BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Craft Talks - ECPv6.16.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://writingcraft.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Craft Talks REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T160000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20260316T180527Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260427T214648Z UID:10000110-1777726800-1777737600@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | 1\,000 Words in 3 Hours: “Writing the Heat” to Generate High-Stakes Material\, Faster DESCRIPTION:Learn how to follow the energy in your memoir to generate powerful\, high-stakes material that bypasses your inner critic and gets to emotional truth.\n\n\n\nFor Memoirist \n\n\n\nWhen we try to write methodically\, we shut down the part of us that’s in flow. Planning every scene and forcing ourselves to be logical and linear blocks our creative energy. We produce stale\, predictable pages that feel dull to write and even duller to read. Meanwhile\, our inner critic gets louder\, our perfectionism takes over\, and we avoid the vulnerable places we need to go to make personal narrative work. Your subconscious knows what you need to write better than your logical mind does—but how can you access that energy on demand?  \n\n\n\nThe “Write the Heat” method is an intuition-driven practice that helps you follow currents of energy rather than a premeditated sequence. By writing toward what feels tense\, interesting\, or unresolved (the moments that carry “heat”)\, we trick ourselves into saying the truest thing. We generate material that’s raw\, compelling\, and emotionally honest. With “Writing the Heat\,” you’ll write faster\, with more confidence\, and stumble upon insights you never would have found through careful planning.In this seminar\, you’ll learn the foundational technique of Katie’s proven “Write the Heat” process and practice it through guided prompts. Discover how to silence your inner critic\, follow your gut instinct\, and generate high-stakes material that captures what your story is really about. You’ll take away concrete methods to produce more—and truer—pages every time you sit down to write. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this interactive three-hour live seminar\, you will:\n\n\n\n\nDISCOVER how to identify “heat” in your story—the most tense\, interesting\, or emotionally charged moments\n\n\n\nLEARN “heat mapping” and timed freewriting techniques to bypass your inner critic and generate high-stakes material quickly\n\n\n\nPRACTICE writing toward what feels alive rather than what you think you “should” write\n\n\n\nUNDERSTAND how following energy and intuition leads to truer\, higher-stakes storytelling than logical planning\n\n\n\nEXPERIENCE the relief of making “writing badly” the goal and lowering the stakes on your writing process\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis course is ideal for…\n\n\n\n\nwhose perfectionism and inner critic stop them from getting words on the page\n\n\n\nwho know they need to “go there” but aren’t sure how to start\n\n\n\nwhose writing feels stale\, predictable\, or emotionally distant\n\n\n\nwho want to access the vulnerable\, high-stakes material their stories require\n\n\n\nwho feel blocked when they try to write in a linear\, methodical way and need permission to follow their intuition\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔Think you might miss class? No worries\, replays will be available 3 business days after the event. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKatie Bannon’s teaching is encouraging and practical\, with step-by-step guidance and concrete tools. Writers who want to access deep creativity with a solid framework will love her classes!  \n\n\n\nKatie Bannon is a writer\, editor\, and educator whose work has appeared in The Rumpus\, ELLE Magazine\, NPR\, Newsweek\, Narratively\, and more. Her memoir manuscript\, which charts her journey as a compulsive hair puller\, was a finalist for the Permafrost Nonfiction Book Prize. A graduate of GrubStreet’s Memoir Incubator\, she holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Emerson College. She is a developmental editor who loves working with nonfiction writers to find the “story” behind the “situation” of their memoirs and essays. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and two cats. Find Katie at www.katiebannon.com \n\n\n\nStudent Testimonials \n\n\n\n“Katie is the best writing instructor I have ever had. Her presentation was impeccable. She provided an abundance of ideas\, details\, examples\, and information. In fact\, the class was overflowing with information. I have nothing but praise for Katie and the class content.”“Katie was an amazing instructor. She explained core concepts with clarity and ease\, provided excellent examples and writing samples\, and created a very supportive learning environment. The class truly exceeded my expectations!” \n\n\n\n“Holy moly\, this was a superb class. Instructor was well-prepared with lots of valuable and well-organized information and ideas. I have already begun applying some of the tools from class to revise—and what a difference it’s making!” \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a refund less a $10.00 processing fee. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-1000-words/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Event-Template-from-Canva-3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T170000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20260211T195312Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260419T144621Z UID:10000099-1777125600-1777136400@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Scene vs. Summary: When to Show\, When to Tell\, and How DESCRIPTION:What to include\, what to show\, and what to summarize? This class teaches you exactly when to show\, when to tell\, and how to make every moment count.