Workshop: First Novel Generator with Isle McElroy
Workshop: First Novel Generator with Isle McElroy
25 Sessions: every other Monday
March 24, 2025-February 23, 2026
6:00-8:30pm ET
Isle McElroy
12 students
Isle McElroy is the author of the novels The Atmospherians and People Collide, which was named a book of 2023 by Vogue, NPR, Vulture, and the New York Times Critics. Abbi Jacobson is currently adapting the novel for Television. Their writing has appeared in the Esquire, GQ, The New York Times, The Cut, and elsewhere. This is their third year teaching the year-long first novel generator.
Novels are written alone. But they don’t have to be revised and encouraged alone. And a supportive community of writers can make a huge difference between a few opening chapters tossed in the trash and a full manuscript emailed to agents.
The goal of this course is to write and revise a full novel manuscript over twelve months. The difficult part of the class will be maintaining a consistent writing routine—but I hope the support of a writing workshop will make the process if not easier, at least a little less lonely. The first section of the course will consist of craft lectures and readings of first novels by writers like Toni Morrison, Justin Torres, Raven Leilani, Alexander Chee, and others. This section will focus on how established writers launched their careers as novelists. Throughout this section, writers will also complete craft exercises intended to aid in their writing process. Writers will have an opportunity to share new passages–should they wish–every time the class meets. During the workshop phase, each student will receive peer workshops of their manuscript and will meet with the instructor individually four times to discuss their work-in-progress. The final month of the course will be devoted to professionalization. Agents, editors, and published authors will join the class to talk about their experiences in the literary world. This will be an opportunity for writers to speak openly about their expectations and aims for their careers with established literary professionals.
Workshop Highlights:
Learn to draft and revise a novel
Learn professional strategies for selling a novel
Read the first novels of established authors to understand the arc of a literary career
To be considered for the workshop, please send a 5-10 page writing sample to kate@theshipmanagency.com by Saturday, March 1st. The writing does not need to be from your novel-in-progress.
One full scholarship is available. To apply, please provide a brief one-paragraph statement along with your writing sample. This could include an explanation of your interest in the class, writings aims, and/or financial need, as you see fit. Please also indicate, yes or no, whether your participation is contingent on a scholarship.
Testimonials
“I joined the novel generator with no MFA, but a spirit of commitment to my novel and to learning how to build a routine around novel-writing. Isle was a tremendously generous teacher and mentor throughout this process, and they took the time to get to know me and my goals. They continuously went above and beyond to work directly with my needs to get what I needed out of this year. I was able to write two drafts of my novel and get tremendously helpful feedback in both group and individual settings. I continue to work on and develop my novel to this day using everything I learned from Isle's workshop, and because of this, I have gone on to win national level awards and gain spots in prestigious writing conferences. I learned who I am as a writer, with Isle's guidance, and I also explored what the literary life really means to me. I am forever grateful I had this experience. I have left with a new learning ethos, several friends, a novel draft, and a lifelong mentor in Isle.”
-Swati Sudarsan
“The novel generator with Isle was an incredible resource that allowed for a seemingly impossible goal to feel achievable. The structure, tone, and peers of the class created an enriching sense of community. I looked forward to each week's class, and enjoyed engaging with everyone's work. Isle's feedback and support have been invaluable.”
-Kelly Steinmetz
“Isle's class gave me the entire foundation for my manuscript. From deeply relevant readings to in-class generative exercises to classmate relationships that have lasted long after the course, the time I spent every week with Isle, other writers, and my own writing, allowed me to complete multiple drafts of a novel and chart out a path toward final polish with confidence. I'm grateful for the time, attention, and community Isle and the course provided for me and my work.”
-Rebecca Ackermann
"Class with Isle was fantastic, it was the highlight of my year. They are a thoughtful, engaged reader and an excellent teacher. They clearly articulated certain patterns and tendencies in my writing I could not see for myself, and generated lively discussion around all of our manuscripts. I recommend this class to anyone looking for any of the following: writing accountability, animated discussion, and significant feedback from a committed group of writers and a brilliant teacher."
-Eve Zelickson
“Isle McElroy's First Novel Generator is as challenging as it is rewarding. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about the process of creating a novel, and to develop one's own project in a supportive and encouraging environment. Under Isle's leadership, everyone's work is treated with care and respect making it an enriching and productive experience. Isle is truly an inspired and inspiring teacher.”
-Eileen Church
Isle McElroy's debut novel, The Atmospherians, was praised in The New York Times Book Review as “exceptional writing” and was named a book of the year by Esquire, Electric Literature, Debutiful, and others. Their second novel, People Collide, was named a New York Times Critics' Pick and a best book of 2023 by NPR, Vulture, Them, Vogue, Electric Literature, and other venues. Abbi Jacobson is currently adapting the novel for television. Their essays and criticism have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Cut, Vogue, Esquire, GQ, and elsewhere. They have received fellowships from The Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, The Tin House Summer Workshop, The Sewanee Writers Conference, The Inprint Foundation, The Elizabeth George Foundation, and The National Parks Service.
