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How exactly does The Hundred and Four follow its mandate to forge finer writers? The process is multi layered and is intended to take two years to completion. In theory, this could be completed much more quickly, but as this is not a dedicated (i.e. "full time") program and happens in the periphery of paying bills and living a normal life, the method is more low impact without sacrificing intensity.
"Impossible," some would scoff. Well, not so much. The reasons why are:
- Incredibly low apprentice-to-instructor ratios (never more than three-to-one per assignment), allowing for individual attention to each
- A relentlessly meticulous selection process that insures a solid match between apprentices and instructors, making sure that personality clashes don't affect the work
- Instructors who "lead by example," not just assigning projects and then disappearing, but who will actually do the exercises alongside their charges to "show their work" and illustrate the mechanics of the process.
The instructional method is mainly carried out over email. A schedule is handed out at the beginning of each quarter (there are eight three-month periods of instruction) and the instructor keeps in touch with the apprentices en masse and individually. Assignments are edited both by a system of peer review and by the instructor. If an apprentice works ahead, they will have more time to concentrate on some of the more work-intensive assignments, while the length of the instructional period allows slower writers time to stay with the program.
In later quarters, when the focus leans more towards the professional marketing of the work, each apprentice takes a turn at being an "agent" for his group, crafting query letters for the people he's worked with (which is why knowing their work so intimately helps), managing submissions and keeping track of the status. In this way, each apprentice learns the hard knocks of the business first hand while getting valuable help in putting their work out into the world.
During the final two quarters of their term, apprentices will be authorized to take on as many as three apprentices of their own, guiding neophyte applicants through the process they experienced, supported and overseen by their own instructor. This creates continuity for the program and strengthens the lessons learned.
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