Author Conservatory

[Ava Coulter]

@trahia-the-minstrel

OOH The Authors Conservatory is awesome!!! I’m not a part of it yet, but I’ve seriously considered and researched it, and I’m planning to apply for it my last year of high school (Lord willing).

First of all: I totally get your struggle! That’s so real and you’re definitely not alone. I just joined the Young Writers Workshop, and it’s amazing (are you on Ydubs??)! Everyone on there is so kind and encouraging, and the instructors are so helpful. You can really tell that they have your best interest in mind. Again, I’m not in the Author Conservatory, so I can’t say for sure, but I highly doubt they would have you scrap your story altogether. Yes, they might have you revise it, but that will just make your story stronger! Also, I think that if your story means that much to you, then it’s worth pursuing even when it’s hard. So, no. I don’t think they would have you scrap it and move on. Plus, with all of the time and hard work you’ve put into it, it’s obviously a story that really matters to you. And all of the instructors on there are writers too, so they know what it’s like to doubt your writing. Again, I’m not on the Conservatory yet, but I highly doubt that they’ll tell you to just move on. They’re there to encourage you and help you grow your story, not reject your writing. But I totally get why you feel that way. I’m always nervous to show people my writing because I’m afraid it’s not good enough. This is getting really long xD, but just know that your story matters. Not perfect, but beautiful. So don’t give up on it, because I really want to read it one day!!

 

That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.

[Trahia the Minstrel]

@avacoulter

Thanks Ava! That means a lot!

How do you sign up to or even find information about the Young Writers Workshop? Nothing on their website is working for me, except the ‘join author conservatory’ page. I wondered if new people aren’t allowed to join right now?

The end of a story, a beautiful picture; a feeling of longing yet hope~
That’s my wish to create.

[Ava Coulter]

@trahia-the-minstrel

Of course!

Yeah, they open registration I think twice a year. They had it open in January, so that’s when I joined. YWW is a lot like KP, but bigger and it’s like $40 a month. So, expensive, but worth it. I highly, HIGHLY recommend it. I think registration is opening again in August, and if you go to their website, I think there’s an option to join a waiting list. If you scroll down, there’s also a video and more info about it.

https://theyoungwriter.com/workshop-students

That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.

[Ava Coulter]

Oh nvm I just saw that their next enrollment period is in May 🤪

That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.

[Bethany]

@trahia-the-minstrel

Hello there! Like everyone else here, no, I have not done the Author Conservatory. HOWEVER, I do know and know of a several people who are doing it.

I highly recommend just taking the leap and filling out an application. You have no obligation to join the program after applying and you get a free 45 min. Zoom consultation with one of the instructors (when I did it I got Josiah DeGraaf who runs Story Embers–I’m not sure if he’s the only one who does the calls). I already knew a lot about the program before doing the call, but he gave me a good sense of where I personally will need to be before joining the program. It seems they’re looking for students who write consistently and who want to make writing their career or at least part of their career.

I believe the current tuition is $11,800 a year, and it will probably rise in the coming years. I believe they lock tuition when you join though. Still, the price is comparable to college and I am pretty sure they do not currently offer scholarships. However, many students are able to work part or full-time while they’re in the program and they also have you start your own business, so you can make some decent money while you’re doing it if that’s an issue for you.

[quote quote=108914] For me, one of the things I’m struggling with is that I have already written 2 books in a series I’m in love with. I really want to finish my series, but now I’m scared that doing Author Conservatory will expose that I have a weak concept, or something. I really want to publish this series somehow, because I truly believe it’s an epic and beautiful story. But what if they tell me to scrap it and move on? On the other hand, it feels like Author Conservatory could really help me with learning how to write on deadline, learning the business side of things, and give the professional feedback I need. It’s basically everything I want a collage course to be, but way better, because it specialises in what I’m passionate about. Any thoughts or advice? [/quote]

I think Autumn Rebecca already gave you some great advice on this. I am pretty sure they want you to start brand new projects when you join. And they of course want you to succeed! If you’re really passionate about this project, I’m sure they’d be able to give you some great advice on making it even better. And even if they’re not into it, you can still publish it yourself or seek publication later.

