are great as
My favourite StoryADay story from a novelist comes from Sarah Cain (The Eighth Circle, One By One) who was struggling to keep her enthusiasm going for writing, during her search for an agent. She took part […]
Read MoreThe Odyssey Writing Workshop
One of the top workshops in the world
for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror
Held at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH
June 1-July 10, 2020
Only 15 students.
The most intense learning experience
you’ll ever have.
Application deadline: April 1
Six weeks of directed study with Jeanne Cavelos,
former senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell,
bestselling author, and winner of the World Fantasy Award
Guest Lecturers:
Brandon Sanderson * J. G. Faherty * Yoon Ha Lee
E.C. Ambrose * Barbara Ashford * Scott H. Andrews
Skype Guests:
Carrie Vaughn * John Joseph Adams * Sheila Williams
Odyssey has revolutionized my writing. Every day, I came to class excited and left astounded.
Jeanne is a gift to the writing community and a first-class mentor to individuals.
I can’t overstate how wonderful this experience has been.
–Christine Tyler, Odyssey class of 2019
Odyssey was life changing; Odyssey was eye-opening.
It’s hard to describe Odyssey without the tired aphorisms because they are just true.
It’s one of those rare experiences that changes the way you approach everything for the rest of your earthly existence, and I’m so grateful I got the chance to attend.
–Rebecca Kuang, author of The Poppy War and Odyssey 2016 graduate
Become the writer you’ve always known you could be!
6 scholarships and 1 work/study position available
Learn more at www.odysseyworkshop.org
