Why a College Alternative Program for Writers?
Many creative young people who love writing find themselves floundering after high school. You know your child has a creative spark, and worry that a traditional college program could stifle them. But you also want them to mature into a responsible adult who can pay the bills and pursue their dreams wisely.
That’s why the Author Conservatory exists. We help aspiring authors lay a strong foundation for a long-term, sustainable writing career.
Conservatory, noun: “A school specializing in one of the fine arts.”
The Author Conservatory was started by professional authors who saw the limitations of most college creative writing programs and wanted to create a better route that trained students to write genre novels & didn’t involve college debt.
The conservatory model dates back to the 16th century. Instead of taking classes in a broad range of disciplines, students in a conservatory take classes exclusively focused on the craft & business skills needed for their future career.
In the past, conservatories only existed for the visual & performing arts. We’ve innovated this time-tested model by bringing it online for writers.
We follow an intensive mentorship format so students an get regular professional feedback on their writing.
Students are taught by award-winning authors, professional editors, and successful entrepreneurs.
Students will complete at least two full-length novels under the direction of industry professionals.
Students will launch a profitable entrepreneurial venture and learn tools for building a business around their writing.
Students will graduate with the tools they need to pursue publication and earn money as an entrepreneur.
“I can say without reservation that this is one of the best things that ever happened to my writing and to me as a person. If your goal is to be an author, I can’t recommend The Author Conservatory highly enough.”
Watch Your Child Learn from Authors, Editors, & Entrepreneurs
Brett Harris
Bestselling author of Do Hard Things and Start Here
Kara Swanson
Award-winning author of Dust and Shadow
Katie Phillips
Professional editor and author branding coach.
Brian O'Rear
Founder of a multi-million dollar home inspector franchise
Amanda Dykes
Christy award-winning author.
Margaret McGriff
Digital content strategist & fantasy adventure author.
Kimberley Woodhouse
CBA bestselling & multi-award-winning author of 45+ books.
Katie Williams
Enclave Publishing proofreader & freelance editor.
And Achieve Real Results
(These profiles accurately reflect what is possible when students are trained in both writing and business skills – but results reflect our students’ own intense dedication and hard work. We cannot guarantee these outcomes for every student.)
Every Student Graduates in 3 years with…
Two full-length projects written with coaching & direction from writing professionals.
A viable financial strategy for writing & entrepreneurship.
The tools necessary for their own business venture that earns money at a high hourly rate.
A network of writing peers and professional industry connections to support their career.
“I will never be a starving artist, and I have the Author Conservatory to thank for that.”
175 students as of September 2026
Average class size: 6 students
9:1 student-faculty ratio as of September 2026 (national average: 14:1)
15% acceptance rate in 2025-26 (national average: 70%)
86% retention rate for 2025-26 (national average: 67%)
88% of 2024 alumni would choose the Conservatory again 9 months after graduation
Founded in 2020
Learn How We Prepare Students for a Long-Term Writing Career
Get our free, one-hour training on the strategic way to build a sustainable writing career.
Profile of Our Ideal Student
Dreams of writing and publishing books for the rest of their life.
Loves Christ and wants to make a difference in the lives of their readers, whether in the Christian market or the general market.
Has already established a rigorous writing habit and spends hours on their writing each week.
Has accumulated meaningful experience working on writing projects.
Is ready to take their next steps and start preparing for a future writing career now.
(Unsure if your child meets our ideal profile or not? Encourage them to fill out an application and we’ll let them know if you’re ready for the Conservatory or not.)
What Ages is the Conservatory Designed For?
The Author Conservatory normally accepts students who are between the ages of 15 & 30, though we occasionally make exceptions. Generally speaking, students thrive the most when they aren’t doing this alongside other schooling or full-time working hours. That being said, we’ve seen dedicated students succeed while they’re still in high school, a traditional college, or working full-time. If your child is within this age range and want to consider the program more, we’d love to see their application.
How Much Time Does the Conservatory Take?
We recommend that students set aside a minimum of 15 hours per week engaging in the instructional content of the program and working on their personal writing & business projects. That being said, because this is an intensive mentorship program, we can take students a lot further if they invest more time. Students who are able to spend 20-30 hours a week on the program are able to set and achieve more ambitious writing & business goals.
When Do New Students Start?
We operate all twelve months of the year and don’t take a three-month summer break, so we have new students starting the program every month. Spots do fill up, however, and we can be booked months in advance. If we accept a new student into the program, we’ll talk with them about what our availability looks like and allow them to choose their own start date, up to 12 months in advance, as long as spots are still open. For more information on what spots are currently available, encourage your child to fill out an application so we can talk to you more about the program.
Do Students Need to Write Christian Fiction?
Nope! We give students the tools to pursue a sustainable writing & entrepreneurial career, whether they want to go into the Christian market or the mainstream market. Students don’t need to write for the Christian fiction genre. But we will help students who want to do so–and equip students who want to subtly weave their faith into writing for the general market.
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