
Novel News
Published May 14, 2026 by Philip Ivory
It’s been a long time since I posted here, and I must apologize. Along with teaching and family obligations, I’ve been focused on finishing a draft of my novel. The good news is I set a goal to complete it by the end of 2025 and achieved it!
I need to think of this blog not as a distraction or burden in my writing journey, but as an ally. That means I’m going to try to be more forthcoming about the struggles of writing and selling a novel. I might as well pour out my frustrations here. In the past, I thought everything I posted here needed to be perfectly sculpted, and mostly about ideas, not myself. That’s too hard to do.
So I’ll see if I can be less hypercritical and more relaxed about just getting something up here that’s relevant to my or your writing life. I’ll try not to just vomit stuff up on the screen. (Ick.)
About my novel … It’s a dark fantasy/horror with a twelve-year-old protagonist. It takes place in a suburban setting, a few decades back. I haven’t watched Stranger Things on Netflix but those who’ve read parts of my novel say it has a similar vibe.
The writing of it began a decade ago in a Writers Studio class here in Tucson, taught by my friend Rene Bibby. (She’s a great teacher, and my predecessor as director of the school’s Tucson branch. She still teaches online classes with The Writers Studio so check her courses out. You won’t regret it.) Originally I saw it as a short story, but it kept growing. And growing. And growing.
Which is my problem. The novel is way over 100,000 words. I’m proud to have written such a substantial work. And I promise it‘s not merely a gargantuan mess, but a story with structure and themes and, I hope, characters that are compelling.
But here’s the sad truth. Few publishers or agents would consider such a large manuscript from a first-time novelist. I’m grappling with how to deal with this. I have to concede that trying to market it as it is would be a non-starter.
So I’ve decided the only choice is to break it into three bite-size portions and market it as a trilogy.
Advantages of this approach:
- It doesn’t affect the story at all.
- If some publishing decision maker likes my pitch for the first volume, it may be a plus to tell them it’s a trilogy with the other two parts ready to go.
Disadvantages:
- Finding breaking points is tricky. A cliffhanger can be a fantastic way to end a book if you wish to persuade a reader to continue to the next volume. And why wouldn’t you? But it can also make it seem like the book doesn’t stand on its own. (Well, it doesn’t.)
- I can’t think of another one right now. Maybe it will come to me later. This is me being less hyper-critical about what I post.
- There is no Rule 3
Right now, I’m immersed in revising the manuscript and preparing supporting documents you need in order to market a novel. (Can I just say “sell a novel?” I hate using “market” as a verb, but that battle is fought and lost. I even used to work in marketing in the nonprofit realm, and I hated the word then, and still do, which is probably why I’m not in marketing anymore.)
I’ll try to write more about those struggles and the resources I’m turning to. And I’ll post any other dumb stuff about writing that I can think of.
Because why not?
VIBRANT VOICES reading in Oro Valley
Published May 31, 2025 by Philip IvoryJoin friends from The Writers Studio and the larger Tucson-area writing community for this special event honoring our talented students. It’s taking place at the fantastic Stacks Book Club in Oro Valley on June 14th at 5:30 PM.
Be sure to RSVP at STACKS BOOK CLUB. Hope to see you there!

Arizona Mystery Writers: Literary Horror
Published May 4, 2025 by Philip IvoryVISIT WRITERS STUDIO TUCSON AT TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
Published March 11, 2025 by Philip Ivory
The Tucson branch of The Writers Studio will be at the Tucson Festival of Books on the University of Arizona campus this coming Saturday and Sunday. Look for us in Booth 138, which is on the western end, near the UA campus Bookstore Tent.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of the UA campus, the Festival is a spectacular celebration of books and writing, with fun events for folks of all ages — and yummy Tucson food. Celebrated authors and publishing professionals come from far and wide to take part.
The Writers Studio Tucson will be holding down our booth from 9:30 to 5:30 on Saturday, March 15th and Sunday, March 16th. Come and say hello to teachers Alice Hatcher, Jennifer Makowsky (both pictured below), Betsy Mahaffey, and Phil Ivory. Student volunteers will be assisting us as we talk to visitors about our classes and the advantages of learning the unique persona writing method pioneered by Writers Studio founder Philip Schultz.

Enjoy the Festival, and please stop by to say hello at booth 138. And if you’re already interested in registering for our classes starting in April, just CLICK HERE.
New Class: ONLINE WRITING LITERARY HORROR
Published December 22, 2024 by Philip Ivory
What can we as writers learn from masters of the horror genre such as Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, and others? What special voices and literary techniques do these accomplished writers use to subtly create moods and situations that unnerve, fascinate, and shock readers in a pleasurable way?
In the class, students will follow the examples set by these masters while applying tried and tested Writers Studio methods. The goal is to help students bring their unique creative material to life in new and vibrant ways. All students are welcome, whether new to The Writers Studio or veterans of our classes. Experience in writing horror is not necessary, but an interest in the genre is recommended. Students can choose to write fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction.
ONLINE WRITING LITERARY HORROR starts on Saturday, February 1st and will be taught by Philip Ivory, director of the Tucson branch of The Writers Studio. The class will be conducted online for six weeks.
For more information or to register:
Register for Writers Studio Tucson Newsletter
Published December 9, 2024 by Philip Ivory
Students of creative writing who are interested in in-person classes in Tucson are encouraged to sign up for the Writers Studio Tucson’s email newsletter.
CLICK HERE to subscribe so you can remain informed about our classes and social events.
January Creative Writing Classes in Tucson
Published December 6, 2024 by Philip Ivory
In-person classes for writers of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction are starting in January. Classes are already filling up so don’t wait.
CLICK HERE for more information and to register for our Tucson classes.
“Over the years that I’ve been writing with the Writers Studio, my writing has flourished in both style and confidence. Through the feedback I’ve received and specific methods used in class, I’ve grown and will continue to hone and develop my skills as a writer. The Writers Studio is a wonderful writing community, and I encourage anyone with the desire for the written word to join us!“
— George Brown, Writers Studio student
We hope to see you in class. If not in Tucson, explore our options for ONLINE CLASSES.
ONLINE WRITING ABOUT CHILDHOOD
Published October 8, 2024 by Philip Ivory
In this online class, students will follow examples set by established writers including Ray Bradbury, Sandra Cisneros, Seamus Heaney, Patrick McCabe, and Jacqueline Woodson while applying tried and tested Writers Studio methods. By looking at techniques and voices crafted by established writers, students learn how to bring their unique creative material to life in new and vibrant ways.
All students are welcome, whether new to The Writers Studio or veterans of our classes. Students can choose to write fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction.
ONLINE WRITING ABOUT CHILDHOOD starts on October 19th and will be taught by Philip Ivory, director of the Tucson branch of The Writers Studio.
CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
“So from the age of twenty-four to thirty-six hardly a day passed when I didn’t stroll myself across a recollection of my grandparents’ northern Illinois grass, hoping to come across some old half-burnt firecracker, a rusted toy, or a fragment of letter written to myself in some young year hoping to contact the older person I became to remind him of his past, his life, his people, his joys and his drenching sorrows. So, I turned myself into a boy running to bring a dipper of clear rainwater out of that barrel by the side of the house. And, of course, the more water you dip out the more flows in. The flow has never ceased.”
— RAY BRADBURY