If you want to get a taste for the kind of writing community and advice the Conservatory gives, I recommend joining the Young Writers Workshop. It’s $360/year and gives you a writing community and writing lessons. It’s definitely a lower level than the Conservatory, but I’ve gotten advice from YWW I haven’t heard elsewhere.

The Conservatory also recently did a blog review tour, so you can find several reviews from current students. If you need links, just tell me 🙂

[Trahia the Minstrel]

@avacoulter

Thanks for the info!

@sparrowhawke

Thanks for the advice! I have researched and read each article on the blog tour now, I found the links on their Instagram account. Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts in doing an online course for 3 whole years, when it means missing out on an in-person community? I come from a small town, and all my friends will be moving away in the next few years to go to collage, cause my town doesn’t have a collage in it. I’m worried I’ll miss out on life experience from doing this course, even though I know it will teach me so much career-wise.

 

The end of a story, a beautiful picture; a feeling of longing yet hope~
That’s my wish to create.

[Bethany]

@trahia-the-minstrel

Personally, I wouldn’t mind spending 3 years doing an online program. That’s probably just my personality and circumstances, but I think if you’re able to work during the program that would good life experience. Cook your own food, manage your finances, do your laundry if you’re not already. In my mind, that kind of stuff is the main life experience you get out of college. If you’re looking for in-person community, I’d recommend joining a church if you’re not already part of one and finding clubs or groups in your area that match your interests. I definitely recommend asking the admissions people about this if it concerns you.

Just to be clear, I’m a high schooler who has never been to college and the sibling I do have in college does most of his courses online and cares absolutely nothing for the social aspect of college.

 

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Bethany.

[Jasmine Godby]

@trahia-the-minstrel
I’m on The Young Writer’s Workshop and not the Author Conservatory. I’d like to do the Author Conservatory one day and I’m in a similar situation with a series I love. What I’ve heard (from YYW students and the Author Conservatory Instructors) is this: a lot of students join Author with a “heart project”. But they have to put it aside to work on a stronger concept and learn to write a full novel or a novel with the process they teach. Eventually, they find they love other stories too and are less concerned about that heart project being “the one” they publish etc. After they’ve done some other projects in Author and learnt those skills, I’ve seen that some students revisit and rework their heart project with more skills and knowledge. And you could always come back to it after you finish Author. Hope this helps!

[Jasmine Godby]

Also, in Author you write a novel from the very beginning and they give feedback on each stage. So they go from concepts to synopsis, some other form of planning, to drafting the novel (I haven’t heard much about the editing phase, but I believe it’s there). SO this would be another reason they want you to write from scratch. They want to teach you to write a novel from the beginning. They know some people are pansters – but I think I read something like every young/new writing needs to learn this process & novel structure until they’re so experienced as an author they can choose to panst it (that was on a ydubs lesson). They would have worked with pansters before and taught them how to do this process.

[Abigail.M.]

@trahia-the-minstrel

I wish I could be of help, but I haven’t heard of the Author Conservatory before.

[Trahia the Minstrel]

@autmn-rebecca @sparrowhawke @faith-q @keilah-h @power @jasmine-godby @karissa-chmil @anyone-else-on-this-thread-I-forgot

I have made the decision and joined Author Conservatory. My start date is in June.😊

The end of a story, a beautiful picture; a feeling of longing yet hope~
That’s my wish to create.

[Trahia the Minstrel]

@autumn-rebecca

Sorry, misspelled your name the first time.

@jenwriter17 and @annabelle

Thanks for your advice!

The end of a story, a beautiful picture; a feeling of longing yet hope~
That’s my wish to create.

[Jasmine Godby]

Woohooo! So exciting!

[Karissa Chmil]

@trahia-the-minstrel *blows trumpets* That’s so exciting! Congratulations!

wonder | beauty | truth | love

[Faith Q.]

@trahia-the-minstrel

Whoop-whoop! That’s so exciting! Hopefully, if I do end up joining in August, I’ll see you there!

[Author]

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