\n\n\n\nFor Fiction and Memoir \n\n\n\nStruggling to know when to slow your story down—or when to speed it up? Unsure what belongs and what to leave out? We’ll dive into your two core storytelling tools—scene and summary—and explore how they work together to make your writing rich\, compelling\, and memorable. You’ll learn how to use scene intentionally to shape pacing and flow\, and discover the four types of summary\, with best practices for placement and timing. By the end of the workshop\, you’ll know how to deploy these techniques in concert\, crafting sequences that keep readers hooked from start to finish. \n\n\n\nThis seminar gives you clear\, practical strategies for deciding exactly when to show\, when to tell\, and how to make every moment count. Whether you’re polishing a memoir\, starting a novel\, or shaping any narrative\, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to create stories built from scenes and summaries that truly rivet readers. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful three-hour live seminar\, you will:\n\n\n\n\nMASTER pacing to control the speed and rhythm of your story\n\n\n\nWEAVE scenes and summaries seamlessly for maximum impact\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY AND USE the four types of summary effectively\n\n\n\nBREAK DOWN the parts of a scene to understand what makes it work\n\n\n\nDEEPEN your story and increase emotional resonance with pacing\n\n\n\nCONSTRUCT strong\, compelling scenes that draw readers in\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis course is ideal for…\n\n\n\n\nwriters who want to turn various scenes into a story that clicks\n\n\n\nmemoirists struggling to condense life into compelling moments\n\n\n\nnovelists who know their plot but need sharper scene structure\n\n\n\nstorytellers who want readers to fall deeply into the story\n\n\n\nanyone tired of “too much info” and craving clarity and impact\n\n\n\nnew writers looking to master the art of what to leave in—and what to cut\n\n\n\nexperienced writers who want their stories to land emotionally \n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔Think you might miss class? No worries\, replays will be available 3 business days after the event. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Heather Sellers is the author of You Don’t Look Like Anyone I Know\, a popular memoir about family and face blindness. An O Oprah Book-of-the-Month Club selection and Editor’s Choice at the New York Times Book Review\, the award-winning book was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered\, Dick Gordon’s The Story\, and Dateline\, The Today Show\, and Good Morning America with George Stephanopolis. Her essays appear in The New York Times\, The Sun\, Reader’s Digest\, Good Housekeeping\, The Best American Essays\, and numerous journals and anthologies. She is the author of four books on the craft of writing\, including The Practice of Creative Writing. \n\n\n\nHer fifth collection of poetry is coming out in June: Women in Tampa Talking About Alligators. \n\n\n\nHeather has been teaching for over 30 years. Currently she is a member of the MFA faculty at the University of South Florida\, where she won the university’s highest teaching award. She also offers in-person workshops and private lessons for writers at all levels. \n\n\n\nStudent Testimonials \n\n\n\n“This was one of the most substantive classes I’ve taken. The craft insights were deep\, but everything was presented in a clear\, usable structure that made revision feel possible instead of overwhelming.” – Anon \n\n\n\n“I loved how rigorous the content was without ever feeling dry. The pacing\, humor\, and energy kept me completely engaged—and I left with concrete tools I used immediately.” – Grace L\, New York \n\n\n\n“What stood out most was how intentional the teaching was.” –Kate S\, NJ \n\n\n\n“I expected inspiration\, but I didn’t expect this level of craft depth. The class was smart\, funny\, and incredibly well organized.” – Constance\, Holland\, MI \n\n\n\n“You can feel how much thought has gone into the structure of the presentation. Nothing felt random—everything connected\, and Heather is so personable and smart and fun.” – BethAnn\, Tampa\, FL \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a refund less a $10.00 processing fee. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-scene-vs-summary/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MASTER-Event-Templates-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260411T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260411T150000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20260224T221504Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T144320Z UID:10000106-1775908800-1775919600@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Turning Your Memoir Into A Screenplay DESCRIPTION:You lived it. You wrote about it. Now\, you want to adapt it.\n\n\n\nFor Memoir \n\n\n\nDoes your memoir have what it takes to be a film or TV series? Adaptation requires more than screenplay formatting. This class shows you how to evaluate your story like a producer\, structure it like a screenwriter\, and imagine yourself as a character an actor would want to play.In this three-hour seminar\, we move beyond personal reflection and examine memoir as dramatic source material. You’ll begin by clarifying what your story actually is: its scale\, its genre\, its central tension\, and whether it is better suited to a feature film or television series format. \n\n\n\nNext\, we focus on the dramatic shift that drives adaptation. What is the disruption that alters the trajectory of the narrative? What decision\, loss\, or revelation creates forward motion? You’ll distinguish between interior point of view and visible action\, identifying the turning points that can structure and sustain a film or series rather than simply recounting events. \n\n\n\nFinally\, we adopt a producer’s lens. What makes this story entertaining? What does it need to sustain the development process? What makes the central character strong enough to attract the talent that can help get it made?  \n\n\n\nThrough focused exercises and real case studies—from big-budget movies to independent films and TV series—you’ll begin evaluating your memoir’s adaptation potential with clarity. \n\n\n\nAttendees are invited to submit loglines\, 250-word synopses\, OR a single scene from the exercises in class for written feedback\, up to 4 weeks after the session.  \n\n\n\nA resources handout with links and session slides will be available after the class. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful three-hour live seminar\, you will:\n\n\n\n\nCLARIFY the scope\, genre\, and central tension of your memoir as potential screen material\n\n\n\nDETERMINE whether your story is better suited to a feature film or a television series\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY the pivotal disruption in your memoir and distinguish between internal point of view and the dramatic action required for film & TV\n\n\n\nEVALUATE your memoir through a producer’s lens\, assessing entertainment value\, character strength\, and development potential\n\n\n\nANALYZE case studies of major studio and independent adaptations to understand how true stories are reshaped for the screen\n\n\n\nSUBMIT a logline\, 250-word synopsis\, OR short adaptation exercise for written feedback following the seminar\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis course is ideal for…\n\n\n\n\nmemoirists who want to unlock the cinematic potential of their manuscript\n\n\n\nwriters ready to evaluate their book’s marketability through a producer’s lens\n\n\n\nauthors who want to translate true stories from source material to screen\n\n\n\nscreenwriters interested in adapting memoir and nonfiction projects\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔Think you might miss class? No worries\, replay will be available 3 business days after the event. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMichelle Cutler is an award-winning screenwriter\, storytelling coach\, and developmental editor specializing in true stories and memoir\, as well as an enthusiastic and collaborative teacher. She has worked with Academy Award–winning producers and directors\, and her original and adapted screenplays have been optioned and developed by major studios and featured at international film markets.  \n\n\n\nShe has written more than 1\,700 advertising campaigns for global brands and worked as a script analyst for agencies and production companies. She previously served as a judge for the Independent Spirit Awards and as North American Curator for the Chinese Women’s Film Festival. She holds an MFA in film from NYU and a diploma in advanced creative writing nonfiction from Cambridge. She is currently writing I WON’T LET YOU DIE ALONE\, a reported memoir from the trenches of modern elder caregiving. \n\n\n\nStudent Testimonials \n\n\n\n“Consulting with Michelle on my memoir’s adaptation has been transformative. She brought fresh ideas and a professional perspective I never would have had on my own\, while always honoring what my story was truly about at its core.” – Elizabeth Austin  \n\n\n\n“I participated in a highly informative seminar about adaptation with Michelle\, where she discussed how books gain the attention of media-makers. She is very knowledgeable and generous with her time personally\, as well.”- Christina Adams \n\n\n\n“Michelle’s professionalism\, knowledge\, and humor made this workshop engaging and insightful. Her attention to detail and the case studies she shared made the adaptation process clear. I would highly recommend this class for anyone working on a memoir project.” – Grace Koo \n\n\n\n“Working with Michelle on adapting my father’s story was an exceptional experience. Her care\, thoughtfulness\, and thoroughness were evident at every step. I highly recommend her for anyone seeking honest\, creative storytelling techniques for true story adaptations.”– Patrick Boyd \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/memoir-into-a-screenplay/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MASTER-Event-Templates-1-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260321T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260328T150000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20260211T192818Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T235822Z UID:10000098-1774098000-1774710000@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Speculative Memoir Magic: Reclaiming Your Memoir's Power through Speculative Elements DESCRIPTION:Using speculative elements in your memoir deepens your writing and can crack open blocks in unexpected ways.\n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturdays March 21 & 28\, 1-3 pm Eastern \n\n\n\nFor Memoir \n\n\n\nThe speculative can help memoirists dramatize things that have been previously unspeakable (& unwritable!) Aligning the imaginative realms with the external events of life is a natural connection for storytellers. Far from being untruths\, speculative elements can bring a reader deeper into the emotional and psychological realities of the memoirist’s psyche.  \n\n\n\nSpeculative memoir is finding its rightful place in the world of creative nonfiction. Books like Jami Nakamura Lin’s The Night Parade: A Speculative Memoir\, Carmen Maria Machado’s Into the Dream House\, Ariel Gore’s We Were Witches\, Anna Joy Springer’s The Vicious Red Relic\, Love\, Monster Portraits by Sofia Samatar\, and the presenter’s memoir\, A Constellation of Ghosts: A Speculative Memoir of Ravens\, have been breaking new ground in memoir\, showing a wide range of storytelling approaches unbound by the traditional restraints of the genre.  \n\n\n\nThis seminar offers insight into the vast potential of speculative memoir and provides tools for you to bring speculative elements into your own writing. After reviewing key terms and looking at a brief breakdown of the author’s use of speculative in her memoir\, we will practice with generative writing prompts of varying lengths\, with ample opportunity to share\, receive reflective feedback\, and ask questions. We will also learn a deep inquiry process of active imagination to help with writer’s blocks of all kinds.All participants will receive the slide deck and a powerful Speculative Memoir Playbook\, designed by Laraine Herring\, with a recommended reading list and additional prompts\, tools\, and insights into how they can incorporate speculative elements into their work. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this 2-day seminar\, you’ll:\n\n\n\n\nEXAMINE how memoir always engages with the speculative\, even without apparent ghosts or magical elements\n\n\n\nCONSIDER various definitions of speculative memoir\n\n\n\nUNDERSTAND\, through a short case study of the presenter’s speculative memoir\, how and why the form was selected for her story and how it changed the book\n\n\n\nLEARN how\, when\, and why to use speculative elements in your memoir\n\n\n\nPRACTICE engaging with speculative elements in your writing\n\n\n\nLEARN a deep inquiry practice that utilizes active imagination to help with blocks\n\n\n\nSHARE work (if willing) and receive generative\, reflective feedback\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis course is ideal for intermediate or advanced memoirists who are:\n\n\n\n\nStuck writing psychologically challenging scenes\n\n\n\nIncorporating ancestral stories and voices into their work\n\n\n\nSeeking to deepen emotional scenes without becoming overly sentimental\n\n\n\nFeeling blocked or uncertain about their story\n\n\n\nSearching for the right structure or form for their memoir\n\n\n\nStruggling to access and vividly portray defining moments from their lives\n\n\n\nWriting memoirs with a stronger internal focus than external events\n\n\n\nFacing challenges in dramatizing emotional responses like grief\, love\, anger\, and joy\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔Think you might miss part of the class? No worries\, replays will be available 3 business days after each session. ✔ \n\n\n\nThis seminar was originally offered January 2025. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLaraine Herring’s memoir\, A Constellation of Ghosts: A Speculative Memoir with Ravens\, was released in 2021 from Regal House. She’s the editor of the anthology Becoming Real: Women Reclaim the Power of the Imagined through Speculative Nonfiction (Pact Press\, 2024)\, and a trilogy of writing books from Shambhala\, including Writing Begins with the Breath: Embodying Your Authentic Voice. She’s a retired professor of creative writing and psychology\, and has worked with writers for thirty years. She’s also an illustrator and a grief counselor\, and creator of The Grief Forest: a book about what we don’t talk about. She founded the online ‘zine Hags on Fire\, a place for women to share stories about menopause\, and co-designed The Imaginal Memoir Cave immersion program with Gayle Brandeis. Her work has appeared in The New York Times\, Tiferet\, The Rumpus\, The Manifest-Station\, and many more places. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and an MA in Counseling Psychology\, and lives in the mountains of northern Arizona with many cats. \n\n\n\nStudent Testimonials \n\n\n\n“Laraine helped my book tell me what it wants to be and challenged me to do the work to get it there. I am grateful for her intuitive\, empathic\, supportive approach and for her enthusiasm when I arrived at the realizations she was hoping I’d get to as I did that work. Laraine’s skills are many\, and she is fantastic to work with. She is dedicated\, direct\, detailed\, dependable\, and delightful.” — Meg Weber\, author of A Year of Mr. Lucky \n\n\n\n“Through Laraine’s authentic nature and ability to listen\, I learned that writing is as much an act of bravery and strength as it is about being gentle and flexible. I can’t wait to be one of her students again!” — Naomi K. \n\n\n\n“Without a doubt\, Laraine is the most generous\, inspirational\, and challenging writing instructor I have ever met. Using provocative writing exercises\, she guided me through creative discovery\, helping reveal ideas and truths I had previously locked away. She challenged me to delve deeper into my story\, even if it meant going into the dark hidden corners.” — Janine W. \n\n\n\n“Laraine opened doors inside my mind and created space for me to come into relationship with my writing in a refreshing way that was all my own. I had more than one breakthrough working with her. With ease and honesty\, she created an authentic\, interesting\, and inviting space to grow.” — Grace W. \n\n\n\n“Laraine encourages students to dig deep. She provides original\, interesting exercises designed to pull past the first obvious idea and find the more compelling material underneath. She is as invested in students’ work as the students themselves.” — Janet B. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-speculative-memoir/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MASTER-Event-Templates-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260228T160000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20260102T203537Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T222304Z UID:10000080-1771682400-1772294400@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Send\, Build\, Grow: Strategies for a Sustainable Newsletter Practice DESCRIPTION:Sharpen your voice and clarify your process to transform your newsletter into an intentional\, sustainable audience connection.