Frequently Asked Questions

How did Ready Chapter 1 start?

RC1 Academy essentially started when COVID shut down a local in-person writers' group led by author / illustrator Fred Koehler. Not wanting to leave his writers hanging, Fred asked them what they felt would be most helpful. The results of those conversations led to the idea of a year-long, interconnected workshop series that meets you where you are at as you write your novel.

For whom is RC1 Academy intended?

RC1 Academy is designed for novelists intending to pitch their stories to traditional publishers. Our 10 month program is built to move along with you as you write something new, so a perfect student would come with the seed of an idea, ready to grow it into a fully fledged novel and pitch package. This process would also be useful for a finished novel undergoing a full revision.

What if I self-publish or use a hybrid publishing model?

Our query and pitch workshop at the culmination of the academy may seem less valuable to you, but the art of pitching is a useful tool to every author. Besides, you may decide that a traditional publishing route is in the cards after all.

What if I write JUST for kids and teens?

You're in the right place. All of our faculty has extensive experience in the children's publishing market.

What if I write JUST for adults?

You're still in the right place. In addition to the children's market, many of our faculty members write / edit / acquire for the adult market as well. And because great storytelling transcends genre, the same tools can be valuable whether you write pre-teen friendship stories or futuristic zombie romance.

What if I write picture books?

We would love to say that picture book writers would benefit from RC1 Novel Academy, but only about half of the subject matter would be relevant. For instance, one of the classes is just about scene structure, so it will be 100% focused on how to set up sub-chapters. Please note that if you decide to participate as a picture book writer, we can't steer off course to answer picture book specific questions.

Can I participate if I'm a high school student?

Per the terms of our platform, anyone under 18 must have a parent's permission to participate. We recommend students be at least 16. Explicit content goes against our community standards, but there may be discussions of romance writing that are physical in nature or action scenes that contain violence.

How long are the workshop sessions?

Our workshops start with 90 minutes of instruction followed by a 30 minute Q&A session. The tools discussed in the workshops are intended for students to be able to use at their own pace as needed.

How long will students have access to the recordings?

The recordings will be available through the end of 2022. After that, we've promised the individual teachers that they will be removed.

Do you offer scholarships?

RC1 believes that excellence in the arts can help people build better lives. A limited number of merit- and need-based scholarships are available for those who cannot afford to pay. Underrepresented voices are encouraged to apply.

Will I be able to query my book to faculty members?

Our acquiring editors and agents are generally open to submissions, but that's not the point of RC1 Academy. We hope that you'll use the opportunity to learn and grow as a writer, especially using the tools from the pitch and query workshop to create a plan and find the perfect agents or editors to query–not just the ones on faculty.

Will I be offered a publishing deal at the end of this program?

The RC1 faculty includes acquiring editors and agents, but there is no guarantee that they will be interested in representing or acquiring your story. If an agent or editor from the program is interested in your story, they will reach out to you individually and independently.

Will I have a chance to query during this program?

Our program culminates with a pitch and query workshop designed to help you plan your query process based on your specific book and genre.

Will my writing receive feedback?

While there are no formal submissions as part of the program this year, we do have a number of feedback opportunities built into the RC1 Academy structure including Faculty Feedback Raffles, First Pages Critiques, and Peer Feedback Forums.

Can I take this course with a friend or with my writers group?

The more the merrier! Please enroll individually.

Will I get the chance to share with the RC1 community about my book?

Our forums will include opportunities to talk shop about our books as well as any good news we receive in the process.

Can I speak/teach at the Academy?

RC1 carefully curates our faculty each year in order to secure experts at specific elements of craft. The best way to get invited is to continue doing great work as a teacher!

Can I share my business or author services with the Academy?

You’re welcome to talk about your books and writing but our non-solicitation policy states that we reserve conversation about author services to our affiliate partners.

How do I become an Affiliate Partner of Ready Chapter 1?

Reach out to us at team (at) readychapter1 (dot) com.

Will I be able to contact Ready Chapter 1 faculty?

Our faculty is made up of working authors, editors, and agents. We cannot guarantee that they will respond to personal emails outside of class.

I am having trouble logging on. What do I do?

Another Academy member is not adhering to the Community Standards, and it is affecting me negatively. What do I do?

Do you offer payment plans?

Our academy plan has the option of a single payment or broken up over two months.

Is my payment/information safe on your platform/website?

RC1 Academy is built on the Teachable platform, which manages user data and secure payment portals for over 70,000 online schools.

What's your refund policy?

If you decide RC1 Academy isn't for you after the first class, you'll have 30 days to request a full refund. After that, we are unfortunately unable to offer refunds.

Is Ready Chapter 1 hiring?

We hope so! We’re good for the 2022 Academy, but will be recruiting volunteers, faculty, and staff for 2023.