Why are the first 50 pages make or break? What is a sure method to conceive a story that will actually sell? Should you join a writer's group or no? All these questions, and ones involving matters far more advanced, will be addressed, but that's just for starters. We've been working successfully with new novel writers since 2002.
By the way, what follows is one of our most frequently asked questions, the answer to which goes right to our core mission:
On Tuesday evening, March 25, 2025, all writers will meet for dinner at a designated time TBA. An orientation session will cover details and expectations for the next several days come Wednesday morning. Workshop sessions begin at 9 AM and generally end between 4 PM and 5 PM, Wednesday through Saturday. On Sunday, the retreat concludes by 2 PM. More information as follows:
On the first day of the workshop retreat, writers attend a workshop with Michael Neff and Chris Stewart wherein their stories and projects are discussed and reviewed in detail with an aim towards making them commercially publishable. At the close of day, writers are provided with assignments focusing on their opening scenes, as well as initial character portrayal and plot points.
On day number two, the writers return to the workshop in the morning to review and discuss the assignments as they pertain to their work-in-progress. In the afternoon, writers pitch their work for further review and critique.
On days three and four, writers juggle retreat seclusion as appropriate and necessary with attendance at individual consults and workshops on competitive narrative, characters, and novel development led by our accomplished faculty.
On the final day, Sunday, writers meet one-on-one with workshop leaders to recap and arrive at a mutually agreeable publication plan, i.e., a detailed approach regarding what the writer must do following the event to remain on a realistic path to publication, and with realizable goals. Also discussed is the Algonkian post-event novel editing and development program which is included with the retreat.
Emily Williamson began her stellar career as an editor in 2011 with Chrysalis Editorial in Washington, DC. In 2016 she founded Williamson Literary. She is looking for future best sellers in all genres except romance. She favors clear and fast-paced plotlines, authoritative writing, solid knowledge of the formula for "a page turner," and solid author platform. In the context of literary fiction she is searching for stellar, beautiful writing, unusual and unforgettable characters, and unique settings. Emily holds an MA from John Hopkins University. Her literary agent website can be found here.
Art Taylor is the author of the story collection The Boy Detective & The Summer of '74 and Other Tales of Suspense and of the novel in stories On the Road with Del & Louise, winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. He won the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Short Story for English 398: Fiction Workshop originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and he has won three additional Agatha Awards, an Anthony Award, three Macavity Awards, and three consecutive Derringer Awards for his fiction. He is an associate professor of English at George Mason University. More at www.arttaylorwriter.com.
Carol Mitchell is an accomplished and award-winning author. Her upcoming novel What Start Bad a Mornin' will be published soon and she's written a total of eighteen books for children, including three published by HarperCollins UK. Carol holds an MFA, is a fellow of the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, and teaches writing at George Mason and George Washington Universities. A 2018 interview with her can be found here.
Michael Neff, Algonkian founder and director, is a tv/film scout, literary journal editor, and published author. He is the author of the literary political novel about the Reagan years in Washington, All The Dark We Will Not see, creator and co-editor of Magician's Impossible from Macmillan Books, and the author of Piper Robbin and the American Oz Maker. His short fiction has appeared in many classic literary journals including North American Review, The Literary Review, Pittsburgh Quarterly, Quarterly West, and Conjunctions. Via his workshops and editorial expertise he has assisted dozens of writers in obtaining commercial contracts and representation.
Christine Stewart holds an M.A. in Creative Writing from Hollins University and an M.F.A. from the University of Maryland. Some of her publications include Ploughshares, Poetry, Five Points, Smartish Pace, and The Cortland Review. Awards include an Individual Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council and a Ruth Lilly Fellowship from The Poetry Foundation. She has taught at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Carver Center for Arts and Technology, and the Johns Hopkins Odyssey program. Her novel, The Heresy of Silence is forthcoming from Serving House Books. She offers book editing and critique services for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry at The Real Writer, and she is also editor chief of the distinguished and controversial Del Sol Press.
Richard Washer is a playwright, educator and director. He is a founding member of Charter Theatre, a professional theatre company dedicated to the development and production of new plays, where he served as dramaturge, director and playwright. He currently serves as Associate Artistic Director at First Draft at The Rose Theatre in Virginia. He is the author of fourteen produced plays at venues that include Source Theatre, New Works Theatre, Charter Theatre, The Earl Hamner Junior Theatre and others. He has directed productions of musicals, classics, new plays, and dozens of new play readings at these and other venues. Richard teaches creative writing and playwriting workshops at numerous institutions including First Draft and The Writer's Center. He holds a MFA in Creative Writing from The American University.
Comments and Contracts
Dates and Application
Cars and Cottages
Writers have the option of paying the lower "commuter fee" and securing their own lodging. Options in the nearby area are plentiful, including AirBnB, VRBO, an array of motels and hotels, plus BnB establishments.
Registration for Event
As noted above, the event fee includes five nights lodging at cottages in Algonkian Park (private rooms), two meals per day, all shops and consult sessions, formal meetings with faculty, pre-event forums and materials, as well as the post-event novel editorial program (see "Crucial Prep and Post-Event"). There are no other costs associated with participation in the event.
- Another Algonkian Motto
