Samit’s Novel Workshop 2026-27

What This Workshop Is About

Getting a draft of your novel finished. You don’t have to finish during the workshop, but you’ll come out with at least a very specific roadmap.

This workshop is for writers who:

• Are writing their novel but struggling to finish or visualise its shape
• Want to do a new draft from scratch because something just isn’t working
• Have begun, and the idea is right there! but don’t know what to do now
• Are doing fine but need more structure and general context
• Are making excellent progress but are nervous about isolation and want community

The Goal

To help you write the best book you can at this point in your life, with the skills and circumstances you currently have. To find the best writing practice for you right now, and hopefully for the future as well.

I’m not promising a publishing deal, insider network, or magical transmutation. If we end up working together, it’s because I genuinely believe you have the skills to find your own way.

I’m a self-taught writer. After over two decades of writing and publishing books, one of my fundamental beliefs is that there isn’t a One True Way to write, and there certainly isn’t a One True Way to write a novel. Finishing one, rewriting it, selling it, engaging with publishing, then having a writing career—these are very individual journeys. Over your career you get a better sense of how you write, how you write novels, and what sort of writing journey you get to have. And all of these might keep changing.

There’s plenty of advice available for free or for a price. A lot of it is good and useful. But ultimately, writing better only comes from figuring out what works for you, what you enjoy, what you love, what you’re willing to keep going at. And then there’s that whole other problem of getting other people to like it too.

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The Two Cohorts

For 2026-27, I’m running this online with two separate groups:

Group One: International Speculative Fiction
Writers from anywhere in the world producing novels or novellas in science fiction, fantasy, or speculative literary/upmarket/crossover fiction—the broad speculative fiction umbrella. Aimed at publishing beginning with US/UK/Canada speculative-friendly imprints.

Group Two: Indian Publishing
Writers looking to publish fiction in English starting with Indian publishers. Any genre, novels or novellas. I’m also open to graphic novel scripts or screenplays, but the lectures/Q&As/guest lecturers will be prose-focused, with one-on-ones tailored to your medium.

To be clear, anyone from anywhere in the world is welcome in either group: they’re separate because they address different publishing markets and publishing cultures.

I’m looking to take four to five writers in each group this year. The number is small for a reason: this is the maximum I can handle without compromising on time and attention to you and your work. I’d also like to select writers whose work I genuinely enjoy, and feel I might have interesting responses to. Groups might be smaller.

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What You Get

Timeline: Nine months, September 2026 to May 2027
Total contact time: Approximately 60 hours online over 9 months between group and one-on-ones. (We find schedule spots for group meetings that work for everyone’s timezones and availability. For Group One, If you’re in the Americas, it’ll end up being morning or evening)

Monthly One-on-One Sessions

Individual meetings with me about your work in progress or any writing/publishing questions. Your work in progress/anything writing/publishing you want to discuss.

Can be done offline if we’re in the same city and you prefer.

Weekly Group Classes (6 of 9 months)

Two-hour sessions with group Q&A:

• Months 1-3: Writing craft and process focussed discussions
• Two-month winter break
• Month 4: Editing and redrafting focussed discussions
• One-month break
• Months 5-6: Publishing/Submission focussed discussions

Some sessions will feature guest lectures/discussions from authors and publishing professionals. We’ll find a regular meeting time based on everyone’s availability, schedule, and timezones. Recordings available if you miss sessions. Attendance isn’t compulsory.

Peer Groups (Optional)

Small feedback and co-writing groups within your cohort, if you want them and your tastes/styles match. You decide independently the degree and frequency of feedback. Working solo is fine too—my own preference is for minimal external feedback during drafting, but writers work differently.

Ongoing Feedback

Monthly feedback from me on your work in progress, plus aggregate feedback when you finish your draft (if completed within a year of the workshop ending). I tend to focus on the book you’re trying to write, not a book I think would be better or what I’d have done instead, so I keep prescriptive feedback to a minimum.

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How to Apply

Email duckofdystopia@gmail.com with:

Application Materials (choose one format):

• A pitch for your novel + three chapters
• A polished prose sample (3,000-7,000 words) in a style/voice similar to your intended novel + rough pitch
• Opening chapter + outline + synopsis

Plus:

A brief bio, or a note about yourself, both life-wise and writing-wise.

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Costs

Group One (International): $2,500 for the entire workshop
Group Two (Indian Publishing): ₹1,00,000 + GST

Installment options available.

Fee waivers/reductions

I’m waiving the fee for one student in each group. Don’t let cost deter you from applying—if I love your book-to-be, we can find a way to work together.

Private Option

This is probably more relevant for Group Two, since we don’t have a writing workshop culture in India: If you’re a mid-career (or any stage) writer who wants to do the workshop  but is feeling shy for whatever reason to be seen doing it/ hesitant about a group setting, I’m happy to work with you one-on-one on your book. Same price. But do note this isn’t an editing/ghostwriting offer.

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Application Deadline

31st May 2026

Applications are open now. I’ll update on the newsletter if seats start filling up.