Deep and Wide: Longform Prose Revision

This workshop is designed for people who are somewhere well into their work on a long-form nonfiction prose project (that is, a nonfiction book): a series of essays about saints and sinners, or a memoir about your prayer life or your search for your birth parents, or an exploration of the spirituality of rocks. Bring your book manuscript with you to the Collegeville Institute. Many hours of each day will be reserved for writing. Most days, we’ll also explore aspects of prose craft: revision, scene and narrative time, voice, sensory language and description, etc.

These explorations, your workshop leader devoutly hopes, will nourish your work. Throughout, we’ll be companioned by this wisdom from Fanny Howe: “Revision is the path taken by an autodidact like me. In revising you teach yourself. You find your own information buried in your body.” And by this wisdom from Susan Sontag: “Writing means converting one’s liabilities (limitations) into advantages. For example, I don’t love what I’m writing. Okay, then — that’s also a way to write, a way that can produce interesting results.”

This workshop is intended for advanced writers (people who have published one book or multiple magazine articles and essays, or who’ve taken at least two college-level or graduate-school-level creative writing classes) who are well into their work on a nonfiction book that in some way intersects with questions of faith, religion, spirituality. (If you don’t meet those exact criteria, but think this workshop is for you, you’re invited to make your case in your application.)

• Important to Note: You must be able to submit a manuscript comprising of at least 75% of your book by Monday, June 9 in order to participate in this workshop. This manuscript would be read by other workshop participants. Priority will be given to applicants whose books are creative nonfiction (rather than devotional writing or academic writing).

In addition to the 10 days at the Collegeville Institute, this workshop features a nine-month follow-up component for up to five selected participants. Writer and Collegeville Institute alumna, Amy Peterson, will work one-on-one (virtually) with those five participants for continued revision coaching in the nine months following the workshop’s conclusion.

The Collegeville Institute will cover travel expenses to and from the workshop within the continental United States, all workshop fees, and room and board. International travel costs, and travel from Hawaii and Alaska, may be shared between the Collegeville Institute and the workshop participant. Those who join the workshop will be expected to reside at the Collegeville Institute throughout the entire week. The program is limited to 9 participants.

Due to Covid-19 precautions, workshop participants are asked to be fully vaccinated and may be required to take a day-of test before traveling to the workshop. 

It’s hard for me not to gush. Lauren is punctual, strong, witty, commanding, and powerful. The writing exercises were lively and creative, like little literary firestarters; her instruction on the structure and architecture of a book tied seamlessly with her instruction about words, sentences, and voice. This seems like a first-rate MFA-level seminar from a generous, masterful instructor.
—writing workshop participant

The Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner is Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality at Duke Divinity School and Vicar of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Durham, N.C. Her books include Girl Meets God, Mudhouse Sabbath, A Cheerful and Comfortable Faith, Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis, and Wearing God.

Application Process:

A completed application includes an application form, resume, a writing sample of 10-15 contiguous, double-spaced pages from your working manuscript, and a one-page summary of your book-in-progress.

The application deadline for this workshop has passed.