Two-Week Workshop, Exclusively for YWW Alumni
This two-week intensive is designed for Yale Writers’ Workshop alumni developing book-length fiction or nonfiction projects. The program brings together a small cohort of eight writers for a focused, collaborative experience centered on sustained manuscript development.
Week One: On Campus
The first week takes place at Yale, providing dedicated time for deep creative work and close collaboration. Participants will read and discuss one another’s manuscripts and use generative and revision-based activities to explore possibilities for strengthening their projects.
Week Two: Online
The second week continues online, giving writers the opportunity to build on the work begun on campus. Through discussion and continued feedback, participants will focus on revision strategies, structure, and the next steps toward completing a full manuscript. The small cohort allows writers to develop a close understanding of one another’s projects and provide meaningful, sustained feedback.
The Work in Progress Intensive is intended for writers who have at least 7,000 words of a draft and a clear commitment to developing that work toward completion. Priority will be given to writers with substantial existing drafts and a strong foundation for revision.
[quote] This writing cohort was one of the most impactful experiences of my writing career. It was remarkably cohesive, and the program struck a rare balance between comprehensive craft instruction and genuinely empowering support. Kirsten was instrumental in my growth as a writer—her insight, guidance, and thoughtful feedback elevated my writing to a new level. I left the cohort with clarity, confidence, and a refined submission package, and I am thrilled to say I landed my literary agent immediately after the program ended. Just as meaningful, our cohort has remained close well beyond its conclusion, a testament to the strength of the community Kirsten fostered. I can’t recommend this experience highly enough.
Tory Bunce, 2025 Intensive Participant
Application Information
Please submit a 1000-word sample from the manuscripts you plan to submit and answer these questions in your application:
- Is your submission fiction or nonfiction?
- What is the working title of your manuscript?
- How many words have you written?
- What is that status of the draft? Just starting, half written, completed first, or second draft?
- Who has offered / given you feedback on the draft?
[point] We anticipate strong interest in this intensive workshop and will create a waiting list if necessary. Writers applying for the intensive workshop should include alternative workshop choices on their application in case they are not selected.
Important Dates
[cal] Program Dates: June 14 - June 25, 2027
On-Campus: June 14-18, 2027
Check-in: Sunday, June 13, 2027
Online: June 21-25, 2027*Housing closes at 6:00 pm on Friday, June 18
For more information on dates and costs, check our Dates and Costs section.
Faculty Bio
Kirsten Bakis
Kirsten Bakis is author, most recently, of King Nyx, which Esquire magazine named one of the Best Horror Books of 2024 and Victor LaValle called "a novel of delicious disquiet." In a profile in the Washington Post, Jacob Brogan called Bakis "a major talent, a writer of prodigious commitment, capability and imagination." She is the recipient of multiple awards and has been teaching at the Yale Writers’ Workshop since 2012.