\n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturdays February 21 & 28\, 2-4 pm Eastern \n\n\n\nFor All Creatives \n\n\n\nWhether your author newsletter is thriving at 3000 or well-intentioned but rarely sent to primarily friends and family\, the path to building and sustaining a meaningful email-to-audience practice is rarely straightforward. There are ebbs and flows. Subscribes and unsubscribes. Bursts of momentum followed by long periods of self-doubt and posting-into-the-void vibes. \n\n\n\nThis two-session seminar is designed for writers who have already launched a newsletter—maybe months or even years ago—and now want to step back\, take a clear-eyed look at what they’ve built\, and make it stronger\, clearer\, and easier to maintain. We’ll examine your newsletter as it exists right now: what’s working\, what’s unclear or underpowered\, and where there are opportunities for improvement. \n\n\n\nRather than starting over\, we’ll refine what’s already there—sharpening your voice\, clarifying your focus\, and improving how you talk about your newsletter so it’s easier for others to understand\, share\, and recommend. We’ll also look at how to build stronger\, more intentional relationships with your readers over time and identify sustainable\, low-lift ways to increase engagement\, visibility\, and momentum. \n\n\n\nThis seminar is not about launching a newsletter or chasing growth at all costs. It’s about turning an existing newsletter into a more intentional\, sustainable practice—one that fits realistically into your writing life and continues to earn its place over time. You’ll leave with concrete adjustments\, clearer decisions\, and a simple system that helps you show up consistently—without burnout\, pressure\, or performative “best practices.” \n\n\n\nNOTES: This seminar assumes you already have a newsletter—active or on hiatus. It is NOT a step-by-step guide to launching from scratch.  \n\n\n\nThe seminar will be appropriate for users of any newsletter platform\, including Substack—you do not need to be on a specific email service. We will look at common elements like metrics and audience data\, but we will not be deeply exploring the technical capabilities of any one service. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this 2-Day seminar\, you’ll:\n\n\n\n\nANALYZE the general forms and philosophies of author newsletters: what works\, what stalls out\, and why \n\n\n\nEXAMINE your own newsletter’s purpose\, audience\, and value—what it’s actually offering readers\, not just what you hope it does\n\n\n\nREFINE your format\, voice\, and focus so your newsletter feels aligned with your strengths and interests\n\n\n\nRETHINK how you present your newsletter—on your site\, on social media\, and in conversation—so it’s easier for others to understand and share\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY low-effort\, sustainable ways to increase visibility and subscribers without adding stress\n\n\n\nSTRENGTHEN your reader relationship through clearer expectations\, better framing\, and more intentional communication\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou will leave with…\n\n\n\n\nA clearer\, more intentional newsletter that reflects your voice and values\n\n\n\nA realistic system you can actually sustain\n\n\n\nConcrete decisions instead of generic advice\n\n\n\nRenewed confidence in why your newsletter matters—and who it’s for\n\n\n\nA sense that your newsletter can be a meaningful\, energizing part of your writing life\, not just another obligation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis course is for writers and creatives…\n\n\n\n\nWith an existing newsletter who want to improve clarity\, consistency\, and engagement\n\n\n\nWhose newsletters have gone quiet—and want a realistic way to restart and re-engage\n\n\n\nWho feel unsure how their newsletter fits into their broader creative or professional goals\n\n\n\nWho want growth\, but not at the expense of joy or sustainability\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔Think you might miss part of the class? No worries\, replays will be available 3 business days after each session. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStephen Knezovich is a marketing strategist who works with writers\, artists\, and arts nonprofits. He is the co-founder of the literary magazine Short Reads\, the marketing director and co-founder of Ascender Book Services\, the marketing strategist for Off Assignment\, a collage artist\, and the curator of two email newsletters: Read This and Gluu. He lives in Pittsburgh\, Pennsylvania\, with his wife and two kids. \n\n\n\nStephen’s philosophy is simple: marketing should be creative\, personal\, human—and sustainable. \n\n\n\nStudent Testimonials \n\n\n\n“Working with Stephen has been a game-changer. Stephen helped me more than double my newsletter subscribers\, gave me clear focus\, and completely transformed my website.” — Kristen Weber\, Inside an Editor’s Brain \n\n\n\n“Stephen put my mind at ease that building an audience does not have to be ‘hard.'” — Betsy B. (Attendee of From Here to There) \n\n\n\n“Wonderful presentation. I felt like I was talking to a friend.” — Susan B. (Attendee of From Here to There) \n\n\n\n“I deeply appreciate the more grounded\, down-to-earth approach that the presenter took. I also appreciated the very earnest and honest tone of this presentation.” — Justin A. (Attendee of From Here to There) \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/send-build-grow/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MASTER-Event-Templates-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260124T170000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20251129T021119Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260109T150454Z UID:10000073-1768658400-1769274000@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Nailed It: Conceptualizing your Nonfiction Book  DESCRIPTION:Clarify your book’s purpose\, identify its core message\, and develop an outline or structure for your book that aligns with your purpose.