ENROLL IN THE INLET NOVEL SALON TO SUPPORT YOUR NOVEL’S DEVELOPMENT–AND YOUR DEVELOPMENT AS A NOVELIST.
Find your novel’s true north.
Grow your confidence as your muse befriends your inner critic.
All writers want to know where their story is going, and how to get there.
But they need more than just a map.
Signing up for the Inlet Novel Salon is like enrolling in an orienteering course for novelists.
It gives you a map and compass, teaches you how to use them–even set them aside when you need a break to go “off trail.”
By combining known maps and the thrill of discovery, you’re better able to find your plot, your characters’ true natures, and your novel’s deepest themes.
What if you stopped telling yourself you need to know everything.
The structure you started with may stop making sense–but you CAN rework it. Your dialogue may seem static–but you CAN make it more dynamic. Characters who read as flat CAN become dimensional.
Getting your bearings while drafting and revising isn’t a one time thing. It’s a continual process.
Once you know that, you can relax. You’ll soon hone your sense of direction, and trust that with every turn, even if you feel like you’re going backwards, there’s always a way to orient again.
Center yourself in the feeling you get when you trust your own choices, even let the choices of your own characters and the momentum of your plot guide you in the right direction. And when it’s not quite feeling right, learn ways to gain momentum in a new direction–even discover new territory.
Contact Angela for details at angelarydell@gmail.com.
If you are looking for a supportive, compassionate mentor to help you unleash your creative potential, I highly recommend working with Angela Rydell. I’ve had the pleasure of participating in Angela’s Flash Fiction Salon not just once, but twice. The generous, insightful feedback I received from both Angela and the other Salon participants provided me with imaginative solutions as to how to improve and push the boundaries of my work. Several of the pieces I’ve gone on to publish found their genesis in this wonderful workshop. Angela’s continual friendship and support has been a true gift. ~Kristin Tenor, former CRAFT editor-in-chief/flash fiction section editor
MAKE YOUR NOVEL MATTER MORE
I’ve worked with over 1,000 writers, taught creative writing for twenty years, and though I often get questions like “How do I plot” and “How do I create a character readers care about?” the most important question novelists need to ask is this:
“What is my story REALLY about?”
We want to work out structure. Figure out the propulsion and systems of plot. Make characters pop on the page. But even more than that, we want our novels to MATTER.
Mastering plot, structure, character development, or setting alone can’t make your story matter. They’re important! But not enough.
Yet many writers fixate on polishing dialogue or describing traits, hitting plot points or detailing setting—and miss what’s underneath all those surface details or action sequences. We can get so caught up in perfecting the motions characters go through we forget WHY the characters are doing what they’re doing in the first place.
The most successful writers know to look inside the story for answers—and inside the characters within it, to identify and develop the internal arc of their novels and map it to their novel’s themes.
Each month the salon explores a different craft element or writing biz tip, from metaphor to marketing, theme building to world building, sentence-play to double-duty dialogue.
Dig deep into underlying meanings that speak to what matters most to you.
Build transformative character arcs that show measurable change on the page.
Strengthen subtext and symbolism so it delivers your novel’s deepest truths.
My half-done novel sat in a messy pile. Then I found Angela. She guided me step-by-step in rescuing and renewing my writing practice. We met via phone, or zoom in two-to-three-week intervals for nearly two years. My submission dates were mutually scheduled and provided the motivation to keep my writing on course. Her expertise and insight gave me valuable strategies for improving and completing my novel. Foremost, Angela is kind and wise imparting her guidance. If you are a writer looking for a great coach, writing expert, and a way forward, contact Angela. ~V.L. Stewart, Kalamazoo, Michigan
What kind of novelists will benefit most from the Novel Salon Program?
The salon welcomes serious novelists who love deep dives into craft–even contradictory craft tips offering options that work for one writer, but not another. What’s the right fit for you? The salon helps you decide–even change your mind over time, adapt to new phases in drafting, and keep writing forward with new strategies and support along the way.
STOP MOVING FORWARD PIECEMEAL. MAKE A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO YOUR WORK.
3 months per semester in 2026. 5000-6000 words a month.
The Inlet’s Novel Salon Program is more than a chance for group feedback and more than a one-to-one mentorship–though you’ll receive group coaching and one-to-one coaching every month if you’d like.
And it’s more than a craft master class–though you’ll get focused, thoughtful tips and prompts to nudge you to let your characters write the novel for you–without letting them steal your pen.
The Salon provides continuity, monthly tips, group camaraderie, community–and more. The kind of connections you can get from a group of likeminded peers who share pages and gain a deep understanding of each other’s work over time. Plus, you get long-term access to a knowledgeable professional–yup, that’s me–handing out maps she knows well. And helping you calibrate your own compass, so you can do your own navigation, but reach out for help when it’s needed.
Here’s how we’ll work together in the Inlet’s Novel Salon
Small Salon, One-to-One, or Hybrid Coaching Tracks
OCT through MID-APRIL. Each Track includes differing types and frequency of instructor feedback to support your novel's development and your development as a novelist: The Small Salon Track offers instructor & peer feedback via critique groups of 2-4 writers meeting for facilitated critique approximately once a month. The One-to-One Track offers personalized feedback, instructor-to-student; number of sessions negotiable. The Hybrid Track combines group critique and one-to-one coaching sessions. Track details vary based on group needs.
Large Salon
MEETS TUESDAY EVENING, MID-MONTH, 6-8 PM CT. All Inlet Salon writers come together to discuss the curriculum content, and its relationship to their novels. The semester spotlight is on getting organized with big ideas (outlining, premise building) and getting work out there (marketing stuff like literary citizenship and websites and newsletters, summarizing tools like logline, premise, query, synopsis). May include analysis of published writers' work. Features a breakout session with 2-3 writers, where you’ll either share insights from discussion questions around optional readings and exercises, or talk through takeaways from your commonplace book or craft study. (Top priority meeting.)
