CLASS OF 2006

I feel my potential as a writer has increased exponentially.

The consistently high level of Jeanne’s instruction, along with regular, honest feedback on your work, will massively improve your writing. The course is very hard work, in a supportive atmosphere, which develops new writing habits and mind-sets that are truly effective. You emerge at the end knowing what to do—which is no small thing for a writer.

I can’t say if Odyssey has revolutionized my writing—that will come years down the road, as we see how much I am (or am not) published. But I know it’s revolutionized how I think about my writing, and that’s the important part—after this workshop, I have faith I have the skills to make the rest come.

I wish I’d done this years ago. Every writer should get the opportunity to work with Jeanne Cavelos. I now feel that the only person who can stop me from being successful is me.

Jeanne is a master of critique, a compassionate and learned teacher, and just plain fun to be around. I would recommend this workshop to anyone who is ready to take a good, long look at their writing skills and do what it takes to improve.

Oh, Odyssey, My Odyssey!

I went there a wannabe writer,
I needed to make my words righter,
I was Odysseyed well,
In those six weeks of Hell,
Now my career is much brighter!

Of Jeanne, we all can attest,
Her teaching is really the best,
All the edits she’s done,
And that point of view fun,
We’re grateful for all of her zest!

You could spend six years struggling to learn what Odyssey gives you in six weeks.

Odyssey is a fantastic program that can take an amateur writer and turn him or her into a writer with skills and discipline to become a professional.

Jeanne Cavelos is utterly amazing. Her critiques are in-depth and her insights are sharp and helpful on every single story submitted. She can help you turn a train wreck of a story into a publishable work you can be proud of.

If a writer is truly someone for whom writing is more difficult than others, Jeanne can help ease your pain.

Count me among those who consider Odyssey a life-changing experience. I finished a better writer, a better critiquer, exhausted but energized. Endless thanks to Jeanne, Susan, and the class of ’06.

I came to Odyssey to find out whether I had what it takes to write commercial fantastic fiction. I found out that I do, if I’m willing to work at it. Odyssey showed me I wasn’t as good a writer as I thought I was, and that I have lots of work to do, and then gave me the tools I need to do that work.

It’s been an invaluable experience. I only wish I had enough money to pay Jeanne to sit beside me every time I write. She’s that insightful and that encouraging.

At the end of the six weeks, I find myself exhausted, excited, and happy. It’s a great place to be.

Every aspect of writing and story craft, Odyssey helped me improve in my own work. Now if I could only remember how to hold a pen. . . .

After attending Odyssey, I now feel prepared to write the stories that I have to tell, with the strength and clarity that they deserve.

Odyssey is just more. More work, more stress, more friendship, more joy, more learning than you thought possible. More than you can ever expect, and the change is profound. The only thing I can ensure you’ll get less of is sleep and every second of it is worth it. If you don’t go, you’ll regret it.

Odyssey has helped me learn how to take a 400-page novel in its first draft and cut it into tiny pieces in order to make it all fit in one organized piece. Without Odyssey, the novel wouldn’t have had the balance it needed to stand on its own. Rewriting and starting over is NOT scary!