Fiction Studio: Novel Intensive

Half the Year to Focus on Your Novel

Fiction Studio is based on the idea that inspiration, accountability, and community are essential to every novelist’s growth.

Fiction Studio meets weekly for half the year, and its curriculum is designed to help you deepen your writing through a keener understanding of both literary craft and your own voice. Fiction Studio is open to applications from all writers (see application information below). This creates the Studio’s special "novel intensive" experience: a consistent, deep, and supportive study of your writing in the company of other writers.

The Philosophy of the Fiction Studio: The strongest fiction comes from writers who are at once adept with the techniques of literary craft and fluent in the language of their particular experience—writers, that is, who understand their voice and how to bring it to the page. The supportive, focused atmosphere of the studio encourages writers to hone their skills and embrace their voice, as they create, revise, and prepare to publish their works-in-progress.

Becoming a member of Fiction Studio: Fiction Studio is open to applications from all writers. The Studio meets for 26 weekly sessions (TBD). By joining, writers are committing to sustained, in-depth study of their writing and themselves.

Applications for the next studio are due: TBA.

For more about applying, click here.

Weekly Studio: Each weekly session includes a close-reading and discussion of a selected work of fiction and in-depth critique of several works-in-progress. Over the course of their time in Fiction Studio, writers can expect to read widely and gain deep insight into their own writing, all the while exploring questions of structure, form, narration, truth, memory, influence, and voice. The curriculum shifts year to year, in response to the particular questions and preoccupations of each group.

Registration: Registration is due in full prior to the start of the session. Payment plans may be available.

Led by novelist Karen Karbo, Fiction Studio is a unique space focused on creating, deepening, and finishing novels.

For more about applying, click here.

The Attic Experience

"Merridawn Duckler's patient, insightful teaching style helped me shape a raw manuscript for my novel, Broken Piano for President, into a smarter, funnier, better book that went on to be an Amazon Bestseller. I still recite some choice words of advice she gave me whenever I get stuck. The Attic was crucial to my development. The supportive, yet critical workshop environment made me want to be not only a better writer, but a better reader each class. It's been over five years since my Attic experience, but not a day goes by that I don't ask myself if my classmates would approve of today's work. If not, I go back to the drawing board."

~ Patrick Wensink, author of Broken Piano for President

The Classic Book for Writers, Updated and Revised

EVERY WRITER HAS A THOUSAND FACES

"This book has been in print forever because what it offers works for people." — Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club

"Finally, an anti-bullsht book on creativity!"* — James Marcus, former editor of Harper's

"Does for the creative process what Strunk and White did for our approach to grammar and style. Indispensible." — Marjorie Sandor, National Jewish Book Award winner

"Buoyant...unorthodox...A provocative and anti-intuitive manual for making fresh art." — Kirkus Review

"Biespiel offers a number of best practices—not just for writing...but for living a creative life." — The Rumpus

A Statement of Our Values

The Attic Institute of Arts and Letters opposes the legitimation of bigotry, hate, and misinformation. As a studio for writers, we do not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind. We embrace and celebrate our shared pursuit of literature and languages as essential to crossing the boundaries of difference. To that end, we seek to maintain a creative environment in which every employee, faculty member, and student feels safe, respected, and comfortable — even while acknowledging that poems, stories, and essays delve into uncomfortable subjects. We accept the workshop as a place to question ourselves and to empathize with complex identities. We understand that to know the world is to write the world. Therefore, we reaffirm our commitment to literary pursuits and shared understanding by affirming diversity and open inquiry.