The Fall Book Greenhouse
September - December 2024
Congratulations—you’ve written a draft!
So much work has gone into it—all the hours at your desk, the editorial decisions, the sheer willpower it took you to finish. Completing a draft is a massive accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated.
After getting this far, you may be wondering what happens next.
Welcome to the Fall Book Greenhouse, a sixteen-week live program to transform your 1st draft into a polished manuscript.
In the company of a small, carefully selected group, I will guide you through the tangible steps required to transform your rough draft into a clean, clear, and emotionally moving book.
Alongside conversation and exercises related to editing, you’ll be supported during the ups and downs that inevitably arise when we do something challenging and deeply meaningful.
A past participant says:
The Book Greenhouse is unlike any writing workshop, course, or craft class I’ve ever experienced. The program was tailored to my needs as a writer, and offered tangible tools, strategies, and support (one-on-one coaching, and group-based encouragement from the other participants). It offered developmental feedback that fundamentally improved my skills, and my capacity to advance my manuscript in ways that I never could have imagined.
Catherine S.
What you will get in the Fall Book Greenhouse:
A substantive edit of your entire draft, including a detailed document exploring strengths and areas for focus.
Sixteen weeks of support and accountability.
An instant community of likeminded writers who are also committed to editing their drafts.
Eight group calls which will include a writing check-in, support for questions as they arise, craft exercises, and focused conversation around the process of editing a full-length manuscript.
Four one-on-one calls with me. This is a chance to receive feedback on your manuscript, to delve into issues pertaining to your specific process, and to enjoy some individual cheerleading.
Access to The Book Garden, an exclusive online community devoted to writing, editing, and fostering relationships between writers.
Priority access for future manuscript evaluations along with a 10% discount.
The deep pleasure of transforming your rough draft into an edited manuscript.
There are so many courses out there. What makes the Fall Book Greenhouse the best option for editing your manuscript?
1) I will read your draft and offer individual feedback:
When you register you will have the chance to send me your entire manuscript. I will read it deeply and write a substantive document of 5 – 10 pages detailing the strengths of your draft and areas to focus on in your edit. In our first one-on-one call we’ll discuss how to tailor the program to meet your editing goals.
2) All the calls are live:
This is not a series of pre-recorded videos or classes taught by a teaching assistant. I will be live on all the calls. This lets me adjust the content of the course to meet your needs as they arise, and to answer your questions in the context of writing exercises that we will be doing together in real time.
3) You will meet with me individually every month:
There is a large amount about editing that can be learned in a group setting; there are also some areas where I know I can best support you one-on-one. Each month you’ll have the chance for a private 45-minute check-in that we can gear toward your specific manuscript and process.
A past participant says:
Alie is extraordinarily insightful, with a keen understanding of the right questions to ask to help a writer gain clarity and find forward momentum with their work. She is clear and constructive in her feedback, and yet manages to weave this, seamlessly, with the kind of encouragement and support that resonates because it is both realistic and genuine. Alison Pick is a rare find as a mentor.
Nadia B.
I am a Man Booker Prize nominated author. I’ve been on book juries including the Giller Prize, the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, and the Bronwen Wallace Award, so I know what kinds of manuscripts resonate with readers. I’ve written and published award-winning books of fiction, memoir, and poetry. I’ve been on faculty at the Humber School for Writers for over a decade and have taught at the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Sage Hill Writing Experience, among others.
Again and again in my work with students in all genres I’ve seen the importance of emotional support alongside the technical elements of craft.
The Fall Book Greenhouse offers the best of both worlds: an in-depth manuscript evaluation and the structure and support to implement it.
Dates and Details:
The Fall Book Greenhouse runs for sixteen weeks from Sept 1st – Dec 20th, 2024. There will be a maximum of six writers in the group, and the course won’t run with fewer than four writers.
All interested participants will have an exploratory phone call prior to registration to ensure a good fit with the group as a whole.
Group calls will take place on zoom on the following Tuesdays from 5:15 – 6:45 ET:
Sept 3
Sept 17
Oct 1
Oct 15
Oct 29
Nov 12
Nov 26
Dec 10
Need to miss a call? Not to worry—replays will be made available for all the live calls.
You’ll also have the chance to sign up for an individual call with me each month. There will be ample times available; we will find a time that works with your schedule.
The Fall Book Greenhouse is suitable for writers of both fiction and memoir. Having written, published, and taught both genres, I believe the tools required to write and edit each are very similar.
A past participant says:
Alison Pick's Book Greenhouse is a welcoming and comprehensive program. If you are someone who thrives on the positive energy of a supportive, small group, while also valuing one-on-one time with a facilitator, this is definitely the program for you. Alie is a wonderful group facilitator, with a steady focus on building trust and group cohesion, while also delivering inspiring content that balances structure and self-directed flow.
FAQs
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Great!
You will get the most out of the course by beginning with a *fairly* complete draft, but there will be room throughout the course to identify gaps, fill in missing scenes, and hone your narrative arc—indeed, this is the essence of substantive editing and what the program is about.
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Excellent!
This program is perfect for bringing rough drafts to the next stage. Through a gentle, methodical approach I will guide you through the process of identifying themes, story arcs, and the steps of character transformation.
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Maybe!
This depends on how far along you are when you enter the Greenhouse. For writers who have all the key ingredients in place, this program is a perfect opportunity to complete a substantive edit and submit. For writers whose drafts are rougher, it will be a great chance to take your next steps in a supportive, encouraging environment.
What is 100% certain is that you will end the course with a manuscript that is cleaner, clearer, and significantly closer to completion than when you started.
Your Investment:
Your $500 deposit reserves your spot.
The cost for the sixteen-week course is $7497 CAD.
Register before June 1st for $6997 CAD (a $500 discount).
BEFORE JUNE 1ST
$500 deposit, and 4 payments of $ 1624
OR 10 payments of $649
AFTER JUNE 1ST
$500 deposit, and 4 payments of $1749
OR 10 payments of $699
A substantive manuscript evaluation from a seasoned professional and award winning author costs this much (or more) alone. The Fall Book Greenhouse not only offers the evaluation but also the structure and support to implement it.
If you have questions about whether the Fall Book Greenhouse is right for you, please reach out directly. I would be delighted to book an exploratory phone call.
