November 2025
Novel Writing Intensive Retreat
with critically acclaimed authors Steven James and Robert Dugoni
about
​If you're ready for intensive instruction to improve your writing, and if you're serious about taking your manuscript to the next level, award-winning novelists Steven James and Robert Dugoni invite you to join them for a time of in-depth teaching, growth, and encouragement.
Your instructors
STEVEN JAMES
Steven James is a critically acclaimed author of twenty novels and numerous nonfiction books that have sold more than 1 million copies. His books have won or been shortlisted for dozens of national and international awards. In addition, his stories and articles have appeared in more than eighty different publications, including the New York Times. He is also a popular keynote speaker and professional storyteller with a master’s degree in storytelling.
Since 1996, James has appeared more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe, presenting his stories and teaching the principles of storytelling to writers, speakers, teachers, and leaders. He also hosts the weekly podcast The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed more than 150 of the world’s leading writers and storytellers. In 2020, he was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for excellence in fiction writing. Publishers Weekly has called him “[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game.”
When he’s not writing or speaking, you may find him playing basketball or disc golf, or hiking near his home in the Appalachian Highlands of East Tennessee. He may or may not watch too many science fiction movies while eating bottomless bowls of chips and salsa.
In 2010, Steven developed the Novel Writing Intensive retreats to provide a concentrated time of study and feedback for fiction writers of all levels.
Visit his official website at https://www.stevenjames.net.
Follow him on social media @readstevenjames.
Subscribe to his weekly podcast The Story Blender.
ROBERT DUGONI
Robert Dugoni is the New York Times and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series, which has sold more than 11 million books worldwide.
Along with the Charles Jenkins espionage series and the David Sloane legal thriller series, Robert is the author of The Keera Duggan legal series and the William Shoemacher historical series set in 1933 Seattle. Several of his stand-alone novels include The 7th Canon, Damage Control, The World Played Chess, and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell—a literary novel that was named Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year. Robert’s narration of Sam Hell won an AudioFile Earphones Award. Robert's 2004 book The Cyanide Canary was named a Washington PostBest Book of the Year. Many of his novels have also been optioned for movies and television series.
Robert is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for Best Novel Set in the Pacific Northwest. He is also a two-time finalist for the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award.
Robert's books have been translated into more than thirty languages.
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Visit his website at https://www.robertdugonibooks.com.
4
/
DAYS
14+
HOURS OF INSTRUCTION
/
50
PAGE EVALUATION
DATES
Group 1: November 6 - 9, 2025
Group 2 : November 10 - 13, 2025
VENUE & LODGING
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
(the whole fifth floor of an apartment complex)
TENtative schedule
day 1
3:30-5:15pm: Check-in
5:30: Introductions
6:00: Dinner
6:45: Orientation
7:15: Seminar 1
8:30: TBD
day 2
7:30-8:15: Breakfast
8:30: Seminar 2
9:45: Critique & Discussion Session 1
11:00: Seminar 3
12:00: Lunch/personal Time
1:00: One-on-ones
1:45: Critique & Discussion Session 2
3:00: Seminar 4
4:15: Critique & Discussion Session 3
5:30: Dinner
6:45: Critique & Discussion Session 4
8:00: TBD
day 3
7:30-8:15: Breakfast
8:30: Critique & Discussion Session 5
9:45: Seminar 5
11:00: Critique & Discussion Session 6
12:00: Lunch/personal time
2:00: One-on-ones
4:15: Seminar 6
5:30: Dinner
6:30: Seminar 7
7:30: Q&A/book table
8:30: TBD
day 4
8:00: Breakfast and awards
9:00: Seminar 8
10:00: Closing remarks/goodbyes
11:00: Pack and check out
TESTIMONIALS
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Who can sign up?Aspiring or published novelists and short-story writers of any level are invited to register.
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What type of manuscripts are accepted?All genres of fiction except what we would consider erotica.
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How many spots are available?There are only 12 spots available for each group, so register soon. There will be a waiting list in case someone cancels.
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How much does it cost?The retreat fee is $2250, payable by check or money order. We also accept Venmo and PayPal, but we request you reimburse us for any service fees. The cost includes 14 teaching sessions, a critique of the first 50 pages of your manuscript, lodging for three nights, seven or eight meals (we may eat out once), refreshments, handouts, and more. It does NOT include any travel expenses (however, we will provide a shuttle from the Nashville Airport).
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What does the price include?- Professional critique of up to the first 50 pages of your manuscript - 8 hours of classroom instruction - 6 hours of interactive teaching and discussion using manuscript evaluations - Private consultation time with Steven James or Robert Dugoni - Extensive seminar notes, writing activities, and self-editing tips - Copies of all participants' submissions with detailed critique notes - 100-point Novel Writing Checklist - Lodging for three nights - 7 or 8 meals (we may eat out one meal) - Refreshments
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How do I register?Contact Pam Johnson at pamtheeditor@yahoo.com and she will email you a registration form (include which dates you want to attend), which contains all pertinent information about the conference. Fill out the form and return it to her via email ASAP to hold your spot. The non-refundable $500 registration deposit is due within a week of registering. The mailing address to send the deposit is on the registration form. (Or you may pay via PayPal or Venmo, but you will need to refund us any service fees.)
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What is the venue and lodging?Our event will be held at an apartment complex in Nashville. We have rented the whole fifth-floor with 6 apartments (15 bedrooms).
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I still have questions. Whom should I contact?The conference director is Pam Johnson and her email is pamtheeditor@yahoo.com. She will be able to answer any conference-related questions you might have.