2027 Porch Fiction Year Cohort with William Henry Lewis

NOTE: Registration requires a $500 deposit. You will receive a payment link in your registration receipt, and the remaining $4,300 payment can be paid in full immediately or in monthly $358 installments.

The Porch Year is an online, immersive one-year manuscript mentorship program designed for committed writers that begins in January 2027 - December 2027. With a maximum of 12 participants, this fiction cohort offers personalized feedback, accountability, goal-setting, and community needed to brainstorm, write, revise, and complete a manuscript draft, all from the convenience of an online setting. It’s an ideal option for both local and remote writers looking to work closely with peers and an experienced instructor. Applications open on October 7, 2026 and close on January 11, 2027.

Weekly Meetings (Online via Zoom):

Once a month, we’ll gather over Zoom for a two-hour session, where you’ll have dedicated time to workshop excerpts from your manuscript. In these meetings, we’ll dive deep into narrative arcs, key craft elements, and larger project goals. Some meetings will focus on page-by-page feedback—sometimes we’ll zero in on overall structure or a specific scene, allowing for tailored discussions that propel your project forward. Workshopping one writer’s piece can also provide invaluable insights for others, fostering a rich, collaborative learning experience. Other meetings will discuss your writing goals, challenges, successes, general questions, and offer some generative exercises.

Meeting Dates and Times

Winter Term 2027
Mondays: 7-9 PM CST

• Monday, February 1, 2027
• Monday, February 8, 2027
• Monday, February 15, 2027
• Monday, February 22, 2027
• Monday, March 1, 2027
• Monday, March 8, 2027
• Monday, March 15, 2027
• Monday, March 22, 2027
• Monday, March 29, 2027
• Monday, April 5, 2027

Spring Term 2027
Independent Study: No meetings scheduled April 19 - June 4 (students are expected to do independent study during this time with one-on-one meetings)

Summer Term 2027
Mondays: 7-9 PM CST
Saturdays: 2 PM - 5 PM CT

• Saturday, June 5, 2027
• Monday, June 14, 2027
• Monday, June 28, 2027
• Saturday, July 10, 2027
• Monday, July 19, 2027
• Monday, August 2, 2027
• Monday, August 16, 2027
• Saturday, August 28, 2027
• Fall Term 2027

Mondays: 7-9 CST

• Monday, September 13, 2027
• Monday, September 20, 2027
• Monday, September 27, 2027
• Monday, October 4, 2027
• Monday, October 11, 2027
• Monday, October 18, 2027
• Monday, October 25, 2027
• Monday, November 1, 2027
• Monday, November 8, 2027
• Monday, November 15, 2027
• Skip Thursday, November 25 due to Office Closure
• Monday, November 29, 2027
• Monday, December 6, 2027
• Final Manuscript Due: December 9, 2027 (instructors have up until February 28, 2028 to submit feedback and schedule final manuscript consultation with student)

Between Meetings (Asynchronous):

In between sessions, you’ll stay connected through a shared Google Drive, where you can submit drafts and offer feedback to your peers. You’ll also have the option to engage in additional check-ins or discussions, whether through written feedback or brief (15 minutes) one-on-one meetings. This flexible structure ensures continuous progress on your manuscript, while still providing opportunities for personalized guidance and accountability.
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What You’ll Gain:

• Personalized feedback on your work-in-progress. Whether focusing on a single excerpt or discussing your manuscript’s larger structure, you'll receive tailored insights each month.
• Craft discussions on nonfiction writing. We’ll explore elements like narrative drive, character development, or revision strategies that elevate your writing.
• Accountability and goal-setting. Together, we’ll set personalized goals, holding each other accountable and ensuring you maintain steady progress.
• Community support. You’ll join a small, dedicated group of fellow writers who share your passion for storytelling, providing feedback, camaraderie and motivation.

By the end of the year, you’ll not only have made substantial progress on your manuscript but also have a deeper understanding of your own writing process and the tools needed for future revisions.

Expectations

From the instructor:

• written feedback on up to 250-300 pages of your manuscript for the final manuscript critique, along with suggested readings; lighter feedback on workshop drafts for the duration of the year
• generative exercises for inspiration
• craft-based readings for deepening your knowledge on various craft issues, with conversations about these readings during our live Zooms
• one-on-one meetings via Zoom during the twelve months we work together
• Optional hosted “write-ins” where we write together on Zoom and in-person at Porch House (minimal conversation, oocused on drafting)

From yourself:

• accountability: together, as a group, we will set goals at the start of the year for how often people will share work in our Google Drive and Slack channel.
• community: option to host a ‘write-in’ for fellow group members (on Zoom)
• encouragement: you’ll be responsible for giving feedback to your peers during our live Zoom workshops and asynchronously (we will make this responsibility manageable based on group size)

From your peers:

• caring, honest feedback on work-in-progress
• encouragement when you’re feeling stuck or down on your work
• a safe and supportive community and a sense of shared purpose