Long Manuscript Workshop
Long Manuscript Workshop
A deep-dive, three-part virtual workshop for speculative fiction writers
The Long Manuscript Workshop is designed for writers ready to take a serious step toward polishing their full-length projects. Over three structured meetings, you’ll receive detailed feedback from faculty and peers on your synopsis, a 100-page excerpt, and a revised portion of your manuscript. With a low 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio, this is one of our most intensive offerings — providing the accountability and insight you need to elevate your work.
| Workshop the first 100 pages of your novel |
| 5:1 student-faculty ratio |
| 3 intensive workshop meetings with a faculty mentor and cohort |
| Work with top agents & editors in Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror |
| Structured accountability from November through February |
| Apply early - seating is capped and competitive |
2025 Long Workshop Faculty
Futurescapes faculty have won or been nominated for numerous literary honors, including the Hugo, Nebula, Compton-Crook, World Fantasy, Bram Stoker, Newbery, Locus, Norton, and the National Book Award.
Miriam Cortinovis
Agent, Ki Literary
Miriam Cortinovis is an agent with Ki Literary. They are seeking speculative fiction for all ages groups and markets.
More details on Miriam’s wishlist:
For Fantasy, Miriam seeks intersectional diverse stories ripe with unique magic, immersive atmosphere, and memorable characters, especially from BIPOC and/or LGBTQAI+ perspectives. In both Adult and Young Adult, they hunger in particular for romantic queer fantasies like THE MAIDEN AND HER MONSTER, A TREACHERY OF SWANS, and A DARK AND DROWNING TIDE—although a romantic plotline is never a requirement for their list. They’re not impartial to a good multiverse/portal story (see their beloved A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC or VOIDWALKER), fairytale-tainted quests (SOMEONE TO BUILD A NEST IN), epic-leaning series the likes of PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE and THE JASMINE THRONE, quieter, elegant settings—particularly if Catholic-inspired (THE SACRED SPACE BETWEEN)—and outrageous genre-blenders (ROAD TO RUIN). Of recent, they’d love to find something horror-adjacent that excites them as much as THE STARVING SAINTS or the perfect lady knight via THE EVERLASTING or THE ISLE IN THE SILVER SEA
That being said, Miriam also would love to see fantasy stories set in our world, whether through an urban feel like LEGENDBORN, a small-town undertone like STARLING HOUSE, a paranormal allure like IMMORTAL DARK, a sentient dark setting like TOGETHER WE ROT, and a historical perspective like VESUVIUS or THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH.
While for upper middle-grade Miriam leans more toward the speculative side of things, (WITCHLINGS, ARU SHAH, and GHOST SCOUT’S HONOR) they’re also eager to find authentic contemporary stories that, in particular, discuss grief, home, moving places, losing friends, or disability/chronic illness (themes that apply to their list overall).
For Science Fiction, Miriam is eager to have their brains teased and blown. Though no book in their heart will ever compare, they won’t stop chasing the perfect companion to GIDEON THE NINTH. They’d love space shenanigans (SOME DESPERATE GLORY), heist dystopias (HAMMAJANG LUCK), capitalist critique (METAL FROM HEAVEN), and AI that surpasses our current understanding (ANCILLARY JUSTICE or THE ARCHIVE UNDYING).
In addition, Miriam takes an interest in Young Adult Contemporary novels that draw on their fascination with American high school from immigrant perspectives and with summer camps/adventures, in the veins of SMASH OR PASS. They’re also looking for queer YA Horror & Thriller the likes of WHAT THE WOODS TOOK and THEY BLOOM AT NIGHT.
What they don’t want: Poetry (including novel in verses). Picture/Chapter Books. Nonfiction. Contemporary Mafia Fiction. Contemporary Adult Romance. Erotica. Werewolves. Novels set during WWI and WWII.
Dianna Vega
Editor, Tor Books
Dianna Vega is an editor with Tor Books. She works with authors across all subgenres of speculative fiction.
Sophie Sheumaker
Agent, Bookends Literary
Sophie Sheumaker is an agent with Bookends Literary. She is looking for fantasy and speculative fiction for all ages.
The long manuscript workshop offers a unique opportunity to workshop a large chunk (30,000 words) of your workshop with a leading agent or editor over multiple sessions. In the first session in late-November (tentatively Nov. 22) you will get feedback on the overall structure of your novel by workshopping your synopsis with your faculty lead. In the second session (early January) you will receive feedback on your 30,000 word excerpt. Finally, in early February, you’ll receive feedback on your revised first chapter (3,000) words.
