Novel Incubator 2025-2026

Class Description

Class Description

About the GrubStreet Novel Incubator:

Many writers spend years toiling away on their novel drafts only to get stuck on how to take their work from a good draft to a great manuscript ready to approach agents and editors. It can be difficult to find a reliable, consistent, and skilled writing group, especially one that’s prepared to read full manuscripts. Over the course of 12 months, the Novel Incubator provides a supportive and accelerated dive into the novel form where a small and committed group of ten writers will revise their novels, strengthen their knowledge about the novel form, and gain a thoughtful introduction to the publishing world, which includes industry and alumni guest speakers. Even after the program concludes, Novel Incubator writers become a part of a wider alumni community that informally continues the spirit of mutual learning and support.

Whether you’ve been writing for decades or only started a year ago, writers of all experience levels and backgrounds/identities are welcome to apply to the program. We believe that the best writing is born out of an expansive mindset in the way we read and write, and of course, grow together, especially in areas less familiar to us.

The ideal applicant will have previously participated in some kind of writing group or workshop that includes giving/receiving feedback, and they should have a generous, community-building mindset with an openness to learning ambitious craft skills together. Ideal applicants will also have a complete novel draft (even if it’s a very rough draft), and all genres are welcome. Writers who still need to build toward a complete novel manuscript should consider the Novel Generator program prior to the Novel Incubator; however, it is not a requirement and does not guarantee acceptance into the Novel Incubator program. They are distinct yet complementary programs designed for writers at various stages of the novel writing process.

Below is a quick list of key dates and information. More details about the program can be found via the side links.

At-a-Glance Program Dates and Information:

• Class type: In person at GrubStreet Center for Creative Writing in Boston’s Seaport District (in the event of large-scale health emergencies, community safety protocols will be implemented and communicated to all students with community updates posted to the website)
• Program and Scholarship Application opens: November 6, 2024
• Program and Scholarship Application closes: February 10, 2025, 11:59pm ET
• Decision notifications: Early April
• Program start date: June 2nd, 2025
• Meeting days/times: Mondays, 6:00 to 9:30pm ET (on holidays, class typically moves to Tuesdays)
• Next Free Information Session Q&A (in-person): Dec. 2, 2024, 6:30 to 7:30pm, Seaport
• Next Free Information Session Q&A (online/Zoom): January 11, 2025, 11am to 12pm, ET
• Once you are ready to apply, click on the Apply to this Class button on this page.

Total Tuition: $8,695

• Scholarships: Available in the amount of 25% to 75% off the total tuition cost. The optional and brief application is attached at the end of the standard program application for your convenience.
• First tuition payment due: two weeks prior to the first day of class
• Final tuition payment due: approximately 3 months after the first day of class. Payment plans of up to 4 installments can be arranged with GrubStreet’s Finance team with the goal of all payments completed by the final tuition payment due date.
• Donation information: We continuously fundraise for our scholarship fund to make all our programs more accessible to more writers. While our programs are significantly less costly than the average MFA program, we recognize that full tuition is still out of reach for many. Any individual interested in making a one-time or sustaining donation toward scholarships specific to this program or all programs can do so on our donation page or reaching out to Julian Iralu at [email protected]. Thanks!