Author Incubator Program at Indy Hall
Update, December 2020: So, the world still isn’t quite ready to meet in-person the way I was hoping it would be, back when I posted this in the summer. This will be back though.
Back in January, I tweeted how I wanted to one day fund a membership for marginalized writers at my coworking space, and my dear friend Alex said he’d match it… and well, here we are.
So… I’m excited to announce an author incubator program at Indy Hall.
I’m so happy to be offering up this wonderful opportunity here in Philadelphia, to help marginalized writers connect with the local community, engage with industry professionals, and have an inspiring place to get some writing done.
This program will fund FOUR marginalized authors’ memberships to Philadelphia’s wonderful coworking space, Indy Hall, located in Old City. It’ll be a six pack membership, so six days in the space a month, plus an online membership (so access to the Slack community!). I will also be covering your day on brain pick days if you’re free (a monthly publishing Q&A I’ve regularly hosted at the space), and SEPTA fares to get to Old City.
What you do with that time… well, that’s up to you.
Maybe you need a quiet place surrounded by creative folks to work on that novel. Perhaps you’re polishing up a proposal for a non-fiction book. Or you’re revising essays or short stories you’re hoping to pitch places. Making time to put together your first poetry chapbook. You do you.
A scene from the monthly brain pick meet ups!
Every month, I’ll schedule a meet and greet with an industry professional, who will come in for a coworking day of their own, to chat with you about your project. Maybe you’re worried about finding an agent, or if your manuscript feels marketable, or your social media brand as a writer, or how to pitch essays... they will be there, ready for a brain pick.
Ideally at the end of the six months, you and your project feel a little more prepared moving forward, and you’ve made a lot of lovely friends along the way.
Want to apply? The process is wildly easy. It’s the same process I’ve used for the conference passes I give away every year.
Name: You know, your name.
Who Are You?: A bit about you. Why you write.
Your WIP: What are you currently writing?
Why This?: How will you use this time?
Twitter / Website: What's your Twitter handle? Website?
To ericsmithrocks at gmail dot com. It doesn’t have to be an essay or anything like that. Don’t overthink it! Just make sure you live in Philadelphia-region. This is for people in the region only. I cannot stress that enough.
Applications will wrap up on November 1st, and the four memberships will be given out in early December, so you can plot and plan accordingly to start in January. They will open up again in the summer, for more authors to secure July 2021 - December 2021 memberships, with new folks on board for the meetups. To stay updated on when that opens up, follow me on social media and/or subscribe to my newsletter.
Now, come meet the team that’ll be helping you for those six months.
Brittney M. Morris
Brittney Morris is the bestselling author of Slay, which was published with Simon & Pulse in September 2019.
She spends her spare time reading, playing indie video games, and enjoying the rain from her house in Philadelphia.
You can learn more about her and her books on her official website, or via her Twitter.
Dana Murphy
Dana Murphy is a literary agent at The Book Group. She represents a wide range of projects, including upmarket and literary fiction for adults and young adults, as well as smart narrative nonfiction and cultural criticism.
Across genre, she is always looking for marginalized voices that speak to the radical change and compassion that readers are searching for, and books that are equally tenderhearted and self-aware.
Her client list includes literary bestseller Danya Kukafka and celebrated culture writers Kelsey McKinney, Blythe Roberson, Sarah Marshall, and Claire Comstock-Gay. She lives in Philadelphia.
You can learn more about her by following her on Twitter, visiting her Manuscript Wishlist page, or checking out her profile on The Book Group’s website.
Eric Smith
Oh, that’s me! I’m an author and literary agent living here in Philadelphia. I’ve worked on award-winning and New York Times bestselling books, and agent at P.S. Literary. I work on a bit of everything, from Middle Grade non-fiction to Young Adult novels, genre-blending sci-fi to niche cookbooks!
As an author, my latest novel, Don’t Read the Comments, just published in January. My other books include The Geek’s Guide to Dating (an IndieBound bestseller), The Girl and the Grove, and the forthcoming Battle of the Bands (Candlewick 2021) and You Can Go Your Own Way (Inkyard Press, 2021).
You can learn more about me here, on this very website!
Farah Naz Rishi
Farah Naz Rishi is a Pakistani-American Muslim writer (and voice actor!). Before becoming a writer, she worked as an editorial assistant at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers.
Her debut novel, I Hope You Get This Message, was published with HarperTeen in 2019. She's currently working on the screenplay for IHYGTM, which was recently optioned by Amazon Studios, and a forthcoming, unannounced novel.
When she’s not racing to meet a deadline, she’s probably hanging out with video game characters.
You can find her at home in Philadelphia, or on Twitter at @far_ah_way. Visit her official website, here.
Jhanteigh Kupihea
Jhanteigh Kupihea is the editorial director at Quirk Books, a Philadelphia publisher, located right around the corner from Indy Hall! Neighbors!
She edited commercial fiction and non-fiction at divisions of Penguin and Simon & Schuster until she joined Quirk in 2018.
Julie Matysik
Julie Matysik is the editorial director at Running Press Kids, the kid-lit branch of Philadelphia’s own Running Press. She’s worked with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors.
You can follow her on Twitter here, and get to know the Running Press Kids list on their official website.
FAQ:
Can I Apply for this if I’m Not in the Philadelphia Area?: Please don’t.
I’m an Industry Pro Who Wants to Help!: Awesome! Email me! I’d love to have you down for a day in Philadelphia.
Does This Pay Anything? Is This an Internships?: No, this is just a membership to Indy Hall, with scheduled appointments with industry professionals, as well as SEPTA fare coverage. I want to give you the time to write and the time to meet people. Though if you’re in on the days I’m in (and I’m there most days) we will probably get pizza. And I promise lots of free books.
When is Indy Hall Open? What Are the Hours?: Indy Hall is open during the week, and you can check out the times on their official website.
What if I Don’t Know What I’m Writing?: That’s fine. Apply anyway. Meet other writers and industry people, and take the quiet time to figure it out.
Are There Other Writers at Indy Hall?: Why yes! There’s me, as well as publishing professionals like Lanternfish Press. You may even spot Anna Goldfarb, who writes for the New York Times and other huge places.