Salon Write-In & Follow Up
APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES A MONTH you'll meet to write in shared solitude for an hour and a half. Occasional optional writing prompts. Schedule varies and occasionally converges with other Inlet offerings. Bring your WIP & try out a prompt or just bring your work-in-progress, dig in and write based on your needs "write now." Come for the co-writing, stay for the optional half-hour bonus follow up conversation after we write. (Medium priority.)
Salon (& Inlet) Soirees
MEETS 2-3 TIMES PER SEMESTER. Soirees may include writing practice exercises, mixing & mingling, war stories & success stories of the writer’s life, and more. (Sessions may overlap with other Inlet offering soirees.) At the end of each season we’ll have a reading soiree. Writers will read from short excerpts of their WIPs or their one-page synopsis. (Optional.)
Inlet Salon Spirit
The concept of a “salon” is founded upon conversations–in small rooms or narrow hallways–where creatives gather to share insights, talk taste, disagree, question, deepen their knowledge and expand connections. We’ll have various gatherings each month to reinforce essential techniques, workshop your writing, challenge assumptions, test theories, reinforce rules, break them–and have fun along the way.
Additional Salon Spirit Features
- Salon Foyer Session: At the beginning of each season we’ll meet for a group orientation to look ahead to the season and get to know each other.
- Synthesis Conferences: All Novel Salon members meet with Angela for a half hour orientation session, a mid-point synthesis session, and a finale synthesis session to touch base on goals, progress, challenges, and any questions about the program or your writing practice.
- Inlet Beta Readers Club Membership: Once per season, you’ll have the chance to opt into the Inlet Beta Readers Club to get a beta-read of either your complete manuscript (novel, memoir, or collection of short stories, flash fiction, poetry) or partial manuscript with other salon novelists and/or Inlet writers or readers.
PREQEL OPTION: Writers new to the salon may have the option to take an independent study course of previous season’s content at a negotiated fee before a new season begins. Contact Angela for details & schedule availablity.
Sign up for the ONE-TO-ONE COACHING TRACK, HYBRID TRACK, OR PART-TIME TRACK
SMALL SALON (CRITIQUE GROUP) TRACK
filled for 2026 spring semester
Five group meetings over two semesters, 6000 words/meeting.
FEES & WHAT YOU GET available upon request.
contact Angela for details: angelarydell@gmail.com
A deposit is due upon acceptance. Balance due by the last month of the season.
As a former member of Angela’s novel salon group as well as her flash fiction course, I can heartily attest to her ability to tap into each student’s potential as an individual with their goals and sensitivities in mind. She offered me feedback that was on point and practical, focusing on both what worked and what didn’t. I was looking to advance my skills as a writer and to complete a novel for publication; I didn’t want any sugar-coating, just honest feedback from an expert, and I got that. Her capacity as a group facilitator is skilled. My group consisted of writers from several genres and Angela deftly guided us as we critiqued our colleagues’ work and received their critiques of our own (which sometimes can be tough to receive!) Many of her students became traditionally published authors, including myself, and I attribute my success in part to Angela’s guidance. Her interest and encouragement of me as a writer continued even after I completed my courses as she checked in via email with kind words and wise insights, and even referred me to others in her network with whom she thought I might connect. To me, Angela goes above and beyond the role of teacher. Her caring, insightful nature will put anyone at ease and most importantly, allow them to experience the joy of writing. ~ Kimberly Behre Kenna, Branford, CT, author of Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade 2/2/23
ONE-TO-ONE COACHING TRACK
open for 2026 spring semester
5-6 one-to-one coaching sessions over 6 months, or 3 sessions for a single semester, 5000-6000 words/meeting.
FEES & WHAT YOU GET available upon request.
contact Angela for details: angelarydell@gmail.com
A deposit is due upon acceptance. Balance due by the last month of the season.
HYBRID TRACK
filled for 2026 spring semester
3 sessions for a single semester, 5000-6000 words/meeting–a mix of group critique and one-to-ones.
FEES & WHAT YOU GET available upon request.
contact Angela for details: angelarydell@gmail.com
A deposit is due upon acceptance. Balance due by the last month of the season.
I’m happy to talk about whether the program is a good fit for your development as a novelist, and your novel’s development. Email me at angelarydell@gmail.com and we can set up a time to chat and go over what option is best for you.
Angela is a dedicated pedagogue who respects the craft / art of teaching as much as she does the craft / art of writing. She treats both arts with great care, and her students are the better for it. For me, she was the perfect balance between encouragement and gentle nudges to venture beyond my comfort zone. With her support, I was able to complete my first full short story draft! ~Melissa Reiser, Madison, WI
Ready to enter the Inlet and apply for the Nine Month Novel Salon Program?
Fill out the Novel Salon Interest Survey:
Then submit a 5-page writing sample and a 1-page synopsis to me over email: angelarydell@gmail.com
From the core of the salon flows a steady stream of guidance and support to help you find your way back in, month after month—through craft tips, unit prompts, mindset exercises and discussions, process tips, and the Inlet community itself, including professional support and individual conferences to check your progress or just talk about your work, as well as scheduled one-to-one mentorship sessions (for One-to-One Track writers).
And as you progress through the program and apply the techniques to your drafts, you’ll get your bearings for your own writer’s journey as the terrain changes.
Let the Novel Salon Program help you forge your own path forward. You’ll gain insight as you dig deep, and through discussions and tips and group accountability, develop the stamina to keep going–so you can carry your craft forward from first draft to last.