Come join us for Writers for the Resistance:
a Pop-Up Gateless Writing Salon for the Revolutionary within
The Gateless Academy
This ten-month sanctuary and mastery program for writers with work-in-progress is the most comprehensive book-building program in the world.
Writing really can be doubled-over laughter, a hit of the divine, a wild uncovering of untold stories, a daring ride into the singular genius you hold inside.
The Academy Offers Rolling Admissions
The Method
Created from neuroscientific research at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health, the Academy uses a cutting-edge method to grow your writing to unprecedented heights. Drawing out your singular genius and innate talent, you will create incredibly unique work that takes risks and makes the world take notice. This program believes in full access to little-known craft tools, agents’ names, publishing resources, and the truth about how to write proposals and queries that win you the book deal. Our authors have more book deals per capita than any other writing program in the world.
The Experience
Spend a year immersed in a program that can take your book from the bloom of that first idea all the way to the finished draft. In this one-of-a-kind, transformative online experience, you will finally find the accountability, the connections and the guidance you need to move you to the point of publication and beyond. With mentorship from New York’s top agents, critically-acclaimed authors and publicity experts, this ten-month-long program will guide you in creating a book that’s ready to sell big on the world stage.
The Result
Writers who have graduated from the Gateless Academy have been repped by literary agencies such as Park and Fine, Writer’s House, Inkwell, William Morris, Aevitas Creative, DeFiore & Company, and Carol Mann. Academy writers have signed book deals with HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, St. Martin’s Press and more. They have been profiled in top media outlets, including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Business Insider, O Magazine, the Today Show and Rolling Stone Magazine, and appear year after year on best-of lists profiling books that change the world.
Where
Built by creatives for creatives, the Academy offers a cross-section of online and live programming that includes incredible curricula and live conference calls that give you access to award-winning luminaries, a community with which to discuss your work-in-progress, and to Suzanne, one of the top developmental editors in the country. The curricula includes 100+ hours of private seminars detailing how to build your book, the map to revision, how to get an agent and publisher, and how to build the elusive author platform.
Who
The Academy accepts non-fiction and fiction writers looking to build thriving writing careers. Writers enter at any stage of the writing journey and include novelists, memoirists, journalists, content creators, corporate olympians, healing arts therapists and more. You will be amongst a community of alumni who are media favorites, best-selling writers, branding consultants, award-winning screenwriters and Grammy-nominated songwriters. They are here to encourage you during the entirety of your writing career.
When
The Academy offers rolling admissions and moves with you through ten months as you become an in-demand writer. We curate the sessions and the internationally-recognized Gateless Writing salons to match your schedule so that professionals and parents can build their books inside very busy lives. The 100+ hours of in-depth craft seminars are on your time, at your pace. Our timeline works for even the most scheduled writers. The dynamic elements of the program build writing that transcends the existing domain and lets you burst into entirely new literary landscapes.
“Gateless gave me the network, the support and the resources to go from someone who knew she wanted to write a paradigm-shifting book, to a critically-acclaimed author, speaker and movement-leader, whose book was published last year by my dream publishing house. Gateless is a unicorn in the world of writing and publishing. No one does it better.”
~ Deepa Purushothaman, critically-acclaimed author of The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America
Industry Intel
Built from some of the highest literary minds in the world, the Academy’s core craft seminars include 100+ hours. They have moved writers from first drafts to six-figure offers from Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Henry Holt, Little Brown, St. Martin’s Press and more. These seminars are with you throughout the year to build the book from the bottom up, including never-before-heard intel on critical blocks, platform-building, the query, the proposal and the book deal. Established writers who are Academy alums have said the seminars remain critical touchpoints throughout their lives as authors.
Faculty
During your ten-month journey, you will meet with luminaries from both the creative and the business side of publishing, who will help massage your journey to the completed manuscript. Previous luminaries include multi-genre authors who have hit best-seller lists, comedic writers who have graced the nation’s largest stages, talented film script advisors, literary agents, and media favorites. Many of the faculty have been through the Academy themselves and found success on the other side. Available exclusively for Academy writers, they meet with us for intensives throughout the year to explain how to create the platform and proposal, and land the agent of your dreams.
The Works
Enter the Academy by applying below. Acceptance gives you access to the Gateless Writing Academy portal. Here is your extensive library of luminary calls, craft sessions, access to over 100+ hours of in-depth craft seminars with Suzanne. Meet the writers in your literary community, find answers to how to move forward with the first draft, the query, the proposal and the sale. Here is where you will find up-to-date intel on the schedule, live sessions with Suzanne and time with bestselling writers, agents, publishers. All live sessions are recorded and you may send questions ahead of time. We can’t wait to meet you there!
View Syllabus HERE.
View Luminaries HERE.
View Alumni HERE.
