Short Story Incubator
“It was an experience that definitely took my writing to the next level. I would recommend it to all serious writers!”
In a Nutshell
A competitive, accessible – and repeatable – MFA-level course, spanning 8 months, for ten short story writers from all backgrounds who want to move their stories from “workshop good” to publishable quality.
Date of Course: September 2023 - April 2024
Applications for the 2023-2024 Short Story Incubator are closed! . All applicants can expect to hear back Mid-August 2023. The next round of applications will be open in June 2024.
Free Open House and Info Session
Thinking of applying? Every summer, GrubStreet offers a Short Story Incubator Open House and Info Session with instructor Ron MacLean to answer any questions you have about the Incubator, including the workload, the application process, what the program does and doesn’t entail, the schedule, the philosophy behind our approach, and anything else on your mind. The next virtual Open House session will be held in Summer 2024.
Prospective applicants to the Short Story Incubator should be aware that this year's program will be held virtually on Zoom.
Overview and Goals
Most MFA-level writing programs focus on eliminating major problems in a story – getting it to the point where no one in workshop has any serious objections. Rarely does a program or course focus on developing a story into an outstanding, finished piece that fully realizes its writer’s vision. Our unique model was designed to provide concrete and specific tactics to navigate the distance between “workshop good” and “publishable.” It is founded on two core premises:
- The short story is a living – and evolving – art form that every writer both follows and reinvents to provide their particular window on human experience.
- Essential to effective workshopping is honoring each writer’s material and approach, whether traditional or experimental, western-based or grounded in the traditions of another culture.
In this program, each writer helps define for themselves the measures that will take essential elements of story (e.g., grounding, tension, motion, resonance) and incorporate those into a narrative that reflects that writer’s vision, priorities, values, and intentions. We believe that all voices must be spotlighted with the range and fullness they deserve and that stories are made better when different voices and approaches are part of the conversation. Students working toward a story collection will have an opportunity to discuss – and check in on – their approaches and goals with the instructor, and will receive access to a 90-minute session on putting together and publishing story collections. They can also tailor their second-term goals toward milestones related to a collection.
The second term also includes a focus on publishing:
- Guest sessions with literary magazine editors
- Insights into the short story marketplace and best practices for story submission
- Targeted submission recommendations for each student
Want to learn more? Check out instructor Ron MacLean's explanation of the program in this podcast.
Measurable Successes
Among the achievements by writers in the program’s first five years:
· 25+ stories published
· 3 agents contracted
· 1 O. Henry award
· 1 PEN Emerging Writers Fellowship
· 1 semi-finalist, Katherine Anne Porter prize
· 5 writing residencies
· 8 MFA program admissions
· 1 AWP Mentor program
Testimonials
“The Short Story Incubator gave me the confidence to acknowledge and respect my own point of view. More than anything, the Incubator made me willing to take my seat at the table. And now I'm developing a collection.”
“It's a stunningly well-conceived and executed program.”
“Definitely took my writing to the next level. I would recommend it to all serious writers!”
“A wonderful experience with a group of writers of such high caliber and a level of workshop critique that I had not encountered before.”
Tuition
The entire cost of the program is $4,295. Tuition is payable in two installments.
Partial or full tuition fellowships are available and based on a combination of merit and financial need.
See more information about our submission guidelines, instructors, and curriculum.
Questions?
If you have specific questions about the Short Story Incubator program, please email [email protected], or call the office anytime at 617.695.0075.