Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
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Total |
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Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | ||||||
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf .... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | ||||||
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f) .. | ||||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | ||||||
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | ||||||
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | ||||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal
year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | 68,555 | 73,937 | 98,915 | 107,499 | 80,878 | 429,784 |
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | 96,091 | 69,711 | 64,296 | 65,393 | 62,428 | 357,919 |
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | 164,646 | 143,648 | 163,211 | 172,892 | 143,306 | 787,703 |
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | 787,703 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | 164,646 | 143,648 | 163,211 | 172,892 | 143,306 | 787,703 |
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | 1,063 | 201 | 1,760 | 2,263 | 3,069 | 8,356 |
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | 1,063 | 201 | 1,760 | 2,263 | 3,069 | 8,356 |
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | 406 | 406 | ||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | 165,709 | 143,849 | 165,377 | 175,155 | 146,375 | 796,465 |
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2023 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2023 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2023 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2023 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI).
See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2023: | ||||
| a From 2018....... | ||||
| b From 2019....... | ||||
| c From 2020....... | ||||
| d From 2021....... | ||||
| e From 2022....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2023 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2018 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2023 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2023 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2023, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2023. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2024. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2022..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2023..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990-EZ, PART I, LINE 8 | ZOOM SETTLEMENT 123 TOTAL 123 |
| FORM 990-EZ, PART I, LINE 16 | EXPENSES BANKING/PAYPAL FEES 1,773 GIFTS 219 ADVERTISING PROMOTION 1,667 CELL PHONE 623 OFFICE SUPPLIES 663 MEMBERSHIPS 327 WORKSHOP SUPPLIES & EXP 1,427 INSURANCE 1,389 IT SERVICES 2,574 REIMB OF WKSP SUPPLIES 1,205 FILING FEES 345 TRAVEL 1,094 RESEARCH/TEACHING/EDUC 4 TOTAL 13,310 |
| FORM 990-EZ, PART II, LINE 24 | INVENTORIES FOR SALE OR USE 3,610 3,786 ANNUITY WITHHOLDING 281 281 TOTAL 3,891 4,067 |
| FORM 990-EZ, PART II, LINE 26 | UNSECURED NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE 558 102 |
| FORM 990-EZ, PART III | TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, FEEDBACK, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TO WRITERS OF FANTASY, SCIENCE FICTION, AND HORROR TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR WORK. |
