The 2026 Narratively Book Incubator
Every writer has a book in them. To get it written, we need structure, discipline, inspiration and mentorship. The 2026 Narratively Book Incubator is a unique opportunity for a select group of writers to receive close, personal guidance and feedback from one of a trio of very accomplished book authors; attend a carefully curated roster of expert panels and Q&As with agents, editors and other industry insiders; and work in community with each other to write your book in 2026.
This incubator is strategically structured to give you all the tools and guidance you need to actually write your book in the 2026 calendar year. Depending on where you are in the process, writers can sign up to join one, two or three of the seasonal sessions, or (better yet, in our opinion!) join for the entire year.
Winter Session: Starting and Structuring Your Book
January 11 - March 20, 2026
Spring Session: Drafting and Developing Your Book
April 6 - June 12, 2026
Summer Session: Finishing Your Draft and Revising Your Book
July 5 - September 11, 2026
Fall Session: Pitching and Publishing Your Book
October 5 - December 11, 2026
Each writer will join a class of up to 10 students, led by one of three incredible veteran Narratively Academy instructors, each one an accomplished author: Kern Carter, Audrey Clare Farley, and Claire Rudy Foster (more on these instructors can be found below).
Book Incubator Overview
This incubator is open to anyone working on or considering writing a full-length book in memoir, non-fiction, fiction, or hybrid genres.
During the sign-up process, you’ll share general details about your book project, including where you are now, what your goals are, and what guidance you need.
We’ll pair you with the instructor and a curated class of students designed to offer the most relevant mentorship and support for your individual project.
Each class will include biweekly 90-minute lessons featuring assigned readings, craft exercises, check-ins on your progress, and discussions of roadblocks and issues that come up along the way. Live attendance is encouraged but all classes will be recorded in case there are some you have to miss.
Your instructor will read and respond to everything you write, and will also be available for monthly office hours to talk over your project and answer questions.
You’ll be paired with one to two other writers whose projects align closely with your own, so you can read and offer feedback on each other’s work throughout the incubator. (We’re keeping these small groups limited to just two to three people so everyone can receive consistent feedback but not be overwhelmed with a lot of critiquing time that would distract from the main goal here…focusing on your own writing!)
All writers enrolled in the incubator will come together for monthly Expert Panels and Q&As where authors, agents, publishers and other industry experts offer guidance and answer your questions about the book writing and publishing process. (You can attend live or watch recordings.)
All participants will receive complementary access to any Narratively Academy seminars held during the session(s) in which you are enrolled. (Seminars refer to our one-time classes, not our ongoing multi-week workshop classes.) You can choose to attend these live and/or watch recordings.
Participants also receive complementary year-long membership to NarrativelyAcademy.com, including access to our StoryCraft articles, weekly Open Book video/podcast series, and additional writer-centric resources.
This is a collaborative, hands-on program that is focused on finding your voice, perfecting your structure, completing a polished draft of your book, and successfully navigating the process of submitting that book for publication. While instructors will read and offer big-picture feedback on everything you submit, please note that this incubator is not focused on completing line-by-line edits or copyediting your final manuscript. The goal is that by the end of the calendar year you will have a very solid draft of your book, a clear roadmap for any additional revisions that may be needed, and a concrete strategy for getting it published.
Winter Session: Starting and Structuring Your Book
January 11 - March 20, 2026
This first session is designed for anyone who has a general idea of what their book will be and wants support in finalizing the concept, assessing the marketability of your idea, completing an outline of your book, and getting started on writing. As long as you have a sense of your topic, you can sign up for this session—even if you haven’t written anything yet. This session is also applicable if you have already drafted a substantial amount of writing but want to double down on the first steps and ensure you have a concrete plan in place for your full book.
By the end of this session you’ll have:
A title, concept and synopsis.
A chapter-by-chapter outline.
The first 10,000 words written.
In January we’ll focus on brainstorming and refining your ideas. You’ll receive actionable feedback from the instructor and your peers on which elements of your book are most enticing to readers. You’ll zero in on an overall concept and write a synopsis of your book.
In February we’ll have generative writing exercises to help you get moving on your ideas, and you’ll create a full chapter-by-chapter outline of your book, adjusting the structure as you work.
In March you’ll dive into writing, completing a draft of the first few chapters of your book.
