Since its inception in 1996, Odyssey has quickly become one of the most highly respected workshops for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Top authors, editors and agents have served as guests at Odyssey, and 52% of graduates have gone on to be published. The workshop, held annually on the campus of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, runs for six weeks, and combines an intensive learning and writing experience with in-depth feedback on students' manuscripts. Odyssey is for developing writers whose work is approaching publication quality and for published writers who want to improve their work. Those who attend must be ready to put aside all their other concerns and make a single-minded effort to improve their writing. This is a serious, demanding program. I'm constantly told by graduates that they learned more at Odyssey than they learned in years of workshopping and creative writing classes. You should not apply unless you are ready to hear about the weaknesses in your writing and ready to work to overcome them. Class meets for 4 hours in the morning, 5 days a week, and students use afternoons, evenings, and weekends to write, read each other's work, and complete other class assignments. College credit is available upon request.

Odyssey is the only program of its kind run by an editor. I was a senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell, where I won the World Fantasy Award for my editing, and I serve as primary instructor at the workshop. Half of our class time is spent on lectures, writing exercises, and discussions. In my lectures, I provide an advanced, comprehensive curriculum, covering the elements of fiction writing in depth. To improve your writing, you need to understand the various tools and techniques writers can use to create a strong story. Many workshops, unfortunately, offer only brief, superficial lectures. We study some of the most beautiful and powerful writing in the field to gain understanding of what these tools can do when wielded with skill. I also discuss the common failings of developing writers and explain how to avoid those pitfalls.

The other half of our class time is spent workshopping student stories. In critiquing stories, I give the same unflinchingly honest, concrete, detailed feedback that I provided as a senior editor. My typewritten critiques tend to average around 1,000 words, and my handwritten line edits on manuscripts are extensive. Everyone in the class learns to become a top-notch critiquer, providing insightful feedback on your work. Workshopping sessions are designed to maximize their helpfulness. You will not be coddled, and you will not be attacked. You will learn how to improve your writing and gain insight into why a story might or might not sell to a publisher. Anyone interested in applying should read "Workshopping at Odyssey" by David J. Schwartz, class of '96.

Since I've worked with many writers over the course of my career, I understand that each writer works differently, so I also work individually with students. Over the six weeks, I chart each student's progress in a series of private meetings, where we discuss personal strengths and weaknesses. We target those weaknesses one by one and work to conquer them. The workshop is limited to sixteen students so that each student can receive significant individual guidance.

Guest lecturers come in once a week, for about a 24-hour period, to add their own unique perspectives and give students feedback on their work. Lecturers for the 2008 workshop include some of the top teachers in the field: award-winning authors Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman, Barry B. Longyear, and James Maxey; New York Times best-selling author Craig Shaw Gardner; and literary agent Jenny Rappaport;

I'm excited to report that our 2008 writer-in-residence is author Nancy Kress. Nancy is an outstanding teacher with an amazing ability to convey complex ideas clearly and to identify exactly why a story is working or not working. Nancy has written three books on fiction writing, which are considered some of the best resources for developing writers. In addition, Nancy is the author of three fantasy novels, eleven science-fiction novels, two thrillers, three collections of short stories, and one young adult novel. Nancy's short fiction has won three Nebula Awards and a Hugo Award, and her novel Probability Space won the 2003 John W. Campbell Award. Her work has been translated into eighteen languages. Nancy will be running the workshop for the entire fifth week, a wonderful opportunity for students. The other weeks will be structured as described above.

Odyssey's focus is on fiction written for adult readers. But it's worth noting that three of this summer's guests--Nancy Kress, Delia Sherman, and Craig Shaw Gardner--have also written young adult fiction. So if you are interested in writing for young adults as well as adults, you may gain some helpful insights at the 2008 workshop.

Those who apply by January 31 will be considered for early admission. We created the possibility of early admission to help those who, if admitted, will need several months to arrange their affairs before the workshop begins. Applicants will be notified by February 28 whether they have been admitted under the high standards of early admission or whether their applications will be held over for consideration for regular admission. Those who apply by the regular application deadline of April 10 will be informed of their status by May 1.