| FORM 990-EZ, PART III, LINE 28 | YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP: THREE DIFFERENT SESSIONS WERE HELD, JUNE 5-JULY 14, 2023 (6 WEEKS), AUGUST 14-NOVEMBER 3, 2023 (12 WEEKS), AND NOVEMBER 27, 2023-APRIL 5, 2024 (18 WEEKS). TO MAKE OUR WORKSHOP MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE EFFECTIVE, WE MADE SOME KEY CHANGES TO ITS FORMAT LAST YEAR, AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THE UNIQUE STRUCTURE, CONTENTS, AND METHODS OF THE PROGRAM ARE HELPING STUDENTS DELVE MORE DEEPLY INTO THEIR WRITING AND MAKE GREATER IMPROVEMENTS. YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP IS A BREAKTHROUGH, ONE-ON-ONE ONLINE PROGRAM FOR WRITERS OF FANTASY, SCIENCE FICTION, AND HORROR. WRITERS CAN DECIDE HOW LONG THEY WANT TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM, WHICH TOPICS THEY WANT TO STUDY, IN WHAT ORDER AND IN WHAT DEPTH, AND THEY CAN DESIGN SOME OF THEIR OWN ASSIGNMENTS. THE NEW FORMAT ALLOWS WRITERS UNABLE TO ATTEND A SIX-WEEK, IN-PERSON WORKSHOP DUE TO FAMILY, WORK, FINANCES, OR OTHER DIFFICULTIES TO HAVE AN INTENSE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND MAKE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR WRITING. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO SATISFY THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND GOALS OF EACH WRITER, RATHER THAN FORCING THEM INTO A ONE-SIZE- FITS-ALL PROGRAM. YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY IS SUCCEEDING BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS. WRITERS RESPONDED TO THE LAUNCH IN 2022 BY BREAKING THE ODYSSEY RECORD FOR NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, AND THEY BROKE THE RECORD AGAIN IN 2023, WITH APPLICATIONS FROM 25 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. IN THE WRITER'S STATEMENT PORTION OF THE APPLICATION, MANY APPLICANTS MADE COMMENTS LIKE THIS ONE: "I LOVED MOST OF THE WORKSHOPS THAT I HAVE BEEN A PART OF, BUT NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO THE IDEA OF HAVING A ONE-TO-ONE MENTORSHIP, SOMETHING THAT IS SO CUSTOMIZABLE TO STRENGTHENING MY SPECIFIC WEAKNESSES. WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY, IT FELT PERFECT. IT TOOK AWAY THE 6-WEEK IN-PERSON FORMAT THAT I COULDN'T LOGISTICALLY ATTEND WITH WORK AND A YOUNG CHILD AND OFFERED DIFFERENT LENGTHS THAT COULD WORK WITH MY LEARNING STYLE. PLUS, WHO WOULDN'T WANT A FULLY-CUSTOMIZABLE-TO-YOU WORKSHOP TO TRULY GROW AS A WRITER" TEN STUDENTS TOTAL WERE ADMITTED INTO THESE SESSIONS (3 IN THE FIRST SESSION; 3 IN THE SECOND, AND 4 IN THE THIRD), AGED 29-61, FROM THE US, CANADA, SWEDEN, AND INDONESIA. WITH THE HELP OF DONORS, ODYSSEY AWARDED 7 SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS, PROVIDING AID TO EVERY STUDENT WHO SHOWED FINANCIAL NEED. STUDENTS HAVE PURSUED THEIR PASSIONS, ATTACKED THEIR WEAKNESSES, BUILT ON THEIR STRENGTHS, AND MADE GREAT STRIDES IN THEIR WRITING. TO STUDY A PARTICULAR TOPIC, A STUDENT WATCHES THE LECTURE RECORDINGS, INCLUDING GUEST LECTURES; DOES READINGS, WRITING EXERCISES, AND CRITIQUES; WORKS WITH THE ODYSSEY DIRECTOR TO CREATE AND COMPLETE AN INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT; AND WRITES A STORY OR NOVEL EXCERPT. PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL FEEDBACK BY THE ODYSSEY DIRECTOR OR A GUEST CRITIQUER IS PROVIDED, AND STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION THE CRITIQUER OF