One of the most important elements of this inaugural winter session is that you will help us develop the curriculum for the rest of the incubator. Throughout these three months, we’ll solicit your feedback on what kind of panels, lessons and peer activities will be most helpful to you as you work on your book throughout 2026—then we’ll go out and plan them for the rest of the year!
Students who commit to a full year in the incubator will get 12 months of curated guidance and support tailored to their project, creative goals, and individual needs.
Winter Session - Class Dates
Kern Carter: Tuesdays, 1pm to 2:30pm ET
Jan. 13, Jan 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24, Mar. 10
Audrey Clare Farley: Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30p.m. ET
Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, Mar. 11
Claire Rudy Foster: Sundays 12pm to 1:30pm ET
Jan. 11, Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 22, Mar. 8
Expert Panels and Q&As
Finding Your Voice with internationally touring writer, poet, performer, and educator Caroline Rothstein. Jan. 29, 7pm ET.
Using Research to Build on Your Ideas with Laurie Gwen Shapiro, bestselling author of The Aviator and the Showman, named one of the best books of 2025 by NPR, Amazon, Smithsonian Magazine and The New York Times. Feb. 26, 7pm ET
How to Create Dynamite Outlines with W.M. Akers, acclaimed novelist and author of “Westside,” named a New York Times notable book of the year. Date TBD in March.
Spring Session: Drafting and Developing Your Book
April 6 - June 12, 2026
It’s butt-in-chair, words-on-page time!
The Spring Session is for writers who have completed an overview and outline of their book and are ready to buckle down and get deep into writing. (This session is open to both those who plan to first complete the Winter Session incubator as well as those who would prefer to start here.)
Biweekly lessons will include generative writing exercises, but the focus will be on productivity, accountability, and feedback that will help you keep pushing forward with your writing.
Once a month (in April, May, and June) you’ll submit up to 15,000 words for feedback from the instructor and your peers.
In addition to offering feedback on your writing, the instructor will be available for monthly office hours to discuss your progress.
The Expert Panels will focus on navigating the specific challenges that often come up at this point in the process.
By the end of this session you’ll have:
50,000 - 75,000 words written
A strong sense of where your book is going and how you will complete it.
Expert Panels and Q&As
April: Inspirational visit from a prominent book author.
May: Guest instructor session on building tension.
June: How to get past roadblocks and maintain motivation.
Priority enrollment is now open for writers who sign up for the Winter Session or the full year. If you want to start with the Spring Session, let us know by joining the advance wait list and we’ll give you a heads up as soon as Spring Session enrollment is open.
Summer Session: Finishing Your Draft and Revising Your Book
July 6 - September 11, 2026
This session is for writers who are closing in on a complete draft of their book and want to develop all the tools and confidence needed to help you stay on track as you reach the finish line—and yes, start the daunting but rewarding process of revising.
July is dedicated to taking stock of where you are: revisiting your original outline and comparing it to the outcome; assessing whether anything in your overall plan needs alteration; and identifying big themes that have emerged, especially any surprises—what is this book trying to tell you?
August is all about hunkering down and writing the bulk of the last section of your book.
In September you’ll push forward with finishing your book, and, if you’re ready, you’ll dive into revising, incorporating notes from the instructor and your peers.
In monthly office hours with the instructor, you’ll assess your progress and zero in on how to hone your manuscript.
By the end of this session you’ll have:
A complete or nearly complete draft of your book
Expert Panels and Q&As
July: Inspirational visit from a prominent book author.
August: How to write great endings.
September: How to be your own best editor.
Fall Session: Pitching and Publishing Your Book
October 5 - December 11, 2026
Now comes the hard part—selling your book! This session is designed for writers who have a completed (or nearly complete) manuscript—whether it’s fully polished and ready to take to market, or you still have a few rounds of revisions but you’re ready to start thinking seriously about how to market your book.
We’ll provide the guidance and tools to pitch your book, plus the emotional support that’s needed throughout the submission process (an underrated but necessary component!), so you can be confident and prepared as you head into this last step of the process.
Writers will explore and consider whether the next best steps for you include pitching agents, sending your manuscript to editors, or self-publishing. We’ll look at examples of book proposals, work with you to craft a query letter, and, if relevant to your project, start on a full proposal.
We’ll discuss and explore:
Where does my book belong?
