A brief writing sample is required in the application to the Incubator. We look closely at this sample of your work (it doesn’t necessarily have to be from your book project)—but we are also looking for community-minded people, so your answers to brief questions about what you’re seeking and what you would bring to this intimate program matter as well.

Yes! We’ve had people participate from London, Berlin, and Pune, India, as well as many folks on EST. We share recordings of all guest author visits and all Heartwork sessions. Anna and Colleen are admittedly time zone dyslexic, so we put everything in PCT for simplicity’s sake — most of our writers have been on the West Coast.

Each week of the Incubator, you’re assigned a new writing partner. They are your accountability and moral support ally. You’ll touch base with them regularly, report your progress, celebrate minimals, and—if you so desire!—swap work.

Alums of the Incubator have likened these weekly partnerships to “speed dating” for a long-term reader/accountability partner. It’s a great way to get to know every writer in your cohort, and also to feel out who is an especially good fit for you and your writing/working style.

In week five of the Incubator, you’ll get a close read on the first 5,000 words (or whatever you choose to substitute for that) from your peers and an Incubator alum—either fiction writer and essayist Amber Meadow Adams or memoirist and poet Nicole Hardy.

But mostly our focus is on generative conditions, craft wisdom, community, holistic support—that is, attention to the emotional and social terrain of book-writing, which is all too often neglected.

Nope. We’ve had writers who are literally starting on page one of a novel draft, while others are ten years or ten drafts in. We’ve found that regardless of where you’re at, our program and community are deeply nutritious and propulsive.

For now, yes, but we may add another Incubator in the late spring at some point, so as to include folks on an academic schedule. Stay tuned! If you sign up for our annual newsletter, you’ll be the first to hear this news.

Our guest authors join us for an hour of intimate conversation. The theme of these chats is “The Herculean Challenge”—we ask the guest author to talk about how they overcame their greatest obstacles, both on the craft and emotional/spiritual level. Then, it’s time for your questions. In the past, because our cohorts are small, we’ve had time for every writer to ask questions. Those who are unable to attend can send questions in advance, so we can pose them for you.

We also briefly introduce all of our writers, such that the guest author learns of your work-in-progress. In that way, some organic networking happens, and the guest has a broader context for any questions posed.

A 20% deposit is due upon acceptance, refundable until August 1. Full payment is due two weeks before the Incubator start date.

Basically: we have a hard time saying goodbye. Our group grows so intimate, so mutually supportive, that it’s near impossible for the conversation to end. For that reason, we created an ongoing membership community called The Nest that all Incubator members are invited to. This includes access to a Zoom writing room, monthly Heartwork sessions, monthly table reads, as well as regulr “sprints” in which we galvanize our writers to make a concerted push on their writing for 3-4 weeks.

Apply and let us evaluate your application. There is no fee to apply. While our past cohorts have included published authors and folks with significant experience in the writing realm, we’ve also selected some emerging writers whose work and spirit impressed us.