EACH SUBMISSION TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE. THE ODYSSEY DIRECTOR INTERACTS WITH THE STUDENT IN A DEEP MENTORING EXPERIENCE MADE UP OF OVER 30 HOURS ON ZOOM. STUDENTS HAVE MADE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS. IN COURSE EVALUATIONS, ALL TEN STUDENTS RATED THE PROGRAM "EXCELLENT." THREE GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM HAVE SOLD NOVELS TO MAJOR PUBLISHERS, AND ANOTHER GRADUATE HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR TWO NEBULA AWARDS. ONE STUDENT WROTE, "IT BLOWS MY MIND TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN IN SIX WEEKS. I'M NOT THE SAME WRITER I WAS A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. I'M BRIMMING WITH NEW CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE IT ALL TAKES ME. JEANNE WAS AN INSIGHTFUL AND SENSITIVE MENTOR DURING MY ODYSSEY. YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY DIDN'T JUST CHANGE THE WRITING, IT CHANGED THE WRITER. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS PROGRAM." THE WORKSHOP IS WIDELY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD FOR WRITERS OF THE FANTASTIC. GUEST INSTRUCTORS AT YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY INCLUDE BESTSELLING AUTHORS BRANDON SANDERSON, MEAGAN SPOONER, DAVID BRIN, AND CARRIE VAUGHN; AWARD-WINNING AUTHORS NISI SHAWL, MELISSA SCOTT, AND P. DJELI CLARK; AWARD-WINNING WRITER/EDITOR SHEREE RENEE THOMAS, AWARD-WINNING EDITOR/PUBLISHER SCOTT H. ANDREWS, AND MORE. IN 2023, WE ADDED SIX NEW GUEST LECTURES AND QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSIONS BY BESTSELLING, AWARD-WINNING WRITERS, INCLUDING NANCY KRESS, MARY ROBINETTE KOWAL, STEVEN BARNES, AND TIM WAGGONER. THESE LECTURES AND Q&AS WERE HELD LIVE ONLINE WITH AN AUDIENCE OF STUDENTS, GRADUATES, AND APPLICANTS OF ODYSSEY PROGRAMS. THIS ALLOWED A TOTAL OF 94 WRITERS TO LEARN FROM THESE SESSIONS. THE RECORDINGS HAVE NOW BEEN EDITED AND ADDED TO THE PROGRAM, INCREASING THE TOTAL VIDEO CONTENT AVAILABLE FROM 127 HOURS TO 145 HOURS. WHILE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY EACH YEAR IS NECESSARILY LIMITED DUE TO THE INTENSIVE NATURE OF THE PROGRAM, THESE GUEST LECTURES HAVE ALLOWED ODYSSEY TO HELP MORE WRITERS THAN EVER BEFORE MOVE AHEAD ON THEIR WRITING JOURNEYS. (GRANTS: 11,700)(EXPENSES: 86,263.55) |
| FORM 990-EZ, PART III, LINE 29 | THE NEVER-ENDING ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP (TNEO): HELD JULY 21-29, 2023. AFTER BEING HELD ONLINE FOR THREE YEARS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TNEO RETURNED TO ITS USUAL HOME ON THE CAMPUS OF SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE IN MANCHESTER, NH. TNEO PROVIDES ADVANCED, GRADUATE-LEVEL INSTRUCTION TO WRITERS OF FANTASY, SCIENCE FICTION, AND HORROR WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP OR YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY. OVER 8 DAYS, TNEO COMBINES LECTURES; WORKSHOPPING OF PARTICIPANTS' MANUSCRIPTS; WRITING EXERCISES; PLOTTING, BRAINSTORMING & PROBLEM-SOLVING SESSIONS; READ-ALOUDS; WRITING SESSIONS; AND LITERARY DISCUSSIONS. PARTICIPANTS HELP TO RUN THE WORKSHOP, CREATING AN ENERGIZING, COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT. NINETEEN WRITERS FROM THE US, CANADA, AND FRANCE PARTICIPATED. THEY VOLUNTEERED TO RUN THE VARIOUS SESSIONS, OFFERED IN-DEPTH CRITIQUES, AND HELPED EACH OTHER IMPROVE. THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN