Since its inception in 1996, Odyssey has 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 53% 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. College credit is available upon request.

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, critique each other's work, and complete other class assignments. Students spend at least 8 hours on "homework" each weekday and 12 hours per day on the weekend. You should come prepared to write new material, either short stories or novel chapters. After the first two weeks, you will not be able to submit anything that was written before the workshop began, unless you have radically revised it since arriving at Odyssey. The only way to improve is to write new material that incorporates what you have learned.

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 average over one thousand words each, 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 insights and perspectives, and to give students feedback on their work. Lecturers for the 2010 workshop include some of the top teachers in the field: acclaimed authors Elizabeth Hand, Gregory Frost, Alexander Jablokov, and Michael A. Arnzen; and award-winning editor David G. Hartwell.

I'm excited to report that our 2010 writer-in-residence is Laura Anne Gilman. Laura Anne was an executive editor at NAL/Penguin USA before leaving to build a career as a writer. She writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy, paranormal romance, mainstream, horror, science fiction, and young adult fiction. She's the author of seventeen novels and over thirty works of short fiction. She has also co-edited three anthologies. Laura Anne will be lecturing, workshopping, and meeting with students for the entire fifth week, a wonderful opportunity for the class. The other weeks will be structured as described above.

Those who apply by January 30 will be considered for early admission. We created the possibility of early admission to help those who, if admitted, 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 8 will be informed of their status by May 1.

To help you budget your money, here is a review of the costs associated with attending Odyssey. The application fee is $35. Tuition is $1900. If you would like to receive college credit, there is an additional processing fee of $450. 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 $775. The cost to have your own bedroom in an apartment is $1550. 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, 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, two work/study positions are available. The "primary" work/study student spends about six hours per week performing duties for Odyssey, such as photocopying, distributing student mail, and preparing guest receptions. In addition, the primary work/study student serves as a computer lab monitor during evening and weekend hours, when Odyssey students have exclusive access to the lab. Odyssey reimburses $650 of the primary work/study student's tuition.

The "secondary" work/study student serves as another computer lab monitor, splitting hours evenly with the primary work/study student. Odyssey reimburses $250 of the secondary work/study student's tuition.

Both work/study students will be expected to fulfill the regular requirements of Odyssey in addition to their duties. This will make for a very demanding six weeks, but for students who need the financial assistance, the work/study positions offer good opportunities. You may apply for one of the positions or ask to be considered for either of them. Contact me for a special work/study application. Work/study applications are due April 30.

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 institutions of learning. The amount of the scholarship is variable depending on need and the availability of funds. Scholarship monies will be applied directly to tuition for the 2010 workshop. If you are accepted into Odyssey and would like to pursue this possibility, contact me at that time.

We're very fortunate to be able to hold Odyssey on the campus of Saint Anselm College. Odyssey students love the food, the peaceful grounds, 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 over Odyssey's fourteen previous years have been incredible. Talented writers of all ages, some already published, have come from all across the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Singapore, and embarked on this epic journey of discovery with me. 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. If you'd like to spend six weeks hanging out and partying with people who love fantasy, science fiction, and horror, please don't apply to Odyssey. It's not for you. If you'd like to dedicate all your energy for six weeks on improving your writing, and collapse with exhaustion on the last day, I hope you'll apply. Odyssey is for you.

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 improving 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.

Odyssey's new online classes provide another option for writers who want to improve their skills. Each class is focused on a particular element of fiction writing and is designed for writers at a particular skill level, from beginners to professional writers. The classes provide writers with valuable tools to improve their work.

To receive the latest updates on all Odyssey programs, sign up for our free e-newsletter.

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

Best wishes!

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