Book Lab
Book Lab is a year-long intensive class for writers seeking to revise, restructure, rethink, and finalize a book-length manuscript. Students form a small cohort of writers, all working toward the same goal. Classes include workshops, craft instruction, visits from publishing professionals, and one-on-one feedback sessions. The Book Lab instructor also provides an editorial review of your entire manuscript, line edits where appropriate, and a detailed plan for further revisions and/or agent submission. At the end of the session, a second well-published writer will give your manuscript a high-level read and provide a page of editorial notes. Book Lab seeks to help students cross that elusive finishing line from draft to publishable work.
No class dates: 11/23/2023
Book Lab is application only. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, starting August 8 for Hugo House members and August 15 for non-members. No applications will be accepted after September 21.
Payment plans are available for this class. Please email education@hugohouse.org to get a payment plan started.
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MORE ABOUT BOOK LAB
Ten-Week Class in Fall Quarter
This course will provide the opportunity for Book Lab participants to get to know each other and their individual book projects. During these ten weeks, you'll address relevant topics and concerns surrounding your projects and be provided with writing prompts and writing time. By the end of this quarter, you will have developed a detailed timeline for completing your manuscript through the following year.
Six Cohort Meetings
Students and mentor meet roughly once per month following the ten-week class to check in on manuscript completion/manuscript-edit completion timeline. Each meeting focuses on reviewing progress from one student in addition to general discussion.
Four One-Day Classes
You may register for one free one-session class per quarter over four quarters. Exclusions apply for some visiting writers.
Second Reader
Students receive a full manuscript read by a second, outside reader.
One-on-One Meetings with Mentor
Each student receives four one-on-one meetings with mentor.
Tara Conklin
Tara Conklin is a writer and former lawyer whose first novel, The House Girl, (William Morrow) was a New York Times bestseller, #1 IndieNext pick, Target book club pick and has been translated into 8 languages. Her second novel, The Last Romantics (William Morrow) was published in 2019 to wide acclaim. An instant New York Times bestseller, The Last Romantics was a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick, IndieNext Pick, and was selected by Jenna Bush Hager as the inaugural read for The Today Show Book Club. Her latest novel Community Board is out now and available in stores and online in all the usual places. The recipient of an Artist Trust grant, her writing has appeared in Vogue, the Berkshire Eagle and elsewhere.
Before turning to fiction, Tara worked for an international human rights organization and at corporate law firms in London and New York. She was born in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands and grew up in western Massachusetts. She holds a BA in history from Yale University, a JD from NYU School of Law and a Master of Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Tara now lives in Seattle with her family where she writes, teaches at Hugo House and works with private clients on manuscript development.