THEIR OWN WRITING AND WORKED TO IMPROVE. MANY OF THE STORIES AND NOVELS CRITIQUED AT TNEO GO ON TO BE PROFESSIONALLY PUBLISHED. ACTIVITIES GENERALLY RUN FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM EACH DAY. OF THE 16 PARTICIPANTS WHO FILLED OUT EVALUATIONS, 1 RATED THE WORKSHOP "FAIR-; 3 RATED THE WORKSHOP "GOOD-; AND 12 RATED THE WORKSHOP "EXCELLENT." PARTICIPANTS PRAISED THE VALUE OF THE FEEDBACK THEY RECEIVED, THE LECTURES IN THE MASTER CLASS, THE VARIOUS SMALL-GROUP ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOWED THEM TO DRAW ON EACH OTHER'S WISDOM, AND THE SUPPORT FROM BEING AROUND LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE. ONE PARTICIPANT WROTE, "I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANOTHER WRITING COMMUNITY IN NORTH AMERICA THAT PROVIDES THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, TALENT, INSIGHT, AND SUPPORT THAT TNEO DOES." (GRANTS 0)(EXPENSES: 20,519.37) |
| FORM 990-EZ, PART III, LINE 30 | ODYSSEY ONLINE COURSES: THE HEART OF THE MATTER: BRINGING EMOTIONAL RESONANCE TO YOUR STORYTELLING (HELD ONLINE 1/9/24-2/6/24, TUITION COLLECTED IN 2023); WRITER'S TOOLKIT: TAKING YOUR STORY FROM IDEA TO MANUSCRIPT (HELD ONLINE 1/18/24-2/15/24, APPLICATION FEES AND SOME TUITION COLLECTED IN 2023); AND SCENE AND SEQUEL: HOW TO GENERATE CHARACTER-DRIVEN MOMENTUM, CONTROL PACING, AND WRITE A PAGE-TURNING STORY (HELD ONLINE 2/29/24-3/28/24, APPLICATION FEES COLLECTED IN 2023). ODYSSEY HOLDS THREE ONLINE COURSES EACH WINTER. EACH ONLINE COURSE PROVIDES INTENSE INSTRUCTION FOCUSED ON A SINGLE ASPECT OF FICTION WRITING FOR 14 AUTHORS OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, AND HORROR. THE COURSES PROVIDE A LIVE CLASS EXPERIENCE ON ZOOM, AND GUIDANCE, DISCUSSION, AND FEEDBACK IN BETWEEN CLASSES THROUGH EMAILS, AN ONLINE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND INDIVIDUAL ONLINE CONFERENCES. COURSES ARE OFFERED FOR A VARIETY OF SKILL LEVELS, FROM BEGINNERS TO SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALS. LECTURES ARE THOROUGH AND DETAILED, ASSIGNMENTS ARE CHALLENGING, AND FEEDBACK IS IN-DEPTH. THE COURSES WERE TAUGHT BY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR BARBARA ASHFORD AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR GREGORY ASHE. THROUGH THESE THREE COURSES, ODYSSEY GAVE A TOTAL OF 42 WRITERS FROM THE US, CANADA, IRELAND, DENMARK, AND GERMANY THE CHANCE TO LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES AND TAKE THEIR WRITING TO THE NEXT LEVEL. STUDENTS INCLUDED ODYSSEY WORKSHOP GRADUATES, PUBLISHED WRITERS, AND TALENTED NEWCOMERS. THEY WERE ENTHUSIASTIC AND COMMITTED TO DOING THEIR BEST ON THE ASSIGNMENTS, EVEN WHEN HALFWAY AROUND THE GLOBE. THEY DELVED DEEP INTO THE SUBJECT MATTER IN ONLINE DISCUSSIONS AND MADE EXCITING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR WRITING. IN COURSE EVALUATIONS, 91% RATED THEIR COURSE EXCELLENT, 9% GOOD. A STUDENT IN ONE BRICK AT A TIME SAID, "IN THE ODYSSEY ONLINE CLASS SCENE AND SEQUEL, GREGORY ASHE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB MAKING COMPLEX IDEAS UNDERSTANDABLE AND ACTIONABLE. HIS COURSE ASSIGNMENTS ARE COMPREHENSIVE, HE PROVIDES MULTIPLE EXAMPLES THAT ILLUMINATE AND BROADEN THE CONCEPTS UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND HIS PROVOCATIVE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FURTHER CLARIFY THE COURSE CONTENT. ALL OF THIS RICH INSTRUCTION IS PROVIDED IN A FRIENDLY AND ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENT." (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 12,700.26) |