“The Gateless Academy is one of the most vital, enriching, freaking-beautiful things I’ve ever done for my writing and for me. I felt tentative when I signed up, lacking confidence. Through the Academy, I gained a team of cheerleaders and felt very close to the online risktakers and shakers. The insights from the Academy have gotten inside me, they are in my blood. There are many approaches to writing and teaching writing, the Gateless approach blends science and spirit and integrates the best part of ourselves, so we can connect to the best part of others.”
~ Kate Gray, Pushcart Prize nominee and author of the critically acclaimed novel, Carry the Sky
Live Sessions with Suzanne
One of the most sought-after developmental editors in the country, Suzanne is famous for the commitment she has for her writers and moving them onto a (big!) literary stage. In these live, monthly sessions, she will teach you the little-known brain state you need to be in to create a page-turning bestseller. Award-winning novelist Bren McClain calls these sessions “church” for how they transform, ground and burst through your most persistent blocks. Suzanne is not only a mentor but a “channel” for your power on the page.
The Live Writing Studio
A membership in the New Rules Studio, offering live Gateless Writing salons, founded by award-winning writer and speaker Terri Trespicio, is included in your Academy experience. Three times a week you will have the opportunity to write, live, with Gateless-trained teachers. This globally-recognized writing room is led by award-winning novelists and inspiring non-fiction writers. Once you are accepted into the Academy, you can decide when you want to come to the Studio and how often. It is always there for you. Supporting, inspiring, and reenergizing, these focused, prompted writing sessions help you get an incredible amount done in a condensed amount of time.
Big Media Opportunities
During the ninth month of the Academy, as you move out into the world, you will have a month’s free access to our media darling, Amber Petty. Amber is fast becoming THE guide to getting your work placed with celebrated media including The New York Times, WIRED, Forbes, Bustle, CNN, Greatist and more. This membership gives you access to pitching and platform-building that really works. This is available to all accepted Academy students during the month of June.
“The Academy ranks as one of the most important gifts I have ever given my work. Suzanne Kingsbury was truly sent here by the gods. The Academy lasts a lifetime. The seminars hold wisdom for the ages. Gateless buoys you forever.”
~ Bren McClain, winner of the William Faulkner – William Wisdom Writing Prize and author of the critically acclaimed, One Good Mama Bone
I’m so happy you are here!
After working for over twenty-four years in the publishing industry, first as a bestselling writer and then as an industry insider, it became clear to me: Writers need an oasis.
We need our own literary home.
A decade ago, I created the Gateless Academy for writers with a unique story to tell. Now, we are one of the most comprehensive book-building programs in the world with writers from all over the globe represented by the best literary agents and published by Henry Holt, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hatchette and more.
You don’t have to feel overwhelmed as you birth your book. Here is a portal of unbridled support, industry intel, network connections, and the craft and revision tools to bring you from the raw draft, to the very best agent for your book.
You were born to write. And this can be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. Together we will demystify the process and let rise the incredible genius you hold inside.
Can’t wait to meet you!!!
Suzanne
“The Gateless Academy was the most holistic, organic, and powerful learning experience of my fifty-one-year-old life. And I know for certain, being part of this hive of creative genius was what lead me to connect with the perfect-for-me literary agent. No part of my being was untouched by having been blessed by this visceral creative support.”
~ Melanie Maure, expert counsellor, coach and author of Sisters of Belfast,
repped by Aevitas Creative and published by HarperCollins
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do we meet and how much time does the Academy require?
The Academy is built by writers for writers, entrepreneurs, doctors, moms, anyone who has a life and also wants to write fantastic content (books, essays, stories etc…). It is elastic and flexible and still offers you something every week, so that you can dip in. We offer intimate calls with luminaries each month and sessions with Suzanne so that you can talk about your work. The times of the sessions vary (the schedule will come to you once you are accepted) so that all are able to attend at some point. These calls are also recorded and sent right to your inbox.
The craft seminars are in the Academy portal and are recorded. Built from the highest literary minds in the country, these seminars are all-inclusive and presented like a podcast, so you can listen at any time when you want and need them. Written summaries remind you of the key points. These are released monthly and you have access to them for the entire ten months of the program.
We provide live, virtual Gateless Writing salons in the New Rules Studio; salons are offered three times a week so that you can find a time that works for your schedule. Amber Petty has live programming and records everything as well.
How do I access the craft seminars?
You will find the craft seminars in the portal along with the entire archive and library of the Gateless Academy. New seminars are released each month. These hold your hand through the process of creating incredibly high-end writing that moves a crowd. You will be able to listen to the sessions at your leisure, as they are set up like a podcast. Written summaries show you the key points so you can review anytime you like while you are writing and revising. These craft seminars take you through critical blocks, the rough draft, how to begin, end, handle description, timing, scene, chapter, the book proposal, the agent, the sale and the platform. You will find absolutely everything you need. View our syllabus HERE.
When are the live sessions with Suzanne?