\n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturdays\, January 17th & 24th\, 2-5 pm Eastern \n\n\n\nFor Nonfiction\, Creative Nonfiction\, and Memoir writers \n\n\n\nFor over two decades\, Melissa Petro has helped hundreds of writers nail down the concept for their nonfiction books. A strong concept is the critical first step in writing a book\, yet so many writers either settle on a vague or underdeveloped idea—one that lacks a clear narrative thread or emotional/logical core—or skip this step altogether.  \n\n\n\nThis 2-day seminar focuses on you getting this step right. The intensive will combine lectures\, discussions\, readings\, and writing exercises. Together\, we’ll clarify your book’s purpose\, identify its core message\, and develop an outline or structure for your book that aligns with your purpose\, setting you up for the next stages of writing. \n\n\n\nParticipants will have the opportunity to submit a description of their project to the instructor for feedback. \n\n\n\nAdded bonus: senior agent Laura Mazer will join the second class\, giving participants a chance to workshop their concept live. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this seminar\, you’ll:\n\n\n\n\nEXPLORE the pros and cons of various publishing paths\, including Big Five\, indie\, hybrid\, and self-publishing.  \n\n\n\nIDENTIFY your potential primary and secondary audiences and discuss other aspects of market\, including premise and promise\, style\, voice\, and thesis\n\n\n\nDISCOVER competitive titles and other ways to demonstrate how a new book fits within the existing market\, helping agents\, editors\, and publishers understand its potential audience and sales viability. \n\n\n\nCREATE a chapter outline\, ensuring your chapters are in an order with a strong narrative arc and/or concepts that flow from one to the other or tell some kind of story. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis course is ideal for \n\n\n\n\nnonfiction writers interested in writing a book\n\n\n\nwriters who are stalled at any stage in the writing process\n\n\n\nanyone curious about the book-writing process\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔Think you might miss part of the class? No worries\, replays will be available 3 business days after each session. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMelissa Petro is a freelance writer and the author of Shame on You: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification\, published by Putnam Books\, a division of Penguin Random House. As a workshop facilitator\, she’s helped hundreds of people push through fear\, write\, share\, and even publish their most vulnerable stories in national publications such as The New York Times\, The Guardian\, The Nation\, Salon\, The Washington Post\, and elsewhere\, and has helped still more individuals re-envision their lives by making meaning of their past and transcending traumatic experiences. \n\n\n\nStudent Testimonials \n\n\n\n“Melissa Petro is an exceptional writing teacher. She masterfully balances support and challenge\, pushing her students to refine their work while offering insightful and encouraging feedback. Her unique blend of honesty\, kindness\, and fresh perspective makes her an invaluable guide for any aspiring writer.” – Jennifer S. \n\n\n\n“I’m lucky to have found such a terrific mentor in Melissa. Her honest\, critical feedback has expanded my writing skills. She also shares her experience as a lifetime writer\, synthesizes how the industry operates\, and offers best practices for becoming a published author. I highly recommend any course Melissa offers.” – Shabana S. \n\n\n\n“I always knew I wanted to be a writer but was too scared to commit to the work- working with Melissa not only held me accountable to finishing my memoir\, but made me a better writer. Every time we connected I knew I would be met with honest critique that pushed me past my comfort zone which is exactly what I needed.” – Shannon O. \n\n\n\n“Melissa Petro gave me the expertise and encouragement needed to finally publish my writing. She has helped me to shape ideas\, pitches\, and drafts into essays for HuffPost\, Elle\, and Business Insider. Her mentorship has been incredibly valuable to me as a writer and a woman who is turning her most shameful secrets into compelling articles. She’s just the best there is.” – Katie N. \n\n\n\n“Melissa Petro is an engaged\, knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher. She provided practical guidance\, while also giving us thoughtful personal feedback to each student. Highly recommend her class!” \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-nailed-it/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MASTER-Event-Templates.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251206T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251206T163000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20251025T161859Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251127T161510Z UID:10000068-1765029600-1765038600@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | The Final Polish: Make Every Sentence Shine DESCRIPTION:Even the strongest stories falter if the sentences don’t sing.