book inc is excited to announce that Michele Prestininzi and James Hertler will be the Peer Artist Leaders* for the 2026 Novel Incubator, our yearlong program for writers ready to take their initial story ideas all the way to a first draft.
As applications are rolling in for our 2026 programs, we sat with Michele and James to learn more about their experiences drafting novels and what they hope to bring to this latest cohort of book writers.
book inc: How did each of your journeys into writing begin, and where have they taken you today?
MICHELE: I started dabbling in creative writing when my children were young. I read so many bedtime stories that I decided to write some, too. After a while, I joined SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), joined critique groups, went back to school for my MFA, and started teaching at Project Write Now—all the while, learning how to write novels.
JAMES: I was an English major in college, where I blew off papers to write stories. Inspiration rarely struck on a timetable compatible with adulthood, so I stopped writing for years. I picked it up again about fifteen years ago and found I had the patience to write on a schedule. Soon after I discovered Project Write Now, and in 2020 became one of the founding members of book inc. I’ve written two novels, and in the incubator I hope to draft a third.
book inc: What’s been your experience going from idea to completed draft? What surprised you most about the process?
MICHELE: Accepting delayed gratification! The first novel I wrote was a middle-grade story with a plot to nowhere. I had lofty ideas, no plan, and no idea how to get to the finish line. I remember thinking, “This is a lot less fun than I thought.” However, when I mustered through to the end, I had an epiphany about my character’s deepest desire. I was so surprised by that eureka moment. My process has evolved with each story, but my characters continually surprise me. In novel writing, the only way to get there is step by step. It takes a while, but having a completed draft feels tremendously gratifying.
JAMES: The first novel I wrote was a short story that got out of hand. I started writing scenes that felt interesting to me, and I had a vague sense of things that would probably happen in the story at some point. I went back and expanded between chapters, skipped ahead, and made up new characters. So, yeah, pantser. The second one came out fully baked. I wrote it chronologically, and although I didn’t use a traditional outline, I knew who, what, where, and when, and stuck to the plan more or less. So what surprised me is that the kind of writer I am can change depending on what I’m writing.
book inc: Drafting a novel in a year requires serious commitment. What habits or practices have helped you maintain momentum on long projects?
MICHELE: Honestly, deadlines are huge motivators. Having a community to support me and hold me accountable keeps me on track. I also create mini-writing goals for the day and week. It can be as vague as touching my middle-grade novel or playing with a scene, but it keeps me engaged.
JAMES: Being engaged in the story I’m telling keeps me coming back. That cuts both ways, because I never developed a strict writing routine. Community helps a lot, both in getting me engaged and holding me accountable.
book inc: Everyone hits walls while drafting: when you get stuck on a scene or lose the thread of your story, what’s your go-to move for getting unstuck?
MICHELE: I’ve learned to be a lot kinder to myself when this happens — and it always happens. If I hit a wall, I take the day off, go for a walk, potentially vent to a writing buddy, and reread one of my favorite books to inspire me. I’m getting better at sitting in that uncomfortable space of not knowing what to do until a solution reveals itself.
JAMES: Bad writing. Words are free, and you never have to show them to anyone. If I push through, I can usually pick up a thread worth pulling. Then I rewrite the rest, or delete it.
book inc: What role has writing community played in your own journey from idea to finished manuscript?
MICHELE: Having a community is key to sustaining my writing. When I wrote my first novel — the novel with a plot to nowhere — I had no community, and I felt alone and lost with my broken story. After joining writing groups and teaching at Project Write Now, I have many writing buddies to share the highs and lows of the journey, talk craft, and cheer each other on. It makes all the difference.
JAMES: It’s a weird thing we do. Even if you’re lucky enough to live or work in a creative community, you might not run into a lot of writers unless you go looking for them. My writing people speak my language and remind me I’m not the only one who cares about this stuff.
book inc: And finally, what’s one thing you’re especially excited to bring to the 2026 cohort?
MICHELE: Steadfast support. With our experience and skill sets, James and I have many tools to support writers as they navigate the ups and downs of novel writing. I’m eager to start this intimate, exciting, and daunting adventure together, helping our cohort transform their ideas into finished drafts.
JAMES: I’ll be happy if I can demystify the process a bit. In a writing group, I want honesty and encouragement from my peers, and I hope we can offer each other the same.
Thank you, Michele and James, for talking with us! We can’t wait to see what novels emerge from the 2026 Novel Incubator.
Ready to write your novel? With a focus on community, our Novel Incubator provides writers with structure, support, accountability, and guidance to go from initial idea to completed manuscript in one year. APPLY NOW!
* What do we mean when we say “Peer Artist Leader”? Peer Artist Leaders or PALs are experienced writers who co-facilitate book inc’s programs. They work on their own book projects alongside participants to create a supportive, non-hierarchical environment where writers at all stages of their journey can thrive.