Spring Book Greenhouse

March - June 2024

(The course is full—click Register Here to get on the waitlist
for the Fall Greenhouse)

 

Welcome to the spring book incubator program! It is best described as a major injection of commitment and energy for your writing. It is perfect for writers who have a project already in mind and want to finally give it the attention it is asking for.

In the company of a small, handpicked group, Alie will guide you through the tangible steps required to create a compelling narrative. Alongside conversation and exercises about craft, you’ll get support for the emotional ups and downs that inevitably arise when we do something challenging and deeply meaningful.

The book incubator is suitable for writers of both fiction and memoir. Having written, published, and taught both genres, I believe the tools required to write each are very similar.

What you will get:

  • Sixteen weeks of support and accountability.

  • An instant community of likeminded writers who are also committed to moving their projects forward.

  • Eight group calls which will include a writing check in, support for questions as they arise, craft exercises, and focused conversation around all elements of narrative forms.

  • Four one-on-one calls with Alie. This is a chance to receive feedback on your manuscript, to delve into issues pertaining to your specific process, and to enjoy some individual cheerleading.

  • Priority access for the May long weekend retreat, Spring into Writing, May 17 - 21. (The March weekend retreat sold out in three hours!).

  • Priority access for manuscript evaluations along with a 10% discount.

  • The deep pleasure of fully committing to your manuscript.

We as writers are currently blessed with an abundance of wonderful learning opportunities. There are excellent courses out there, in all genres, taught by true masters of the craft. Because this is a pilot project for me, I’ve designed the spring incubator to be unique in a number of ways.

  1. I will read your writing:
    When you register you will have the chance to send me up to 75 double spaced pages of your project. I won’t offer a line edit but I WILL read it deeply. In your first one-on-one call at the start of the program we’ll discuss your strengths and areas for improvement and work together to tailor the program to meet your goals.

  2. I will be live on all the calls:
    This is not a series of pre-recorded videos or classes taught by a teaching assistant. I will be live on all the calls. This lets me adjust the content of the course to meet your needs as they arise, and to answer your questions in the context of writing exercises that we will be doing together in real time.

  3. You will have several chances to meet with me individually:
    Four chances, in fact. There is a huge amount about writing that can be learned in a group setting; there are also some areas where I know I can best support you one-on-one. Each month you’ll have the chance for a private 45-minute check-in that we can gear toward your specific manuscript and writing process.

What makes me a good choice as a teacher?

I am a Man Booker Prize nominated author. I’ve been on book juries including for the Giller Prize and the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. I’ve written and published award-winning books of fiction, memoir, and poetry. I’ve been on faculty at the Humber School for Writers for over a decade and have taught multiple times at the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Sage Hill Writing Experience, among others.

Again and again in my work with students in all genres I’ve seen the importance of emotional support alongside the technical elements of craft. I’ve also experienced plenty of struggle and challenge in my writing life; I know what it’s like to be in the trenches and I’d like to make it easier for you by being there alongside you.

Dates and Details:

The incubator runs for sixteen weeks from March 4 – June 21, 2024. There will be a maximum of six writers in the group, and the group won’t run with fewer than four writers.

Group calls will take place on zoom on the following Tuesdays from 5:15 – 6:45 ET:

  • March 5

  • March 19

  • April 2

  • April 16

  • April 30

  • May 14

  • May 28

  • June 11

You’ll also have the chance to sign up for an individual call with me each month. There will be times available on alternate Tuesdays between 4:00 – 6:30 and every Thursday between 2:00 – 5:00. If needed, we can find a different time that works for you.

Your investment:

The cost for the sixteen-week course is $4597 CAD. Your $350 deposit reserves your spot, and the balance is due Feb 10th, 2024. I’m happy to arrange payment in monthly installments if preferable.

The spring book incubator is priced relative to several other comparable programs (albeit ones that do not include any reading of your actual manuscript). If you have any questions—about cost, curriculum, whether the incubator is right for you—please feel free to reach out directly.

I know what it’s like to long with your whole being to fully commit to your manuscript. I know that sometimes it is heaven to be alone with the unbroken page and other times you need company and structure. I would love to be right there beside you as you give your manuscript the attention it’s been waiting for. I can’t wait to support you and your writing!