| FORM 990-EZ, PART III, LINE 31 | ODYSSEY CRITIQUE SERVICE: OFFERED YEAR-ROUND BY MAIL AND EMAIL. THE ODYSSEY CRITIQUE SERVICE PROVIDES AUTHORS OF FANTASY, SCIENCE FICTION, AND HORROR WITH EDUCATIONAL FEEDBACK ON THEIR WRITING. AUTHORS CAN SUBMIT MANUSCRIPTS RANGING IN LENGTH FROM 20,000-150,000 WORDS AND RECEIVE IN- DEPTH, INSTRUCTIONAL, PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL CRITIQUES. CRITIQUES ARE PROVIDED BY 5 ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP GRADUATES WHO HAVE BECOME SUCCESSFUL, PROFESSIONAL WRITERS. ONE IS AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR AND ANOTHER IS A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. CRITIQUES AVERAGE OVER 8,300 WORDS (16 SINGLE- SPACED PAGES) AND ALSO INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT LINE EDITS AND MARGINAL NOTES ON THE MANUSCRIPT. IN 2023, 6 MANUSCRIPTS WERE CRITIQUED. AUTHORS WERE EXTREMELY SATISFIED WITH THE FEEDBACK THEY RECEIVED AND FOUND IT VERY HELPFUL. TWO OF THE WORKS CRITIQUED BY THE CRITIQUE SERVICE WERE SOLD TO PUBLISHERS IN 2023. ONE AUTHOR SAID, "FOR 18 YEARS I HAVE SCOURED THE WEB AND BEEN PART OF VARIOUS WRITING PROGRAMS, BUT ALL HAVE PALED IN COMPARISON TO THE ODYSSEY CRITIQUE SERVICE. THE ODYSSEY CRITIQUE SERVICE EMPLOYS WRITERS GIVING THE BEST CRITIQUES OUT THERE, IN MY OPINION. I HAVE GONE THROUGH WHOLE DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT DID NOT GIVE ME THE RICH FEEDBACK THAT CARRIE VAUGHN DID THROUGH ODYSSEY, FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST. I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE MY PROTAGONISTS BECOME MORE VITAL ON THE PAGE, AND HOW TO AVOID INFO DUMPING WHEN WRITING FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION. MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I WISH I HAD FOUND ODYSSEY EARLIER." (GRANTS 0)(EXPENSES: 4,022.28) ODYSSEY COACHING: OFFERED VIA PHONE, GOOGLE+, FACETIME, OR SKYPE. ODYSSEY'S COACHING SERVICE PROVIDES TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO WRITERS WHO ARE FEELING BLOCKED OR HELD BACK IN THEIR WRITING. COACHING IS PROVIDED BY ODYSSEY GRADUATE SHERRY PETERS, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH WRITERS SINCE 2012, HELPING THEM BREAK THROUGH THEIR WRITER'S BLOCK, INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY, AND ACHIEVE THEIR WRITING GOALS THOUGH ONE-ON-ONE COACHING AND WORKSHOPS BASED ON HER BOOKS SILENCING YOUR INNER SABOTEUR AND BLUEPRINT FOR WRITING SUCCESS. ANYONE INTERESTED CAN BOOK A COMPLEMENTARY 60-MINUTE SESSION. SEVERAL DIFFERENT COACHING PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE, IN WHICH SHERRY MEETS ONLINE WITH THE AUTHOR. FOURTEEN COACHING SESSIONS WERE HELD IN 2023. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 2563.79) ODYSSEY PODCAST: OFFERED FREE ON OUR WEBSITE, ON ITUNES, AND ON OTHER PODCAST PLATFORMS. GUEST LECTURES AT THE ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP AND YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY ARE RECORDED. WITH THE LECTURERS' PERMISSION, 10- TO 15- MINUTE EXCERPTS FROM THOSE AUDIO RECORDINGS ARE POSTED ONLINE TO PROVIDE FREE EDUCATION TO WRITERS OF FANTASY, SCIENCE FICTION, HORROR, AND OTHER GENRES. A VOLUNTEER SELECTS AND EDITS THE EXCERPTS AND POSTS THE PODCAST EPISODES. THE DIRECTOR SECURES PERMISSION AND APPROVAL FROM GUESTS. ELEVEN PODCASTS WERE POSTED IN 2023. IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LISTENING, SINCE THEY CAN LISTEN IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT A LOW ESTIMATE IS 2600. