Adult Fiction with Esty Loveing-Downes

April 1st, 2025 - May 2nd, 2025

with Esty Loving-Downes

Members: Log in to register

Non-members may register on February 18th at 07:00 (EST).

You'll submit your pages at the group start, then spend the next weeks critiquing peer stories. Esty will submit her notes near the critique deadline. After critiques are complete, we host a 2-hour group debrief, in which each writer gets 15 minutes of individual time with Esty to dig into feedback, brainstorm next steps, and discuss any writing questions. 

Our goal with these events is to help writers become stronger storytellers. That said, each opening pages event we offer also comes with a submission opportunity.

Notes

Who this workshop is for: This workshop is best suited for writers querying, preparing to query, or who have an agent but are looking for a high level educational opportunity.

Focus: Adult - Novels - Literary - Adult - Novels - Upmarket - Adult - Novel…

Group size: 7 writers

Submissions: There will be one submission of your first 3750 words (approximately 15 pages) at the workshop start. Participants should also plan to share their pitch/short summary with their pages. Your pitch is not included in the word count and will not be critiqued.

Fee

Members: $135; Non-members: $160

About Esty Loving-Downes

I hold a BFA in creative writing and an MFA in fiction, and represent book club or upmarket fiction, romance, genre-blending SFF, literary fiction, and select nonfiction. I seek manuscripts which center the adoptee experience, LGBTQIA+ narratives, anti-colonialist and anti-Church topics, and stories by and/or about BIPOC people. I love stories which either celebrate with noisy joy or burn everything down and salt the earth – I favor beautiful, disruptive stories and the artists who tell them. For a better look at the kind of titles I gravitate towards, scroll my Pinterest board here. I’m not the best editor for horror, thrillers, erotica, police/legal procedurals, mysteries, anything ageist/ableist/racist/misogynistic, or anything where queer people die in the end. 

Schedule:

  • Tues, April 1st - Writers submit
  • Tues, April 22nd - Critiques due
  • Tues, April 29th - 7-9pm ET Zoom debrief
  • Fri, May 2nd- Group closes


Changes and Withdrawals Policy:

  • 2 months or more ahead of a workshop start: you will be credited the full amount of the workshop, less a $20 change fee.
  • Under 2 months to 14 days ahead of a workshop start: If we are able to replace you, you will be credited for the full workshop price less a $20 change fee. If we can't replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop cost. 
  • Withdrawals within 14 days of a workshop start: If we can replace you, you will receive a credit for 50% of the workshop price. If we cannot replace you, you will not receive a credit. Your fee will go towards our workshops and scholarships.