How to identify relevant comp titles.
How to research specific agents, editors, and presses to pitch.
Market trends you need to know about.
Sending out the proposal and sample.
Polishing your excerpt or stand-alone essay.
Support for writers through the submission phase.
By the end of this session you’ll have:
All the tools you need to confidently pitch your book to agents and editors.
A certificate of competition of the Narratively Book Incubator.
Expert Panels and Q&As
October: How to find the right agent and editor for your book.
November: Fact-checking your book.
December: Promoting your book without a big budget.
Tuition
$1,500 per seasonal session
20% discount when booking full year: $6,000 $4,800
The 20% Narratively Academy member discount for classes is not applicable to individual incubator sessions, but anyone can receive 20% off when signing up for the full year.
The Instructors
Kern Carter is a prolific writer, educator and mentor based in Toronto, Canada. With a passion for storytelling, Kern has authored five books that have received critical acclaim and garnered a dedicated following. Kern’s memoir piece, “Diary of a Bachelor Who Suddenly Became a Solo Dad to a Teenage Girl,” was chosen by Narratively’s editors as one of the best stories published in 2021. In addition to his impressive body of work, Kern is committed to supporting emerging writers and helping them find their voices. He has created several online platforms that provide a safe and welcoming space for new writers to share their stories and connect with others in the community. Kern’s writing workshops are known for their engaging and interactive approach, and he prides himself on keeping his workshops accessible so writers can consume and apply as much information as possible. More of his work and writing advice can be found at his site, Writers Are Superstars.
Audrey Clare Farley is a writer, editor and scholar of 20th-century American culture. She earned a Ph.D. in English literature at University of Maryland, College Park, and now teaches U.S. history at Mount St. Mary’s University. Her first book, The Unfit Heiress: The Tragic Life and Scandalous Sterilization of Ann Cooper Hewitt, tells the story of a 1930s millionairess whose mother secretly sterilized her to deprive her of the family fortune, sparking a sensational case and forcing a debate of eugenics. Audrey’s book, which grew out of a viral Hidden History story she authored for Narratively, is currently in development as a scripted TV series with a major actress and producer attached. Her second book, Girls and Their Monsters: The Genain Quadruplets and the Making of Madness in America, explores the lives of the four women behind a famous case study of schizophrenia. It was named a New York Times Editors’ Pick. Audrey’s stories have appeared in The Atlantic, The New Republic, The New York Times, The Washington Post and many other outlets. She lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
Claire Rudy Foster’s debut short story collection, Shine of the Ever, was named as one of the best LGBTQ+ books of the year by O, The Oprah Magazine and was a finalist for the Foreword Indie Awards. The book was selected for the ALA 2021 Over the Rainbow Fiction and Poetry Longlist. Foster’s essays, articles and fiction have appeared in many places, including The New York Times, Black Static, LitHub, Narratively, Mic and Catapult. Their writing has been recognized with four Pushcart Prize nominations. Foster is the co-writer of the bestselling nonfiction book Unsettled: How the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Failed the Victims of the American Overdose Crisis, which was named the “best bankruptcy book in the world,” and one of Ralph Nader’s top picks of the year.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re interested in talking about whether this incubator is right for you, please fill out this writer intake form to tell us a little about you and your work—then book a one-on-one consultation with Narratively Academy Director Brendan Spiegel.
You can also email us at academy@narratively.com
Registration Details: Seats in the 2026 Narratively Book Incubator are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. As part of the sign-up process, you’ll complete the writer intake form to tell us about you and our project, and we’ll communicate to answer any questions you may have.
Winter Session class dates as listed above are finalized. Class dates for Spring, Summer and Fall sessions are expected to take place the same days and times. If you sign up for the full year now, we will work with you to ensure classes take place on a day and time you can attend. Topics, instructors and dates for Expert Panels and Q&As are subject to change.
Cancellation Policy - Individual Sessions
Full refund when canceling 7 or more days before the session start date.
50% refund when canceling less than 7 days before the session start date.
No cancellations after the session start date.
Cancellation Policy - Full Year
Full refund when canceling 7 or more days before the incubator start date.
70% refund when canceling up to 7 days before the start of the second session.
30% refund when canceling up to 7 days before the start of the third session.
No cancellations after the start of the third session.