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EMAILED THEIR THANKS TO US FOR PROVIDING THIS FREE RESOURCE. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 622.25) ODYSSEY BLOG: OFFERED FREE ONLINE. TWO VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR TO CREATE POSTS WITH VALUABLE WRITING INFORMATION, WHICH PROVIDE FREE EDUCATION TO WRITERS OF FANTASY, SCIENCE FICTION, HORROR, AND OTHER GENRES. POSTS ARE MADE MONTHLY AND INCLUDE INTERVIEWS WITH ODYSSEY AND YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY GUEST LECTURERS AND GRADUATES, AND WRITING ADVICE. THE BLOG HAS 237 FOLLOWERS. WE HAD 5,684 VISITORS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND 9,303 VIEWS. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 622.25) ODYSSEY SALON: OFFERED FREE ONLINE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. THE SALON OFFERS ONLINE DISCUSSION ABOUT WRITING ON ZOOM, SO PARTICIPANTS CAN SEE AND HEAR EACH OTHER. ALL WRITERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND. THE SALON MEETS MONTHLY. EACH MEETING OF THE SALON LASTS ONE HOUR. THE SALON ALLOWS WRITERS TO COME TOGETHER TO SHARE PROGRESS, STRUGGLES, QUESTIONS, INSIGHTS, OR RECOMMENDATIONS, OR TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR MONTHLY DISCUSSION TOPIC. THE DIRECTOR SERVES AS MODERATOR. OVER THE PAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 138 WRITERS HAVE ATTENDED THE SALON. THESE INCLUDE ODYSSEY WORKSHOP GRADUATES, ODYSSEY ONLINE CLASS GRADUATES, AND OTHER INTERESTED WRITERS, FROM BEGINNERS TO SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALS. MANY OF THEM ATTEND ON A SEMI-REGULAR BASIS AND FIND IT HELPFUL AND ENERGIZING. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 533.37) ODYSSEY WEBINARS: RECORDINGS OFFERED ON DEMAND THROUGH A SECURE WEBSITE. EACH YEAR AT OUR WORKSHOP, ONE GUEST LECTURE IS VIDEO RECORDED AND OFFERED ONLINE AS A WEBINAR. THIS ALLOWS THOSE WHO CAN'T ATTEND YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY TO VIRTUALLY SIT IN ON A LECTURE AND LEARN FROM IT. WEBINARS OFFER MORE FLEXIBILITY THAN OUR ONLINE CLASSES AND ALLOW FOR REPEATED VIEWING. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT RECORDINGS AVAILABLE. WRITERS PURCHASED 19 WEBINARS. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 463.65) ODYSSEY CONSULTATIONS: OFFERED THROUGH ZOOM. ODYSSEY PROVIDES CONSULTATIONS TO HELP WRITERS WHO HAVE A SPECIFIC WRITING PROBLEM THEY NEED TO DISCUSS. OVER THE YEARS, DIRECTOR JEANNE CAVELOS HAS FOUND THAT ONE- ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH WRITERS ARE OFTEN THE MOST HELPFUL, ALLOWING HER TO BRAINSTORM WITH A WRITER, FOCUS ON A PARTICULAR PROBLEM THAT CONCERNS THE WRITER, AND EXPLORE ISSUES MORE DEEPLY. CONSULTATIONS ALLOW WRITERS TO SEND 2,000 WORDS IN ADVANCE, WHICH MAY BE A WRITING SAMPLE OR A DESCRIPTION OF A PROBLEM OR QUESTION. THEN JEANNE MEETS LIVE ONLINE WITH THE WRITER FOR AN HOUR, SO SHE AND THE WRITER CAN SEE AND HEAR EACH OTHER, AND THEY CAN ALSO LOOK AT THE WRITING SAMPLE THAT WAS SENT. THREE CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD IN 2023. THE WRITERS WERE VERY SATISFIED WITH THEIR EXPERIENCES. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 449.79) ODFELLOW DISCUSSION, ODYSSEY ONLINE DISCUSSION, ODYSSEY 2021, ODYSSEY 2020, ODYSSEY 2019, AND SIMILAR GROUPS: ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS PROVIDED FREE TO GRADUATES OF VARIOUS ODYSSEY PROGRAMS, ACTIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE DISCUSSION BOARDS FACILITATE CONTINUED COMMUNICATION AMONG GRADUATES OF ODYSSEY PROGRAMS, PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION ON WRITING AND PUBLISHING, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND NETWORKING. THE BOARDS ALLOW GRADUATES OF ODYSSEY'S PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THEIR WRITING AND LEARN PUBLISHING NEWS THAT MAY HELP THEM GET THEIR WORK PUBLISHED. GRADUATES SIGN UP FOR VARIOUS DISCUSSION BOARDS AND SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE. THE DIRECTOR ALSO PARTICIPATES, SHARING INFORMATION AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS. THE DIRECTOR AND VARIOUS VOLUNTEERS SERVE AS MODERATORS OF THE GROUPS. ODFELLOW DISCUSSION HAS 319 MEMBERS AND HAS COVERED MANY USEFUL TOPICS IN 2023. MASTERMIND GROUPS WERE RECENTLY ADDED TO THE DISCUSSION BOARD TO FACILITATE INTENSE STUDY AMONG SMALL GROUPS. ODYSSEY ONLINE DISCUSSION HAS 165 MEMBERS. THERE ARE 10 OTHER GROUPS. GRADUATES ARE INVITED TO ZOOM GROUP WRITING SESSIONS THROUGH THE DISCUSSION BOARDS. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 444.47) ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTER: OFFERED FREE SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR VIA EMAIL TO THOSE WHO REQUEST IT. THE NEWSLETTER PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING ODYSSEY PROGRAMS, ALERTS ABOUT EVENTS AND NEW FREE WRITING RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON OUR SITE, AND WRITING AND PUBLISHING TIPS THAT OFFER FREE EDUCATION TO WRITERS. THE DIRECTOR WRITES AND EMAILS THE NEWSLETTER. IN 2023, THE NEWSLETTER GAINED APPROXIMATELY 278 SUBSCRIBERS FOR A TOTAL OF 2,338. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 177.80) ODYSSEY VIDEO LIBRARY: A FREE RESOURCE FOR GRADUATES OF THE ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP AND YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP. THE AUDIO RECORDINGS OF GUEST LECTURES AT THE WORKSHOP ARE TURNED INTO BASIC VIDEOS WITH THE HELP OF A VOLUNTEER AND POSTED ON A SECURE SITE. THIS ALLOWS GRADUATES TO HEAR LECTURES GIVEN IN OTHER YEARS AND CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. THE LIBRARY WAS LAUNCHED IN 2014 AND IS GRADUALLY BEING EXPANDED. GRADUATES HAVE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT GAINING ACCESS TO THIS NEW RESOURCE. THE DIRECTOR PROVIDES THE PASSWORD TO A SET OF RECORDINGS TO ONE CLASS AT A TIME TO KEEP TRAFFIC MANAGEABLE AND TROUBLESHOOTS ANY PROBLEMS. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 93.90) ODYSSEY ONLINE CRITIQUE: AN ONLINE CRITIQUE BOARD PROVIDED FREE TO GRADUATES OF THE ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP, YOUR PERSONAL ODYSSEY, AND ODYSSEY ONLINE CLASSES. THIS BOARD ALLOWS GRADUATES OF ODYSSEY'S PROGRAMS TO POST THEIR STORIES AND NOVELS AND EXCHANGE CRITIQUES, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THEIR WRITING BY GIVING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK. THE DIRECTOR OVERSEES THE GROUP AND OCCASIONALLY PARTICIPATES. A VOLUNTEER MODERATES THE GROUP, WHICH HAS 204 MEMBERS. (GRANTS: 0)(EXPENSES: 88.90) |
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