More details on Sophie’s wishlist:
Middle Grade
Adventure-filled or cozy fantasy. In this space, I really love fantasy that feels like a fairy-tale but isn’t necessarily a Disney-eque retelling (think The Girl Who Drank the Moon/The Phantom Tollbooth/The Princess Bride). I’ve always enjoyed a third person narrator that feels like a character even when they aren’t actually a part of the story and I’m very drawn into any middle grade that highlights friendships and is driven by the wild, ever-changing, ever-learning emotions of early adolescence
Quiet magic that’s woven subtly throughout a story
Big families, big communities that feel like characters, and all of the complications that come with that—Encanto, a MG Gilmore Girls, Ponyo
Middle grade that can be reread as an adult and still feel relevant and enjoyable. Middle grade that doesn’t speak down to the reader or treat the reader like they’re a child
YA/Adult
If you can translate any of the above into a YA/Adult setting, I would love to see it
Fantasy, Romance, Light sci-fi, Speculative, Horror
Fantasy can run the gamut from cozy with a soft magic system (Maiga Doocy’s Sorcery and Small Magics) to high-fantasy with an intricately woven magic system. For the second, I love a deeply immersive setting with a well thought out world (think Godkiller, The Jasmine Throne).
I am particularly interested in queer romance, especially sapphic romance. Witty dialogue and banter are my go-to (Emily Henry/Talia Hibbert), scenes that make me kick my feet and giggle and have to put my book down to gather my thoughts. A hooky beach read with the melodrama of a K-drama. Contemporary/fantasy/romantasy, tried and true tropes in your typical straight romance done through a queer lens. I also love a surprising magical/speculative twist (One Last Stop). Niche wants: Lesbian vampires, sapphic hockey players, sapphic F1
I am not seeking hard sci-fi (no space opera and no apocalyptic or dystopian future). I am seeking genre-bending sci-fi driven by emotions (Ted Chiang) and influenced by our current events and environmental activism (Shaun Tan)
Grounded speculative fiction with high-concept plots
Romance in horror (NOT romanticizing abuse, think more an all-consuming love within a horror setting). Themes of revenge and feminism and female rage. Not opposed to body horror. Dark female friendships definitely welcome here
Characters with richly developed relationships that are central to the story, especially female friendships and stories of sisterhood
Quirky, off-beat storytelling that can deliver serious messaging without taking itself too seriously
Mal Frazier
Assistant Editor, Tor Books
Mal Frazier joined Tor Publishing Group in 2022. They primarily acquire science fiction, fantasy, and romance, including Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall and This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne, among others. They’ve also assisted on projects such as The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi, What We Are Seeking by Cameron Reed, The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent, and Enigma by RuNyx. Mal is on the hunt for the next weird new thing, a great love story, beautiful poetic language, a wild adventure, and something that will make them laugh.
Mal is seeking the following fiction genres for adult audiences:
Family saga/drama
Fantasy (including novellas and short fiction)
Historical
Horror/Supernatural
Humor
LGBTQ+
Mystery
Romance
Science fiction (including novellas and short fiction)
Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
Upmarket commercial/Book club
Women’s fiction
In any genre, a strong voice is essential, whether gloriously beautiful or laugh-out-loud funny.
WISH LIST:
In romance, they’re seeking high-concept, voicey novels that give them what they go to fanfic for. They love a real sense of scale, of sweeping magnitude in the character dynamics, a fantasy world that feels incredibly large, and lived-in, so that the romance is balanced against equally important external plot elements, and romance where a character’s internal journey and transformation is vast, intense, philosophical and overwhelming. They are charmed by zippy, pacey, contemporary novels, with snappy dialogue and a great cast, especially if the book has one foot in another genre, such as mystery, horror, or noir. They are also interested in exploring nontraditional story structures, such tragic romances, multiverses, time travel, isekai, body-swapping, and series-length romance. They’re specifically on the hunt for a knight/squire romance, the next Captive Prince, and badly behaved vampires.
