Jonathan Evison

Jonathan Evison is an award-winning full-time novelist. He has published ten bestselling novels: All About Lulu, West of Here, The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, This is Your Life, Harriet Chance!, Lawn Boy, Legends of the North Cascades, Small World, Again and Again, and The Heart of Winter. 

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"Four plot lines and nine points of view, two planets, but somehow (my novel) hangs together and those beta readers have confirmed that. Doesn't mean there isn't a fatal flaw somewhere, of course, but it seems readable, at least so far, there is absolutely no way in hell I would have or could have attempted a novel of this scale and breadth without being in (Johnny’s) workshop. None." - Charlie Sheldon, 2025-26 Long Form Novel Participant 

“Working with Jonathan Evison for the past 8 months has been among the most rewarding experiences of my writing life! Johnny is not only an incredibly gifted novelist, he’s an even better human being and mentor — no matter where you are in the writing process, you won’t find a more honest, generous and brilliant guide than Johnny!”  - Ted Flannigan, 2025-26 Long Form Novel Participant 

“I’m in this workshop at the moment, and it’s kicking my butt!!! In the best way possible!!! Jonathan Evison is an ideal teacher/mentor, because he truly cares about the stories we’re struggling to write. So, no matter how far we are in our novel or at what level we are as writers, he knows exactly what we need at the moment we need it. And, bonus, my cohorts are amazing! Totally worth it!!!” - Charlie Flynn, 2025-26 Long Form Novel Writer 

“This workshop has helped me to create credible characters with their competing wants and needs. The camaraderie which has developed with the other writers has provided valuable feedback, making my novel more cohesive and authentic. Johnny gets right to the heart of what I am trying to say and offers valuable insights and suggestions. This workshop is a process that makes me stretch, wish for more and anchors some of my wild plot lines. Oh, lest I forget – it’s a hell of a lot of fun! - Linda English, 2025-26 Long Form Novel Writer 

“This workshop is outstanding. The other writers have been such a resource. I feel challenged and supported more than in any other workshop. Johnny is a fanatic facilitator and leader. His guidance is always right on point. I’d do this again at any opportunity.” - Ryan Carty, 2025-26 Long Form Novel Writer 

“As a member of Jonathan Evison’s inaugural yearlong novel workshop cohort, I can attest it’s a five star experience. Having done a few long-ish workshops now, what I find most compelling about this one is the overall caliber of student writing. We have several published writers among us. Reading their work has motivated, challenged, and educated me. However, it’s Johnny’s feedback on the writing that so often gets to the marrow. He always has some golden nugget of insight. Perhaps more than anything else I’ve gotten out of this course is the learning that’s come from listening to how he reads, his observation about what is both on and off the page. There’s also the bonus feature of the class being bookended by weeklong adult summer camps for bookworms. Gorgeous water views, trails for days, and a roughly one-minute walk to the beach. Anyhow. FIVE STARS. Say yes fast or spend the next year awash in regret.” - Rachel Harrington, 2025-26 Long Form Novel Writer 

“The best part about this class, besides Jonathan himself and the way he lays out his soul about the difficulties of a writing career, is the ability to look at my fellow cohorts writing and see the wonders I have yet to achieve, and the mistakes I make constantly and each week relentlessly improve my writing.” -Bret Wirta, 2025-26 Long Form Novel Writer 

The workshop begins in person in October 2026, during a 6-day fall retreat at Fort Worden State Park on the Olympic Peninsula and shores of the Salish Sea.  

Following that weeklong session, we will submit monthly packets and meet online twice a month for a year. Over the course of the year, participants will workshop progress on novel drafts. We will audit our process, our approach, our themes, and advance our plots and characters toward complete drafts. 

After eight months of working together, our workshop will culminate in another weeklong retreat in June 2027, where we will finalize discussions of our drafts and talk about what happens to them upon completion. 

Please note the following dates, including when to apply for consideration for the workshop: 

Applications accepted online, May 1  – September 1, 2026 

In person at Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, WA, October 20 – 25, 2026 

In person at Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, WA, June 20 – 26, 2027

Online workshop meetings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, November 2026 through June 2027. 

Additional meetings online with guest authors, editors and agents, organized throughout the year (TBA) 

$7,750 total, which can be paid in 9 installments or all at once (see below)

$550 deposit due at time of application, fully refundable if not admitted to the workshop

10% discount for paying full tuition before the first in-person workshop meeting at the 2026 fall retreat, October 20-25, 2026, which amounts to a one-time payment of $6,450 ($7,000 - $550 deposit); or

9 monthly installments of $800 in addition to the 1 deposit at the time of application ($7,750 - $550 deposit) on the first of the month from November 2026 – June 2027

For accepted applicants, tuition includes:

9 months of instruction led by award-winning and bestselling novelist Jonathan Evison 

2 weeks of in person, concentrated work during retreats at Fort Worden State Park, located on the inspiring shores of the Salish Sea on the Olympic Peninsula 

Housing and meals on campus at Fort Worden State Park during your in-person retreats at Fort Worden State Park  

2 online sessions a month for 8 months, for a total of 16 online sessions 

Dynamic discussions about drafting novels (organization, character, plot development, reader expectations) and living a writing life (workflow, rhythm, and habit) 

Support from Jonathan Evison, including emails and discussions as he mentors you and your peers through drafting novels and living a writing life 

Consistent writing schedule, submitting monthly packets as you make progress toward the draft of your novel 

Personalized feedback from your peers and Jonathan Evison on the first 5-7 pages of every packet you submit 

Connections with a workshop and community of writers dedicating themselves to learning about and writing or re-envisioning a novel 

Guest appearances and discussions with award-winning novelists and bestsellers including Kristin Hannah, Stewart O'Nan, Jami Attendburg, Will Vlautin, and Lidia Yuknovitch; as well as discussions with developmental editor Jim Thomsen, along with a prominent literary agent (TBD) 

For accepted applicants, tuition does not include:

Travel to and from Fort Worden State Park for in-person retreats in October 2026 and June 2027

Postage, printing, internet, or cell phone expenses throughout the 12-month course of the workshop