Submission Requirements
Writing Sample
- The application requires a minimum of 20 double-spaced pages of writing (approximately 5,000 words) and no more than 50 double-spaced pages (approximately 12,500 words).
- Submit at least three different and complete essays; you may also submit more than three. This sample should be a polished and advanced draft, and should represent your strongest writing. Submitting published or unpublished work is welcome.
- Essays may be any genre, type and length, but please do not submit academic work, scholarship, literary criticism, journalism, or any nonfiction that would not appear in a literary or mainstream publication. Submit stand-alone essays only.
- Do not submit excerpts from longer works, such as book-length memoirs.
Statement of Plans
In 500 words or fewer, please tell us:
- Your goals, what you hope to gain and what, specifically, you hope to accomplish in the 10-month program (e.g., substantively revise five essays; generate three new essays and ready three others for publication; improve craft; etc);
- Your previous writing experience and previous workshop experience;
- How you will contribute to an intense learning and writing community;
- Also: Include your best estimate of how many hours you will be able to devote to class work each week, not including classroom time and your own writing.
Reference from a GrubStreet instructor or equivalent workshop leader
- No letter is necessary. There is a place on the application form to list your reference and their contact info.
Workshop Experience
- Experience in at least one workshop (and ideally more than one) at GrubStreet or an equivalent writing center, MFA program, or conference.
- There is a place on the application form to list the titles and dates of previous workshops.
Financial Aid/Tuition
- The tuition for the Essay Incubator program is $4395.
- If applying for a scholarship/fellowship, you will fill out the brief scholarship/fellowship section at the end of the program application. This portion of the application is reviewed only by the Scholarship/Fellowship Committee, and not by the instructor.
- Accepted applicants receive information about their scholarship status at the same time they are notified of their acceptance, so they can make informed decisions.
Fees
- There is no application fee.
Applications for the 2024-2025 Essay Incubator are now closed.
Tuition
The entire cost of the program is $4,395. Tuition is payable in two installments. Partial scholarships/fellowships are available and based on a combination of merit and financial need (see below). Students may also be expected to purchase a few anthologies as “textbooks”; these will cost approximately $100 total over the course of the program.
Fellowships/Scholarships
We strive to locate support for our program participants who need it, and we aim to provide substantial fellowships to successful applicants.
In order to be considered for one of our scholarships/fellowships, you will have the option to fill out the Fellowship section at the end of your application to the program. Only one application is necessary to be considered for any of our funding options. Admitted students can expect notification on their scholarship/fellowship status at the time of admission to the program. While all Essay Incubator applicants can expect to be notified of their standing by the Essay Incubator Selection Committee, applicants not accepted into the program will not receive a separate notification from the Fellowship Committee.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].