Deadline Darlings

• Submit 15 pages of prose once a month.
• Receive detailed written feedback.
• Discuss your goals and challenges in a one-on-one 45-minute call.

Because sometimes, all you need is a deadline, darling.

Cost

$160/month, billed automatically.

Cancel anytime. Please note that no refunds will be issued for bookings, but there is no penalty for canceling your subscription.

Who can be a Deadline Darling?

This offering is for fiction and nonfiction writers of all backgrounds and experience-levels. No matter where you are in your writing life, I would love to help you with your work.

I've facilitated writing workshops for the past five years and have noticed that most writers have trouble maintaining their momentum outside of the workshop environment. Deadline Darlings hopes to fix that by spacing out submission deadlines throughout the year rather than concentrating them during a class.

And speaking of classes: Deadline Darlings is especially ideal for writers who don't have time to take a writing class.

→ → → IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SCHEDULING → → →

This offering includes a 45-minute one-on-one call each month. Calls will only be available to schedule during the following windows after the 15th of the month:

• Tuesday evenings, 5-7pm EST
• Wednesday afternoons, 1-5pm EST

Zero exceptions will be made for scheduling, so please do not purchase unless you will be available during one of these time slots for your one-on-one call!

Also, no submissions will be taken in June or December. Billing will be fully refunded for these months. (Unfortunately, membership pausing is currently unavailable on this platform.)

How It Works

1. Submit your writing by the deadline, darling. You'll receive an email prompting you to submit your 15 pages of prose by the 1st day of the month at 11:59pm EST.
2. Receive written feedback from me. Prior to the 15th of the month, I'll send along my notes on your submission, which will include:
   • Overall notes on strengths and weaknesses in the work.
   • Suggestions on continuing forward in the project.
   • Answers to any questions you outlined in your submission.
3. Hop on Zoom with me. During our 45-minute one-on-one call, we'll discuss my feedback on your work, your ideas for the work you're planning to submit next month, the challenges you're facing in your writing life, and anything else writing-related that's on your mind.
4. Repeat the next month. And relish the feeling of meeting your deadline all over again!

What to Submit

As long as it is prose—fiction or nonfiction—I am here to read it. Some ideas:

📖 a chapter of your novel or memoir

📓 an essay or short story from your growing collection

✏️ an outline of a book

📔 a section of your reported nonfiction project

As much as I love poems and plays, please do not submit poems or plays.

Submission Specs

• Submit via email by the 1st of the month at 11:59pm EST. You'll receive an email prompting you to do so during the last week of the month.
• Submit up to 15 pages of double-spaced text with 1" margins.
• Attach your submission as a Word doc or a Google doc with editing access granted. Do not send PDFs: I'll need to be able to comment in the margins of your submission.
• In the body of your submission email, feel free to include any context that feels crucial and/or questions you'd like me to address.

FAQs

If I sign up, when is my first deadline? Your first deadline will be on the 1st day of the month the month after you sign up. Example: if you sign up on December 16, your first deadline will be January 1. If you sign up on January 1, your first deadline will be February 1. Submit your pages before 11:59pm EST on the day of the deadline.

How do I submit my writing? Reply to the email you'll receive prior to your deadline. Attach your pages as a Word doc or link to a Google doc with editing access granted.

How do I schedule my one-on-one call? You'll receive a Calendly scheduling link along with your written feedback around the 15th of the month.

Do I have to be working on a book to be eligible? Nope! I love working with writers on single short stories and essays. As long as what you're working on falls under the "prose" umbrella, I'm here to help you.

15 pages sounds like a lot. Do I have to submit that much? You may submit up to 15 pages each month, but you're welcome to submit less.

What are you going to do if I submit more than 15 pages? I will read to the bottom of the 15th page.

I thought I could make the deadline, but turns out, I can't. Can I get a refund? For this offering, no refunds will be issued. If you are unable to submit your pages in time, you'll still be eligible to schedule a one-on-one call.

I only want to schedule you for one or two feedback sessions. How do I do that? Sign up and cancel anytime. If no slots are available, please check back again later for openings.

Does Deadline Darlings last all year? No submissions will be taken in June or December. Billing will be fully refunded for these months. (Unfortunately, membership pausing is currently unavailable on this platform.)

Student Testimonials

"Writing is finally a joy again thanks to Hurley’s expert insights." —Emma

"Hurley created a wonderful environment for me to explore my voice as a writer." —Lexi

"As a reader, Hurley is one of my favorites, guiding critique sessions with an astute understanding of craft." —Rebecca

"Hurley taught me about structure, writing styles, character building, and so much more." —Nermeen

"I leave feeling fulfilled, inspired, and ready to take on the problems in my writing." —Kalee

Who is Hurley Winkler?

• I'm an Editorial Assistant for the independent publisher Rose Books.
• I've been facilitating writing workshops for fiction and nonfiction writers for the past five years in private online classes and at Flagler College.
• I have an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University.
• I'm also a writer myself, on submission with my first novel. I'm represented by Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Learn more about my work here.