The Historian’s Writerly Craft: A Summer Intensive Grounded in Discipline and Artistry
This 12-week craft intensive online workshop is premised on the belief that historians of vast early America are writers, too. We are drawn as much to character, narrative, and storytelling technique as we are to evidence and argumentation. Yet we are often underserved by writing workshops that privilege fiction, memoir, popular/modern history, and journalism. The Historian’s Writerly Craft will balance our particular disciplinary priorities and challenges with our commitment to artistic development.
During Summer 2026 we will convene a group of six dedicated historian-writers in a community that will meet on a bi-weekly, virtual basis (for 3-hour blocks between June and August). We will select the specific meeting times and dates in conversation with the participants. The sessions will be led by Dr. Tamara J. Walker (Barnard College) and Scott Heerman (Omohundro Institute). Participants are expected to attend all sessions. Meetings will focus on a mix of shared readings, craft how-to’s paired with writing exercises, dedicated writing time, and communal sharing of excerpts and feedback. A sample breakdown follows:
Session 1: Orientation, Goal Setting, and Craft How-To (Focus: Worldbuilding)
Session 2: Communal Sharing and Feedback (each participant will circulate and receive feedback on 2- to 3-page excerpts during our session)
Session 3: Craft How-To and Writing Exercises (Focus: Character)
Session 4: Communal Sharing and Feedback (each participant will pre-circulate and receive feedback on 2- to 3-page excerpts)
Session 5: Craft How-To and Writing Exercises (Focus: Narrative and Voice)
Session 6: Communal Feedback (each participant will pre-circulate and receive feedback on 2- to 3-page excerpts) and Closing
In addition, each participant will receive two individual coaching sessions focused on their specific project and goals.
Upon completion of the intensive, participants will receive $500 to be used to support the development of their project. These funds reflect the Omohundro Institute’s ongoing investment in scholarly excellence.
Eligibility
- Historians who have previously published at least one scholarly monograph on vast early America and are interested in honing their writerly voices for their next project.
To apply, please combine the following into a single document and upload via the link below by EOD April 20, 2026.
- A 1-page letter of interest that provides a brief overview of your book project along with five comparable titles geared toward general audiences or that have had crossover success. Please include a mix of titles that share your subject matter, engage similar themes, and that embody a structural or narrative approach that you would like to somehow emulate. It is not required that you seek to publish your book with the Omohundro Institute series. Please indicate if your project is already under contract so that we can balance projects at a range of stages.
- An abbreviated cv or resumé
- A 5- to 10-page excerpt from your work in progress.
Please label the document as follows: LastName.FirstName_HistoriansCraft .
Questions? Contact us directly at oieahc@wm.edu.