About Algonkian Novel Workshops and Events
Our ultimate goal is to realistically increase your odds of becoming a published author by showing you how to inhabit that upper percentile of writers who will have their work taken seriously by professionals in the business.
Algonkian Novel Workshops began in 2002 on the banks of the Potomac River in northern Virginia, and evolved over the years to form additional events and conferences on both coasts, including the New York Pitch Conference. Since that time we've worked with many hundreds of writers and scores of professionals in the commercial publishing business, as well as many in the evolving independent press business. Our address to this day is still in the Washington area at 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. Please contact us at our 800 number if you have any issues or concerns we can clear up for you: 1-800-250-8290.
And now, the big question:
Is there a single best way to work towards becoming a published author? There is, and without trying to give offense to anyone, we truthfully reject the concept of the stereotypical big conference carnival as a satisfactory solution for all but those in the earliest stages of their career. On our end of the pole, we create intimate, carefully managed environments far more conducive to learning the skills and knowledge needed to realistically approach the making of a competitive novel. See our Frequently Asked Questions page and workshop syllabus for more details on our advantages, methods and goals. If you are beginning a novel or working on a novel-in-progress, or if you have a completed ms and you require a strong reality check, you must receive professional and highly focused reaction not only to your prose and narrative, but to your entire work, including but not limited to premise, complications, plot, theme, and character arc.
We don't deny that several writers conferences out there stir up lots of energy and make for a good time and even include some useful short workshops for beginning writers. Of course. Regardless, given they were/are mob-heavy and juggling speakers, panels, brunch for two thousand, and whatnot, they can't possibly spend the time and effort it takes to prepare each individual writer for the ruthlessly competitive atmosphere of the literary book market.
There are 250,000+ first-novel manuscripts being written each year in America. What percent of those will eventually fail to be published by a major house? 99.9% or worse? ... The statistics can't be denied. The job of Algonkian isn't to make this process risk free and easy. Our ultimate goal is to realistically increase your odds of becoming a published author by showing you how to inhabit that upper percentile of writers who will have their work taken seriously by professionals in the business.
Take a minute and read our commentary page and the writer interviews there to get a better feel for what we're talking about.
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