Each day begins with an intensive two-hour fiction workshop (5-7 participants per workshop) led by passionate and motivating instructors, which incorporates craft talks. Receive valuable feedback and guidance on your work-in-progress from your instructors and peers, and leave feeling inspired with a clear path towards revision.
This year's Guest Fiction Instructor is #1 New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Jess Walter (SO FAR GONE; BEAUTIFUL RUINS). AWC Founder Kristin Vuković (THE CHEESEMAKER’S DAUGHTER) and bestselling author Jo Piazza (THE PARISIAN HEIST; EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU) will continue to co-teach a Fiction Workshop.
We are thrilled to announce the addition of a Memoir Workshop with New York Times bestselling author Isaac Fitzgerald (DIRTBAG MASSACHUSETTS; AMERICAN RAMBLER).
Master Classes and panels include author marketing and publicity, revision, and publishing. Each participant will have one half-hour meeting with your workshop instructor(s), and free time for writing, resting, or exploring the island of Lošinj (see Island Activities). We’ll also host an “open mic” night, where participants will have the opportunity to publicly read their work.
Developmental Editing with Professional Book Coach and Internationally Bestselling Author Lidija Hilje: $400
Participants answer a 10-page questionnaire and receive robust feedback and actionable direction during a 45-minute session.
Query Letter and Opening Pages Consult with Abby Walters (David Black Literary Agency): $200
Participants can submit a one-page query letter and 10 double-spaced opening pages and receive feedback from a literary agent during a 20-minute session.
“My session with Lidija felt like such a breakthrough. She was so attentive and invested in discussing my novel and helping me find a clear sense of direction as far as where the story should go...and what story I was even telling in the first place! Her investment in my pages made me feel seen and received, and left me with the confidence to keep writing my book. I also appreciated her candor about what wasn’t working and the ways in which I was trying to ‘do too much.’ I left our session feeling validated as a writer, and with the motivation to keep going.”
–– Kelly Rook Daly, AWC 2026 participant
“My time with Lidija Hilje was priceless. It was extremely helpful to walk through my plot and characters with her––and we also dug deeper, into my hopes and dreams for the book. I felt so heard when I was explaining what I needed and wanted to focus on. She made sure I left with my next steps planned out. Thanks to her coaching, I knew where the book was going and what I needed to do next. I'm so grateful for her time.”
–– Rachel Malis, AWC 2026 participant