Welcome to Summer Misque 2008

Misque is a juried writers' retreat for novelists. All fiction genres are welcome, but romance writers are in special luck this summer, because we have two RITA winners serving as our guest instructors.

Participants stay in a lush hotel resort and spa in beautiful Hawaii, feasting on gourmet meals, all while working together with professional, published authors to polish their manuscripts, craft a query letter and synopsis, and research a list of agents and editors who would be the best match for their novels.

Our goal is to help writers put everything in place so they are ready to send their manuscripts out the day after they leave. Of course, we cannot guarantee publication -- we are not a vanity press.

We can guarantee each participant will receive a complete one-on-one critique of his/her manuscript by one of the instructors. During the intensive sessions, participants receive further feedback from small crit groups. Our published authors will share the secrets of how they write award winning novels, as well as how they found agents and published their first book.

Enrollment is limited to twenty participants, who must submit a writing sample to be eligible. Keeping the retreat small and exclusive ensures that each of our participants will be able to talk personally with the published authors in a friendly, informal atmosphere.

Think of it as a cruise for your imagination. Destination? Publishing your novel!

Dates for the Misque Summer 2008 retreat are August 11 to August 15.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How will Misque benefit me?
If you've written or are close to completing a a novel in the genre of romance, mystery, thriller, horror, science fiction, slipstream, alternate history, fantasy or young adult--you could be just one week away from being published.

You've already taken the most important step. You pored your love, sweat and tears into your story. You're pretty sure it's at least as good as anything out there on the shelves. It's finished...or at least almost finished. You've sent it out to agents and publishers...or at least thought about sending it.

So why haven't you published it yet?

The answer is simple. You need a kick in the ass.

You thought that writing a novel was hard--and you were right, but you've got that licked. Now what? Now comes the REAL hard part. Getting that manuscript POLISHED, PACKAGED and PUBLISHED.

In just 5 days, you'll discover how to give your novel the push it needs to be published. You'll learn the 3 things published authors do that unpublished authors don't. And we'll tackle the knitty-gritty. Does your book start with an irresistible hook? If your book has a sagging middle or a weak ending, how can you strengthen it? What must you never put in a query letter? How much should you put in your synopsis? We won't just tell you what to do, we'll work with you right then and there on your query letter, synopsis and targeted list of agents and publishers to send it to. After months or years of procrastination, you will be amazed how fast you can whip your novel and query packet into shape--as if the power was within you all along, just waiting for permission to come out.

Think about it...

By the end of ONE WEEK you'll be ready to send your manuscript to a publisher.

...and you can do it all while enjoying the luxury of a five star hotel resort on a tropical lagoon. Sure, we writers love our dank basements, but we at Misque decided that nothing pumps creativity like a change in scene, especially if that scene is a beautiful beach resort in a tropical paradise like Hawaii. We like to think of it as a "working vacation". While your mind wanders through the medieval castle of a Scottish laird, a distant planet orbiting a black hole or a cemetery haunted by the undead, the rest of you can be luxuriating in the gourmet meals and deluxe accommodations included in the price of the retreat.

Is it really possible to revise the draft of my manuscript in just one week?
Yes, it is possible! Most writers agonize for months, even years, over revisions out of self-doubt and perfectionism. An odd thing happens when you work on a book over a period of years. Your vision of the world and of your story, changes. You look back over the earlier sections and no longer feel the same way about them. So you revise. Then, a year or two later, you’ve changed again, so you revise again… this can go on for decades. I know. I heard from writers who have done this.

The problem is, this isn’t really a great approach for becoming a published author. It’s actually better to finish a book, even if it’s not perfect, and then move on to writing the next book. Of course, if your manuscript still has deep flaws, you don’t want to just call in “done” for the sake of being done. The problem is, how can you tell if you’re being overly perfectionist (and revising too much) or ignoring deep flaws (and not revising enough)?

That’s where Misque can help. We offer a 4-PRONGED REVISION PROCESS, each with its own unique form of feedback on you book.

First, we provide you with a written critique, after a complete reading, evaluating your prose, plot and characters. Second, authors who have published many books and won awards in their genre give you frank advice on writing, editing and publishing your manuscript. Third, you work in a small group with other authors, reading and critiquing each others’ manuscripts. Fourth, we work with you to look at your book scene by scene and chapter by chapter to make sure the tension, conflict and character development make your manuscript a page-turner.

After our 4-pronged revision process, you will either have the confidence to send your book out, or know EXACTLY which flaws the manuscript still has which need fixing. You’ll not only know what to fix, you’ll also know how to fix it.