In science fiction and fantasy, they’re looking for high-concept, experimental work that’s grounded and fundamentally political in nature, with a distinctive, accomplished voice. A one-sentence rocket launch of a premise gets them like nothing else, and they cannot get enough of a truly perverse central relationship. They are a huge nerd for ecology, history, and zoology, so they love climate fiction (“cli-fi”) and overflowing, verdant alien worlds. Worldbuilding that engages with bodies, sex, gender, and transness enchants them, and they adore an internal investigation, a heist, an ill-advised military campaign, or a doomed polar exploration. And if your book makes them laugh, they will fall in love. Especially big hits are messy cyberfantasy futures, grounded court settings, tall ships (or spaceships as tall ships), shifters, dragons, and dinosaurs.
They would love to see work by authors from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
Mal will consider previously self-published work.
While Mal typically only accepts agented submissions, they will consider unagented submissions for this conference—if they’re interested in extending an offer, they strongly encourage the author to find representation.
Workshop Timeline
This subject to change.
Synopsis Workshop
📅 End of November 2025
Submit your long-form synopsis (5–7 pages) prior to meeting.
Meet with your faculty and cohort to discuss your story’s overall structure, pacing, and thematic arcs.
Leave with clear guidance for revisions before submitting your excerpt.
Shortly after, submit your 100 page excerpt
100-Page Workshop
📅 Early January 2026
Workshop your first 100 pages (≈30,000 words).
Faculty and peers will provide detailed feedback on character, plot, pacing, and craft at the line level.
This is the heart of the workshop — expect intensive discussion and actionable takeaways.
Revision Workshop
📅 Early February 2026
Submit a revised portion of your 100-page excerpt (≈10 pages) in late January.
Work with your faculty and peers to review your revisions, troubleshoot lingering challenges, and set goals for your manuscript’s next stage.
This final check-in helps you solidify the lessons learned across the workshop.
Who Should Apply?
This workshop is ideal for speculative fiction writers with a full manuscript draft who are ready for serious critique and revision. Whether you’re preparing to query agents, considering indie publishing, or refining your novel for your own goals, this workshop will give you the tools, accountability, and feedback to move forward with confidence.
Regular Admit
Futurescapes Alumni
Pricing for Sophie & Miriam
Super Early Bird
Apply by October 5
$1190
$990
Early Bird
Apply by October 26
$1390
Regular
$1590
Late
$1190
Apply by November 9
$1390
Apply by November 16
$1890
$1690
Tuition payment plans are available
Regular Admit
Futurescapes Alumni
Pricing for Dianna Vega & Mal Frazier
Super Early Bird
Apply by October 5
$1590
$1390
Early Bird
Apply by October 26
$1790
Regular
$1990
Late
$1590
Apply by November 9
$1790
Apply by November 16
$2190
$1990
Tuition payment plans are available
Applications Open Now
Futurescapes is extremely competitive. You must apply for admission. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. It is recommended that you apply early as the workshop’s limited spots will fill quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We make a promise both to you and our faculty that we will not accept your hard-earned tuition money unless your writing is at least approaching professional level. Our faculty love Futurescapes because they know that the writing will be of an exceptionally high caliber. They don’t do Futurescapes just for the fun of it, they want make connections, too, and find potential clients.
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Acceptance rates vary by workshop, but generally Futurescapes is as competitive as admissions to many top tier graduate programs. The Fall workshop has a lower student cap and is likely to be more competitive than most.
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We prefer you make your tuition payment within two weeks. We also participate in an installment program that allows you to pay in installments over a longer period of time.
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We’re looking for a few things:
Mastery of the fundamental mechanics of writing.
Compelling plot, characters, dialogue, and world.
Evidence of at least one standout attribute (e.g., sharp dialogue, great humor, impressive world building, etc.)
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You will need to submit your synopsis by mid-November and your 100-page excerpt within two weeks of the first meeting.
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Each participant is expected to prepare a 2-3 page editorial letter for every member of their cohort, based on their excerpt and synopsis.
Your letter doesn’t need to be overly formal—it should reflect your genuine reader response. Think of it less as line editing and more as a thoughtful reaction to the story. Some helpful questions to guide your letter:
What did you feel while reading?
What pulled you in—and where did your attention drift?
What were you hoping would happen next?
What confused you or felt inconsistent?
What did you love or want more of?
This letter is your opportunity to help fellow writers grow while sharpening your own editorial eye—a vital skill for revision and career longevity.
Before the workshop, make time to read each submission carefully and write your letters.