July 13, 2025 - July 19, 2026

The 2025-2026 Long Form workshop is a 12-month, comprehensive and intensive writing workshop focused on novel writing and led by New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Evison. It provides an in-depth experience in developing your novel from draft to near completion.

Beginning in July 2025 with a weeklong session at the Port Townsend Writers Conference, participants will roll up their sleeves and dive into key elements of novel writing, exploring craft, narrative structure, character development, and thematic depth. Following this initial in-person gathering, the workshop continues with twice-monthly online meetings and monthly packet submissions, allowing for ongoing peer critique and guidance as you refine your story, structure, and style.

In addition to Jonathan Evison's mentorship, the workshop includes virtual guest sessions with acclaimed authors like Kristin Hannah (The Nightingale), Stewart O'Nan (Last Night at the Lobster), Jami Attenberg (The Middlesteins), Willy Vlautin (Lean on Pete), and Lidia Yuknavitch (The Chronology of Water). Developmental editor Jim Thomsen and a prominent literary agent (TBD) will also join to discuss the craft and industry aspects of novel writing.

The workshop culminates in July 2026 with a final weeklong retreat at the Port Townsend Writers Conference. During this closing session, participants will have the opportunity to complete their drafts, refine their projects, and discuss pathways for sharing their work with the world.

This experience is designed to immerse writers in a supportive community, providing the structure, feedback, and inspiration to bring their novels to life.

You must be 18 or older to attend this program. 

Costs:

Long Form Tuition, $7750

Capped at 12 participants. Applications are accepted January 2, 2025 - March 31, 2025. Centrum staff and Jonanthan Evison will select applicants by April 15, 2024. Tuition includes two in-person, weeklong sessions with Jonathan Evison at the 2025 and 2026 Port Townsend Writers Conference as well at least 22 remote bimonthly meetings hosted online. Tuition also includes access to all afternoon craft lectures, afternoon workshops, evening readings, open mics, and social gatherings at the 2025 and 2026 Port Townsend Writers Conference. Tuition does not include travel, food, and lodging when attending the 2025 and 2026 Port Townsend Writers Conference in person at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, WA. 

Conference dates are July 13-20, 2025 and July 12-19, 2026. Accepted applicants can choose to purchase meals and lodging through Centrum at the Conferences or plan for meals and lodging on their own.

Accepted applicants will have the option to pay tuition, less their deposit, in one payment by July 13, 2025 for a 10% discount, or they can pay full tuition less their deposit by making payments of $600 on the 1st of every month from July 2025 through June 2026.   

Deadlines:

There is a $550 deposit to apply.  

Applicants will be notified of admittance by April 15, 2025. If this period needs to be extended, applicants will be notified by Centrum staff. If not admitted to the workshop, the $550 deposit will be refunded. No refunds for payments made, including deposits, will be issued for cancellation by accepted applicants after May 1, 2025.

Tuition must be paid in full by July 13, 2025 or June 1, 2026 depending on payment track.

Important. Please read carefully. We try to take every safety precaution we can to ensure we can meet together in-person at Fort Worden State Park. As such, if the Port Townsend Writers Conference is unable to operate in-person due to inclement weather, sudden viral or infectious disease risks or another unforeseen event, we are able to pivot the entire conference to an online-only platform and maintain a quality of instruction. Dates, times and faculty for the conference will remain the same. If conferences must shift to online only due to significant and unforeseeable risks to our community of writers, all housing and meal fees will be refunded.