I actually considered my manuscript finished, and I’ve sent it out to agents/editors. But I keep getting rejected. Can Misque help me figure out what I’m doing wrong?
Yes. Experienced authors, who have agents, can tell you what agents and editors are looking for, and what you need to put in your manuscript or query letter to convince them to take your work seriously. We can also help writers with the most common reason rejections stop them from publishing – the authors give up too soon. We will help you tailor a list of at least a hundred agents and publishers who handle your genre, so that you do not have to give up after one or two rejections.

What does the price of Misque include?
The cost of Misque is high because we provide three things other writers’ retreats can not: personal attention from published authors, convenience and luxury. Before you even arrive at the retreat, your manuscript will be read and given a deep critique, which will be given to you in writing. A deep critique goes beyond copy editing to discuss character, plot and theme; it normally costs $0.08 a word (or $8000 for a 100,000 word mss).

Once you arrive in Hawaii, we will provide a luxurious suite for you at a beach-front hotel resort and spa (normally $500-$600 a night), and two catered gourmet meals per day.

The biggest value to our participants, however, is the chance for personal interaction with experienced authors over the course of the retreat. You will not just be attending lectures, but sharing meals and receiving their feedback on your manuscript and query letter. In order to allow this friendly, informal atmosphere, we must limit the number of participants compared to the number of experienced authors. This makes the cost higher for each participant, but, we believe, makes the benefit of the retreat far outweigh the cost.

How much does Misque cost?
Misque costs $6,370 for the week, which includes the resort and catered meals. Unless participants have communicated with Misque ahead of time concerning special circumstances, all participants are expected to participate all five days.

Can I pay in installments?
Yes, all participants who register by the March 31 deadline can make special arrangements to pay in installments. Full payment must be completed before August 1.

Can the published authors at Misque recommend me to their agent?
Misque does not ask its guest instructors to recommend any Misque participants to anyone. If they are truly moved to do so, however, we are happy for both of you.

Which meals are included in the package?
Brunch and dinner will be catered during the morning and evening sessions of the retreat. There is a siesta in the middle of the day when participants can lunch on their own and spend time by the pool, at the beach, napping in their bedroom (or whatever else they may wish to do in the bedroom, but we won’t inquire), snorkeling, boating or seeing sights.

Can I bring a spouse, friend or other family member?
Each participant will have a private room, and may share it with another person if he/she so chooses. Meals are not provided for anyone but the participant, and guests may not attend the writing workshops.

What if a friend and I want to split the cost of the retreat?
Participants who wish to share the cost of the retreat can contact the Misque coordinator to work out a reduction in cost. Keep in mind, however, that the major costs – the presence of guest instructors, participation in the editing sessions and the deep critique of each participants manuscript – cannot be shared, because they are tailored to the individual writer.

How does Misque compare to other retreats, such as Clarion?
There are many excellent writers’ conferences and retreats. Misque requires less time than some (one week compared to Clarion’s six weeks, for instance) and is more comfy than most. (Clarion houses participants in dorms and provides dorm food, while Misque is in a resort and serves gourmet meals). Misque is also unusual in that we focus on novels (Clarion focuses on short stories), and specifically on the hardest stage of novel writing of all -- polishing and preparing that novel to be sent to an agent or editor.

Can I participate in Misque even if I can’t attend?
We hope to share some of the lectures from Misque on “You Tube” during the conference. Those interested should check the website. You can also read our blog.

Can I have a “deep critique” of my manuscript even if I don’t attend the conference?
Yes. The cost is $0.08 per word. The critique includes line-by-line editing and a discussion of the characters, plot and themes of your book, as well as consideration of possible markets and agents for your genre.

I haven’t heard of Misque before. How long has it been around?
Misque is still young. Our goal is build up this retreat into one with a sterling reputation for launching published authors.

Are there any scholarships for Misque?
Sadly, not yet. We hope to establish a scholarship in the future.

How many guest instructors will there be?
In addition to the Misque coordinator, there will be at least two guest instructors. This year we have Robin D. Owens and Jennifer Ashley, both RITA award winning authors. For every additional five Misque participants, we can invite another published author, so the final number of published authors depends on the number of participants who sign up for Misque.

I can’t make Summer Misque 2008 this year. Will it be held again?
Misque will next be held in in December 2008. Keep checking this site or our blog for details on dates and registration.

I’m thinking of going to Summer Misque 2008, but haven’t made up my mind. Why should I sign up for Summer Misque 2008 right away?
The first ten participants to sign up for Misque will be entered into a drawing for a free ebook reader!

What if after the conference is over I decide it was a waste of my money? Can I get a refund?
Yes. We are so confident Misque can benefit you, we offer a money-back guarantee. All non-consumable portions (the portion paid to us but not to the hotel) of the cost will be refunded if you are not satisfied. You will be refunded in full if you sign up for Misque but cannot attend, as long as you let us know before August 1.