The Austin Stone Institute’s Writer Development Program exists to train writers to create compelling work for the glory of God and the flourishing of people. If you love to write and want to work hard to hone your craft in a collaborative and supportive community, we invite you to apply for the Writer Development Program. Please note that in-person program applicants need to be local to Central Texas. If you’re outside the Austin area, our self-paced online program is the best option for you!
The Vision
Built by writers for writers, WriterDev offers training in a variety of genres. This approach essentially condenses a multi-year typical writing program into eight months. WriterDev focuses on the writer as a whole person, and you’ll regularly learn and practice application in theology, craft, and creativity. Along with “cross-training” in various writing genres, we cover topics related to the writing life, such as what it means to be a Christian who writes, the necessity of regular collaboration and critique, and keys for writing longevity and stewardship. If you love to write and want to learn to steward that gift well, we encourage you to apply!
Writing Matters
Writers influence culture and effect change through thoughtfully-crafted and compelling work. As writers who believe in Jesus, we have been given a calling through Christ—we can use our words to comfort the hurting, set free the captive, give sight to the blind, and proclaim the good news of our great God, no matter if we’re writing a Bible study or a short story. If that vision gets your heart beating a little faster or stirs up a story in your head, we invite you to apply to join our thriving writer community!
We're Not Looking For Expert Writers
We’re looking for people who:
Exhibit humility. WriterDev believes regular feedback is crucial for creating excellent work.
Pursue excellence. We are dedicated to growing, and strive for excellence, not perfection.
Desire collaborative experiences. You will work alongside other writers in group trainings and cohorts to grow your craft together.
Program Details
We built the Writer Development Program to help writers of any experience and skill level learn to steward their writing gift and grow in their creativity. Through practicing a variety of writing genres in a collaborative cohort environment, you’ll get equipped to write what is good, beautiful, and true in whatever context you’re called to. Time and location details for the 2023–2024 program year coming late-spring 2023.
Program Cost: $399
Program Length: September 2023 - April 2024
Program Style: Cohort-based