To help you budget your money, let me review the costs. There is a $25 application fee. Tuition is $1800. If you would like to receive college credit, there is an additional processing fee of $210. Unless students prefer to make other arrangements, they stay in Saint Anselm College apartments. These apartments are in two small buildings next to each other, Falvey House and Collins House (#37 and #38 on the campus map). Each apartment has 2 or 3 bedrooms and can house a total of 4 or 5 people (with each bedroom holding 1 or 2 students). The cost to share a bedroom in an apartment for six weeks is $700. The cost to have your own bedroom in an apartment is $1400. The apartments are equipped with kitchens, so you may buy and prepare your own food, which is a money-saving option, or you may eat at the college's Coffee Shop. Food on campus is reasonably priced. Students should budget between $400-$600 for food for the six weeks.

The tuition and housing prices quoted above are the discounted rates for students paying by check or money order. Students who are US residents have the additional option of paying both tuition and housing through PayPal (www.paypal.com), which allows you to charge the costs on a credit card. Those using PayPal need to pay the full rates, which are about 3% higher. International students must make all payments by international money order in US dollars.

For those interested in financial aid, we have three scholarships to offer. The Gandalf Grants were created to provide financial assistance to writers wishing to attend the Odyssey Writing Workshop. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor and graduate of the program, Odyssey will offer three scholarships to the most promising writers of the class of 2008 in the amounts of $1,250, $500, and $250. Winners will be selected from the incoming class by a board of professional authors. Judges will base their decision on the quality of the short story or novel selection sent with the application; no separate application is required. The decision of the judges is final. Scholarship monies will be applied directly to tuition for the 2008 workshop.

Applicants from the New York Metropolitan Area who are accepted into Odyssey are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Donald A. and Elsie B. Wollheim Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund was created in 1989 by the New York Science Fiction Society--the Lunarians, one of New York's oldest and largest science fiction and fantasy clubs, to help developing writers attend major science fiction/fantasy writing programs affiliated with higher institutitions of learning. The amount of the scholarship is variable depending on need and the availability of funds. If you are accepted into Odyssey and would like to pursue this possibility, contact me at that time.

In addition, one work/study position is available. The work/study student will serve as our computer lab monitor and will also spend about five hours per week performing other duties for Odyssey. The work/study student will be expected to fulfill the regular requirements of the class as well. This will make for a very demanding six weeks, but for a student who needs the financial assistance, the work/study position offers a good opportunity. The work/study student must carry out a variety of tasks: photocopying handouts and student stories for class, assisting students in writing on the college's computers, preparing receptions for guest lecturers, tape recording guest lecturers, and serving as general trouble-shooter. The work/study student may, under unusual conditions, have to miss parts of class to complete duties. Odyssey will pay $650 toward the work/study student's tuition. Anyone interested in this opportunity should contact me for a special work/study application.

We're very fortunate to be able to hold Odyssey on the campus of Saint Anselm College. Odyssey students love the food, the peaceful campus, and the friendly, efficient staff. Saint Anselm is one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the country, dedicated to excellence in education, and its campus provides a beautiful setting and high-quality facilities for the workshop.

I love working with developing writers, helping them to realize their potential and make their work the best it can be. My experiences in Odyssey's twelve previous years have been incredible. Talented writers of all ages, some already published, have come from all across the US, Canada, and the UK. I've watched students make major breakthroughs during the six weeks, and I've followed their progress after the workshop as they've submitted their work, piled up the rejection slips, made sales, and built wonderful writing careers for themselves.

Odyssey provides a supportive yet challenging, energizing environment for authors. Attending the workshop is a great way to focus on your writing, giving it the time and attention it needs. I hope you'll come on this journey of discovery with me.

Please check out the Frequently Asked Questions page about the Workshop. If you have any additional questions, feel free to e-mail me at jcavelos@sff.net.

If you want help with your writing but applying to a six-week program isn't a practical option, or you feel you aren't yet ready to apply, or you'd like a taste of the Odyssey experience to see if it's right for you, you may want to check out our Odyssey Critique Service. It allows you to receive professional-level feedback on your writing.

In the meantime, I hope you'll find this website a useful resource for your writing.

Best wishes!

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