Live sessions with Suzanne are by phone, on our recorded conference line. You will meet with her twice a month, once for a luminary call with one of our faculty and once with her alone. We stagger the sessions throughout the year so that every writer has a chance to participate in a live call with Suzanne. During these intimate seventy-minute sessions your most pressing concerns about your writing and publishing journey are answered. These are private coaching moments that expand to a larger audience, where Suzanne speaks to you one-on-one giving you specific skill-building, soul nurturing advice. Suzanne has been in the publishing world for over twenty-five years and is incredibly resourced and networked in. Her commitment and guidance to your vision provides a true north star throughout your literary career.
When do I meet the luminaries?
From top agents, to world-renowned authors and experts on breaking the cycle of the inner-critic, the Academy luminaries are generous, mission-driven writers who have surpassed all odds to find themselves on the world-stage with books that change lives. As an Academy writer, you will be introduced to literary luminaries from the genres of memoir, fiction, how-to and short-form publishing once a month in live calls throughout the year. During these in-depth, hour-long sessions you will gain an expanded and comprehensive understanding of craft, the creative process, the industry and the inner critic, including what it takes to write an internationally recognized title. We shift luminaries each year to meet the demands and needs of our current Academy writers. See a sample of past luminaries HERE.
How often can I attend Terri Trespicio’s live New Rules Studio?
Three times a week, you will be offered live writing salons by Gateless-trained teachers and receive inspiration from seasoned facilitators with prompts and the opportunity for feedback. The times vary to meet everyone’s schedules.
How do I access the Academy library?
The main foundation of the Academy is the password-protected Academy portal. The portal opens on October 23 (this is the first time you can gain access; you may be accepted up until January 1, and all content before that date is recorded and stored in the portal). In the portal, you will find the 100+ hours of recorded craft seminars, released each month, on topics from breaking through the stuckness of the critic, to the sale. These will take your hand and walk you through the extensive process of writing a book. Included in the portal is a vast library of past live sessions with Suzanne that answer specific questions about work-in-progress, platform-building, the sale and more. The best luminary calls from past Academy years can also be found in the portal and these include agents, screenwriters, publishers and media favorites in the literary world.
Will you tell me how to get an agent?
The Academy starts with seminars on how to bust through creative blocks and from there provides you with absolutely everything you need—including the finest craft points to create the bestseller, how to build a query that makes the agent drop everything to call you, how to build a proposal that lands the publishing deal, the difference between indie and corporate publishers—and lets you in on the names of the best literary agencies to query in the industry. We also have Academy developmental editors on hand to help you through this process, if you would like more guidance.
Will you walk me through how to write a proposal and a query?
Absolutely. Gateless has been building and selling bestselling proposals since the early aughts. Our Academy writers have had their proposals touted as some of the best agents have ever seen. There is a science and an art to writing a query that grabs an agent’s eye and a book proposal that secures the deal. The Academy was designed to demystify this process, give you agency over it and send you flying out into the world ablaze with possibilities when it comes to the sale of your book.
What if I can’t come to the live programming?
It’s alright if you can’t come. Everything is recorded: seminars, luminary calls and sessions with Suzanne; dip in anytime. Just enter the Academy portal with the password you are given after acceptance and you will find all the content there.
DATES
The Academy portal officially opens October 23 with rolling admission continuing until December 15. Because the Academy tends to fill early, please apply HERE as early as you can.
PAYMENT
The Gateless Academy is underwritten by an anonymous angel investor who is part of the Gateless teachers community and supports libraries and literary arts organizations across New England. This helps Gateless offer the full Academy program for less than 50 percent of what the program would normally cost with the option of payment plans for every writer.
The Academy payment includes:
- 120 hours of intensive craft instruction
- 10 luminary calls with Academy faculty
- 10 live sessions with Suzanne
- 15 live Gateless Writing salons per month
- 1 month with Amber Petty in short-form publishing, media appearances and platform building
- Access to a vast library of recorded craft and luminary sessions
- Membership in an alumni network and global literary community
The cost is $6,500 for the academic year (a long payment plan is available). An initial deposit of $1,500 holds your space. The remaining $5,000 can be paid after the first seminars are released.
Alternatively, after the initial $1,500 deposit is made, the writer can pay $500 a month for ten months.
If you choose the second option of paying monthly, there will be a small processing fee each month. Payments may be made by check, Venmo or PayPal. The Academy cost is tax deductible.
“The Academy was life-changing. When I started, I was filled with doubts. Through massive Gateless love, Suzanne’s unbelievably insightful words to me during the writer’s showcase, and her amazing seminars, I felt a huge paradigm shift. The Academy is about transformation and alchemy. Other writing programs give you the mundane, Gateless has the magic. I was transformed as an artist because of it. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!!!”
~ Daintry Jensen, MA, author of the critically acclaimed, The Hidden Forest