Finish your book in the Book Lab, a place of experimentation and accountability.
Book Lab is a year-long intensive class for writers seeking to revise, restructure, rethink, and finalize a book-length manuscript. Students form a small cohort of writers all working toward the same goal. Classes include workshops, craft instruction, visits from publishing professionals, and one-on-one feedback sessions. The Book Lab instructor also provides an editorial review of your entire manuscript, line edits where appropriate, and a detailed plan for further revisions and/or agent submission. At the end of the session, a second well-published writer is contracted by Hugo House to give your manuscript a high-level read with a page of editorial notes. Book Lab seeks to help students cross that elusive finishing line from draft to publishable work.
Book Lab includes:
Ten Week Class in Fall Quarter
This course will provide the opportunity for Book Lab participants to get know each other and their individual book projects. During these ten weeks, you’ll address relevant topics and concerns surrounding your projects and be provided with writing prompts and writing time. By the end of this first quarter, you’ll have developed a detailed timeline for completing your manuscript through the following year.
Six Cohort Meetings
Following the ten-week class, students and mentor meet roughly once per month to check in on manuscript completion/manuscript-edit completion timeline. Each meeting focuses on reviewing progress from one student in addition to general discussion.
Four One-Day Classes
You may register for one free one-session class per quarter over four quarters. Exclusions apply for some visiting writers.
Second Reader
Students receive a full manuscript read by a second, outside reader.
One-on-One Meetings with Mentor
Each student receives four one-on-one meetings with mentor. One meeting follows a complete manuscript read by mentor.
The Book Lab cohort is between 5 and 7 students.
Payment plans available. Contact registrar@hugohouse.org for more information.
