My bespoke Manuscript Masterclass first began in 2023, and was a huge success for the writers, some of whom are now in submission stage. Offering an advanced writing workshop is something that I had long wanted to do, back from when I was teaching creative writing at Macquarie University. I could see, and students were asking for a next-step workshop for writers who now had a full manuscript well underway. But at the time, it just wasn’t possible in terms of the overall programs, the financials, etc. The Masterclass had to be bespoke.
The Manuscript Masterclass is designed for fiction or creative nonfiction writers who have a manuscript draft underway, or a fully completed draft manuscript that is now ready for revision and further development. (Or it might be ready to be fully unpicked and a new approach needed!) I read your work and have a substantial conversation with every participant before the Masterclass begins.
It’s now in its third year. Some of the writers have finished, and their manuscripts are now in submission stage. (New writers have joined…) This is one of the other benefits of the Masterclass, that you have an experienced mentor who knows your work well and what’s needed to make it a manuscript that really is ready for submission to agents, publishers or competitions.
The Masterclass is unique in this approach: you have an opportunity to receive a 20k manuscript assessment with written report and a one-on-one meeting before the workshop begins (or in the first weeks), and to develop a focused plan and set of aims for the work you’ll do over the coming months. Each writer then goes on to workshop a further 20,000 words of their work with the group in a full zoom session. (Genres: literary, speculative, YA, memoir, etc.)
There’s more information here. Please get in contact with me if you’re interested, and would like to know more, or if you have a notion of what you need help with and want to see if it fits with the Masterclass. Every workshop is a safe space. If you have any concerns, let me know. Contact: ink@janemesser.com
