News from Odyssey Writing Workshop:

Now in its 24^th year, the Odyssey Writing Workshop is widely considered one of the top programs in the world for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Acclaimed authors, editors and agents serve as guest lecturers, and 59% of graduates have gone on to be professionally published.  Among Odyssey’s graduates are New York Times bestsellers, Amazon bestsellers, and award winners.

Odyssey’s 2019 session will be held from JUNE 3 to JULY 12 on the campus of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.  Saint Anselm College, Odyssey’s host campus, is rated one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the country, and its campus provides a beautiful setting and high-quality facilities for the workshop. Odyssey students love the Coffee Shop, the peaceful, beautiful grounds, and the friendly, efficient staff.

Writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror from all over the world apply to Odyssey each year; fifteen are admitted. Odyssey combines advanced lectures, in-depth feedback, and one-on-one guidance for maximum impact.  Class meets for over 4 ½ hours, 5 days a week, and students use afternoons, evenings, and weekends to write, critique each other’s work, and complete other class assignments.  Graduates commonly say they worked harder at Odyssey than they ever have, and they learned more in six weeks at Odyssey than in years earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in creative writing.

The early action application deadline for this summer’s Odyssey is JANUARY 31, and the regular application deadline is APRIL 1. All applicants receive feedback on their writing sample.

Odyssey, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is funded in part by donations from graduates, grantors and supporters, and in part by student tuition.  Tuition is $2,060, and housing in campus apartments is $892 for a double room and $1,784 for a single.  College credit is available for an additional fee.

Financial Aid

New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin (A Game of Thrones) is funding a scholarship for a horror writer to attend Odyssey.  The Miskatonic Scholarship will be awarded to a promising writer of Lovecraftian cosmic horror. It will cover full tuition, textbook, and housing.  For more details, see our website.

The Parasite Publications Character Awards, sponsored by Odyssey graduate Sara King,provide financial assistance to three character-based writers wishing to attend.  The awards provide three scholarships in the amounts of $2,060 (full tuition), $500, and $300.

A work/study position is also available.

Odyssey’s Director and Primary Instructor

Odyssey founder Jeanne Cavelos is a bestselling author and former senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell, where she won the World Fantasy Award for her work.  In addition to her lectures, which are legendary, she provides students with detailed, constructive critiques that average over 1,500 words each.  She also works individually with students to set goals, chart progress, and talk out problems.  In 2015, Jeanne was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for her work teaching and running Odyssey.

Our 2019 Guest Lecturers

Lecturers for the 2019 workshop include some of the best teachers in the field: bestselling authors Holly Black and Sara King, award-winning authors Nisi Shawl and Fran Wilde; highly praised author/editor Paul Witcover, and award-winning editor/publisher Neil Clarke of Clarkesworld Magazine.  We’ll also have agent Joshua Bilmes, president of the renowned JABberwocky Literary Agency, and award-winning editor/publisher Scott H. Andrews of Beneath Ceaseless Skies as virtual guests via Skype.

Other Odyssey Resources and Services

In addition to the workshop application, the Odyssey site, www.odysseyworkshop.org, offers many programs and resources for writers, including online classes, webinars, a critique service, consultations, coaching, free podcasts, author interviews, writing tips, and a monthly online discussion salon.