The Harbor Workshop
Writing retreats, workshops, and classes.
The Harbor Workshop
THE HARBOR WORKSHOP is sold out through September 13. There are open spots from September 14-20, October 5-11, and October 19-25.Every week from June through October 2025, THE HARBOR WORKSHOP is a unique opportunity to write by the lake in Harbor Springs and study one on one with Katherine Taylor. For five days and six nights, one writer at a time will stay in a beautifully appointed one-bedroom cottage for a week of intensive writing, instruction, swimming and walking and eating and enjoying everything this magical little summer town on the edge of Lake Michigan can offer.Katherine will read and critique a 20,000 word manuscript before the residency begins, and will read and advise on pages written during the writer's stay.The price of the residency includes an intensive manuscript critique (up to 20,000 words), daily feedback and check-ins with Katherine on the progress of the manuscript, airport transfers from Pellston or Traverse City, all meals (with wine and cocktails), and six nights in a private lakeside cottage.WHEN: Weekly sessions from June 1 – October 25, 2025.COST: $4700 includes manuscript critique and instruction with daily feedback, lodging in a private lakeside cottage, all meals (including wine and cocktails), and airport transfers to & from Traverse City or Pellston. A deposit of $2000 is required when booking your spot, and the balance can be paid at any time before the residency begins.ACCOMMODATIONS: Harbor Springs is an idyllic waterfront resort community founded in 1880 on Little Traverse Bay. Writers will stay in the cozy one bedroom guest house of Katherine’s family cottage beside the lake. From every room you can hear the tide lapping the shore. Meals may be taken solo or with others, and writers may also spend many hours lolling on the grand porch of the main cottage. (See our Instagram for pictures.)FORMAT: Before the residency, writers will send Katherine a manuscript of up to 20,000 words. This may be part of a novel or memoir, a short story, or several pieces from a story collection.Manuscripts should be submitted to Katherine no later than 2 weeks before the writer’s residency begins.Writers arrive after noon on the first Sunday, and depart before noon the following Saturday.Mornings, the writer will meet with Katherine to discuss progress and to look over new pages. The rest of the day may be spent however the writer sees fit. There are beach chairs and paddle boards, tennis or golf can be arranged, and kayaks are available to rent. We will do our best to accommodate all food preferences & restrictions.The idea of the residency is to create the ideal space for focus, creativity, and productivity.TRAVEL: The closest and most convenient airport is Pellston (PLN), a half hour away from the cottage. Traverse City (TVC) is a two hour drive from the cottage and may offer more flight options. (We will pick up & drop off from TVC but cannot pick up after 7pm.)Flights into Detroit or Chicago are easy options should you choose to rent a car. The drive from Detroit is 4.5 hours and from Chicago is 5.5 hours. There are some nice routes and beautiful places to see along the lake for those planning to rent a car.CANCELLATION POLICY: Your full deposit and/or fee will be refunded at any time provided your spot can be filled by someone on the wait list.
The 11 Week Zoom Workshop
THE ZOOM WORKSHOP is a live workshop that takes place Monday evenings at 5pm Pacific time (8pm Eastern) for 11 weeks beginning July 7 and ending September 15. This class is appropriate for anyone working on novels, short stories, memoirs, or maybe something that hasn’t quite formed yet. Writers will workshop up to 10,000 words, generate new work through weekly exercises, and have the time together face to face to develop a community. At the end of the workshop, each writer will schedule an individual 15 minute meeting with Katherine to discuss next steps.The workshop is limited to 10 writers and is open by invitation or application.WHEN: July 7- September 15, 2025. 11 Monday evenings from 5-7pm Pacific.COST: $550FORMAT: This is a two hour zoom workshop. The first hour is lecture, conversation, and exercises. The second hour is devoted to critiquing student manuscripts. At the end of the class, each student will meet with Katherine for a 15 minute phone consultation to discuss next steps.CANCELLATION POLICY: A full refund will be issued any time before July 7 provided your spot can be filled from the waiting list.
The Bi-Monthly Novel Workshop
The Novel Workshop is SOLD OUT. Please apply to be put on the wait list for the next round.BI MONTHLY NOVEL WORKSHOP: An intensive bi-monthy novel workshop (on zoom). Novelists (or those working on a memoir or story collection) meet for two hours on Saturday mornings for one month, take one month off to reflect and revise, and continue on Saturday mornings the following month. One month on, one month off. Writers may opt in and opt out, month by month, as is comfortable for them. There is no more than a monthly obligation, and novelists already enrolled must give up their spot for a space to open. There is room for only four writers at a time, and each week is devoted to one writer’s manuscript. This program is intended to be flexible enough to work on a novel for months or for years, and to come back to a group that is both familiar and new, providing feedback from peers who already know what your work is trying to do and peers who have a fresh perspective.The workshop is limited to four writers per month and is open by invitation or application.WHEN: Saturdays at 10am Pacific. (July 5, 12, 19, 26)COST: $500/monthFORMAT: Writers will submit 10,000 words for critique. Workshops will meet on Zoom for two hours, once a week, for four weeks. Each week will begin with brief exercises and conversation on process directly tailored to fit needs of specific projects or problems. The second hour of each workshop will be devoted to one student manuscript a week. There will be a month hiatus (this will allow for revisions and continued writing), and the workshop will pick up again the following month. Writers may choose to continue with the course or sit out a few months and come back. Writers already enrolled in the workshop will be given priority for a space in the next cycle. This format provides flexibility for the months and often years it takes to complete a novel, so that writers may take more time if needed to work on a manuscript and then return to a familiar group.CANCELLATION POLICY: After enrollment, refunds are provided only if a waitlisted applicant can take your place.