THE MUSE & THE MARKETPLACE 2021

AN ENHANCED WRITING RESIDENCY

View the 2021 schedule and 2021 presenter list now!

Week 1: Wednesday, April 21st - Sunday, April 25th

  • The Muse 2021 experience will take place as a virtual writing residency, with the core goal of dedicating 5 days of April to your writing. This will take place from Wednesday, April 21-Sunday, April 25th.
  • Facilitating this will be goal-setting, small cohorts of your writer friends and those working in your genre, and 65 sessions taught by excellent guest authors on the craft of the novel, memoir, poetry, and much more; plus sessions on navigating the publishing world led by premiere literary agents, editors, publicists, and more.
  • Nearly all 65 sessions will be recorded, so if you can’t follow the programming in real-time, you can simply absorb the richness of the residency on your *own* schedule in the weeks afterwards.
  • New Agent Info Sessions-- a more virtual-friendly form of the Shop Talk Happy Hour-- will invite you to join a small group of fellow writers to hear directly from a given literary agent on what manuscripts they’re seeking.
  • Author’s Galleria Info Sessions with directors of MFA programs, author photographers, and other services for writers.
  • Surprise guests, little joys, and a “box of intrigue and fun” sent directly to your door, the contents of which will be revealed as the residency unfolds! Those outside the US and who register after April 1st will receive a virtual box of fun and intrigue. Physical boxes are limited and available while supplies last!
  • We look forward to including writers from all over the country and the world, in a way that has never before been possible.
  • The Muse 2021 will take place on a platform called Attendify, a one-stop destination where all your sessions, cohort meet-ups, and chats with other attendees will happen. For the first time ever, you can connect with other conference-goers at the click of a button.

Week 2: Wednesday, April 28th - Sunday, May 2nd

  • The ever-popular Manuscript Mart, with your meetings with agents and editors happening over the phone.
  • New Premium Workshops will invite you into a small workshop with a star author, centered on a particular theme or perspective.

MANUSCRIPT MART

For an additional fee, attendees can meet one-on-one with a literary agent who’s actively seeking new clients, an acquiring editor at a publishing house, and/or a literary journal editor. These consultants will have read 20 pages of your manuscript before the conference, and will provide direct feedback from an industry perspective. Attendees will receive their Manuscript Mart schedules the week before the residency begins.
+ $200 per meeting

AGENT INFO SESSIONS

Join a private, small-group session with a literary agent of your choice, who will explain what kinds of manuscripts they’re seeking, answer questions about how they evaluate query letters, approach editors, and work with their author clients. This is a special opportunity to learn directly from an agent about how they work, and to ask any questions you may have. Reserve your spot in advance, so that you’ll know exactly which publishing professionals you’ll be meeting with.
+ $100

PREMIUM WORKSHOPS

For the first time, we’re offering Premium Workshops with featured guest authors, each of which will be centered around a particular theme, topic, or perspective. This is a unique opportunity to learn deeply about a particular element of craft that’s crucial to your work, and to receive feedback on your manuscript from that perspective. This will include 2-2.5 hour workshop sessions for 5 days, plus a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with your workshop leader after your workshop.
+$450

THE PRICE

Ticket Price: Thanks to the far lower venue expenses, we can provide the same rigorous instruction at a lower cost. Each pass includes all 65 sessions, month-long access to the online venue, session recordings, and networking opportunities. Each pass will be $249 for GrubStreet members and $269 for non-members, or 53% off the regular Muse price. We’re thrilled to pass these savings onto you.

Registration: Register using the form above or on this page!

Scholarships: Scholarships are available for general tuition, the Manuscript Mart, and Premium Workshops. Most scholarships cover 50% of the cost, and there will be a small number of full scholarships for applicants who demonstrate particular financial need. Apply for a general tuition scholarship today!

The applications for Manuscript Mart and Premium Workshop scholarships will open in early fall. Join our mailing list to be notified when they open!

GRUBBY SURPRISES

It just wouldn't be the Muse without a few fun surprises along the way-- and this year will be no exception. Expect a small box of fun and intrigue in the mail to enhance your Muse experience. If you live outside of the US you'll receive a digital package with just as much fun included!

FAQ

When does registration open? You can register now!

Will this be just like the in-person Muse, but online? No-- and that’s a good thing. We’ve designed Muse 2021 to “play to the strengths” of the virtual format, rather than simply try to replicate the usual Muse in an online space. While a virtual venue has limitations, it also creates new opportunities that truly excite us. All in all, you can expect the same educational rigor, artistic excellence, and warmth that you’ve come to expect from the Muse.

Can I apply to present at the Muse? Unfortunately, we are no longer accepting applications for the 2021 conference.

How did you determine the 2021 presenters? After Covid forced us to cancel Muse 2020, we re-imagined Muse 2021 as a virtual enhanced residency with week-long workshops and half the number of craft and publishing sessions. While we would have preferred to invite every accepted 2020 session leader, given the limited number of slots, we prioritized presenters with new books published in 2020 and 2021. In order to connect our audience with authors who normally wouldn’t be able to attend the conference in person, we also reached out to authors from around the country.

How can I use my GrubStreet credit toward Muse 2021? GrubStreet credit, including any credits that replaced Muse 2020 tickets, can be used toward any and all Muse 2021 experiences (tickets, Manuscript Mart meetings, etc.) If you'd like to use your credit toward Muse 2021, before you register, submit this Muse 2021 Credit Code request form. We'll send you a code to apply your credit before registration opens! 

What do you mean by “a virtual event?” How does that work? As a Muse attendee, you’ll be invited to log into an online portal via Attendify. We find the interface snazzy and intuitive, and we'll have staff and volunteers on-hand all week to help you navigate the system.

Can I apply for a scholarship? Absolutely! This new format will allow us to issue more scholarships than ever before, and we also expect unprecedented need in our community. All scholarships will be offered based on financial need and an assessment of how the applicant will specifically benefit from our program. We will have scholarships available for general audiences, writers who are promoting literature in their communities, writers from historically marginalized backgrounds, and more. Most tuition scholarships will cover 50% of the ticket cost.

Additionally, there will be a limited number of scholarships available for the Premium Workshops and the Manuscript Mart. Due to the limited nature of these scholarships, we want to note that they are only intended for those who would not be able to participate without this financial boost. We know one’s financial circumstances can change and we don’t request any kind of corroboration, but we do ask you to consider this as you decide whether or not to apply. The Premium Workshop and Manuscript Mart scholarship application will open early fall 2020.

Will the Muse ever happen in person again? Absolutely. Every year, we evaluate the present-day needs of our community, and adapt the Muse to what our writers need that year. 2020 and 2021 are undoubtedly unique years, and hosting the Muse 2021 as a virtual Enhanced Writing Residency ensures safety and equity for all who wish to come. We look forward to the day when the covid-19 pandemic has safely passed, and we can return in triumph to the in-person Muse conference.