\n\n\n\nFor All Writers \n\n\n\nYou’ve revised your structure\, developed your characters\, and deepened your themes—but you’re still wondering\, is this ready to submit\, or does it need more work? Perhaps the prose feels flat\, predictable\, or cluttered with unnecessary words. Your voice doesn’t feel powerful. It’s not just you! Most writers face this challenge after completing their macro-level revisions: the sentences themselves need work\, but it’s hard to see exactly what’s wrong or how to fix it. We all need a clear framework for evaluating prose at the sentence level. \n\n\n\nThis seminar focuses on the final polish—the sentence-level work that transforms a narrative from solid to striking. We’ll tackle the specific issues that drain energy from your prose: repetitive sentence structures that lull readers to sleep\, vague language that tells instead of shows\, and filler words that bloat your word count without adding meaning. You’ll learn how to fine-tune syntax\, word choice\, rhythm\, and cadence to create prose that engages\, surprises\, and resonates with readers on every page.  \n\n\n\nMost importantly\, you’ll develop the editorial eye to spot when your prose is polished and ready to be shared. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful seminar\, you’ll:\n\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY common sentence-level problems and how to avoid them.\n\n\n\nEXPLORE variations in syntax and sentence length to create rhythm\, tension\, and emotional pulse.\n\n\n\nDISCOVER strategies for sharpening word choice\, enhancing specificity\, and using fresh\, precise language.\n\n\n\nPRACTICE “purging” techniques to eliminate unnecessary words from your prose–easily! \n\n\n\nLEARN to know when your prose is truly ready to submit. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for intermediate and advanced writers who:\n\n\n\n\nHave a complete or near-complete draft of a book\, essay\, or story and want to elevate it with sentence-level polish.\n\n\n\nStruggle with clichés\, generalities\, or filler words and want to make their language fresher\, more precise\, and more impactful.\n\n\n\nAre ready to refine their work before submission\, publication\, or sharing with readers.\n\n\n\nWant to move beyond structural revision into micro-level craft mastery.\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKatie Bannon is a writer\, editor\, and educator whose work has appeared in The Washington Post\, The Rumpus\, ELLE Magazine\, Narratively\, and more. Her memoir manuscript\, which charts her journey as a compulsive hair puller\, was a finalist for the Permafrost Nonfiction Book Prize. A graduate of GrubStreet’s Memoir Incubator\, she holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from Emerson College. She is a developmental editor who loves working with memoirists and essayists on how to write and revise their most vulnerable\, taboo stories. She teaches at GrubStreet and lives in Central Massachusetts with her partner and two cats. \n\n\n\nStudent Testimonials\n\n\n\n\n“Katie is the best writing instructor I have ever had. Her presentation was impeccable. She provided an abundance of ideas\, details\, examples\, and information. In fact\, the class was overflowing with information. I have nothing but praise for Katie and the class content.” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Katie was an amazing instructor. She explained core concepts with clarity and ease\, provided excellent examples and writing samples\, and created a very supportive learning environment. The class truly exceeded my expectations!” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Holy moly\, this was a superb class. Instructor was well-prepared with lots of valuable and well-organized information and ideas. I have already begun applying some of the tools from class to revise—and what a difference it’s making!” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/the-final-polish/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Event-Template-from-Canva-3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251011T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251011T143000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20250907T215311Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251002T232213Z UID:10000056-1760184000-1760193000@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | The Right Words: Boost Your Author Platform with Storytelling DESCRIPTION:Your author platform rests on your public identity. Create and define your online self to capture readers’ attention and showcase your story.\n\n\n\nAfter creating your art privately\, over time\, marketing can feel disingenuous\, even tacky. But to attract attention from readers\, agents\, and publishers\, you need a clearly defined public persona that truly reflects who you are and what you offer. Storytelling is the key to getting noticed in a click-away world without compromising your message.  \n\n\n\nThis 2.5-hour generative seminar will help you align your website\, social media\, and content with who you are while also ensuring your work is discoverable online. This isn’t a tech-heavy session—it’s about using your words to define your digital identity in a way that resonates with your audience and gets found by search engines. If you hate your current website or are procrastinating launching one altogether\, or if you rely on social media platforms for your audience engagement but worry they could change or disappear overnight\, this seminar is for you! \n\n\n\nYou’ll learn how to research and reflect on your current online identity\, avoid common SEO and AI pitfalls\, and generate key search words through storytelling. Through writing prompts and case studies\, we’ll focus on crafting drafts for your Home and About pages\, giving you the tools to build a digital presence that feels true to you. Whether you’re just starting your author website or renovating the one you have\, you’ll leave this workshop with actionable steps to take your online presence to the next level and connect more effectively with your intended audience. \n\n\n\nThis seminar offers live workshopping for HOME or ABOUT pages of 5–7 selected websites. Submit your URL a week in advance (instructions in your confirmation email) for a chance to be featured live. If time allows\, additional links may be shared in the chat. All participants—whether featured or not—will receive personalized feedback by email for up to two weeks after the session\, including on content drafted during the workshop. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this Interactive seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nALIGN your online presence with your true creative identity.\n\n\n\nLEARN to analyze and apply insights from different website styles. \n\n\n\nDEVELOP clear and engaging content for key website pages\, while maintaining a personal voice and clarity.\n\n\n\nCREATE effective\, engaging calls-to-action and website copy that draws visitors in and makes it easy for them to connect. \n\n\n\nEXPLORE practical steps to refine an online identity that supports your professional and personal goals. \n\n\n\nENGAGE in Q&A to discuss specific challenges in shaping your website and digital presence.All registered attendees will receive the Golden Notes summary with actionable steps and the slides from the presentation\, including prompts for further reflection and implementation.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers\, freelancers\, and creatives who \n\n\n\n\nAre frustrated with their current website or procrastinating on launching one\n\n\n\nHave changed careers or writing styles and need to update their digital presence\n\n\n\nAre online-phobic and unsure how to navigate creating an authentic\, engaging digital identity\n\n\n\nFeel their social media presence isn’t enough and want to take full control of their online persona\n\n\n\nWant to boost visibility without relying on complex SEO tactics or tech-heavy jargon\n\n\n\nLooking to align their website\, social media\, and content with who they truly are\, while making sure it works for SEO and engagement\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Michelle Cutler is an award-winning screenwriter\, storytelling coach\, and essayist with more than 15-years of experience as a freelance advertising writer and brand strategist. She has worked on over 1\,700 commercial campaigns across the U.S.\, U.K.\, and Europe\, collaborating with top directors and agencies on projects ranging from the world stage of the Olympics to episodic television\, feature films\, and luxury house paint. Her reported and personal essays have appeared in HuffPost\, Business Insider\, Trail Runner Magazine\, Under the Gum Tree\, Brevity Blog\, and elsewhere. She loves working with individual writers and artists on personal storytelling\, branding\, pitching\, and audience engagement. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“Michelle Cutler knows her stuff! And she is very generous and patient in sharing her expertise. I need to go back and listen to the recording again to glean even more benefit from her workshop!” – Andi Penner (IWWG hosted workshop participant) \n\n\n\n“Michelle’s webinar gave me immediate and concrete steps to improve my website in a clear and easily understood manner. She is very charming and seemed genuinely interested in my questions\, answering all of them by the end of the session. Well worth the time and money spent.” – Diana Eden (IWWG hosted workshop participant) \n\n\n\n“I am a gardener in Nevada City California. My mother signed me up for this workshop. It absolutely turned my head around about the approach that I’ve been taking. It was fun and smart and it made the “lights in my building” brighter! I highly recommend it.” – Kathy Irving (IWWG hosted workshop participant) \n\n\n\n“Michelle’s clear presentation and focus were invaluable! Her “SEO of Me” workshop was exactly what I needed as I work to tell my story as an online presence.” – Lisa St. John (IWWG hosted workshop participant) \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-the-right-words/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MASTER-Event-Templates.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250913T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250920T170000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20250805T172809Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250913T191110Z UID:10000048-1757775600-1758387600@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Master Your Memoir's Structure DESCRIPTION:Learn how to build a structure that serves your themes and propels readers forward.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturdays\, September 13 & 20 @ 3:00-5:00 pm  EDT \n\n\n\nStructure is often the hardest part of writing a memoir. How do we decide what material is relevant? How do we find a container for our stories that will convey meaning? And how do we arrange our memories and experiences into a strong arc that keeps readers turning pages? \n\n\n\nThis 2-part seminar will give you hands-on tools for going from messy first draft to a clear\, compelling structure. We’ll address 3 key elements of memoir structure: scope (what belongs and what doesn’t)\, sequencing (how to arrange chapters and scenes)\, and container (i.e. braided\, associative\, chronological\, etc.).  \n\n\n\nIn Part 1\, you’ll learn how to distinguish between “story” and “situation\,” evaluate what material belongs and doesn’t\, and build your arc.  \n\n\n\nPart 2 will focus on finding the perfect container for your story\, sequencing your scenes\, and crafting strong transitions that guide readers from start to finish.  \n\n\n\nThrough hands-on exercises and published memoir examples\, you’ll leave with a structural blueprint and a clear roadmap for refining your memoir’s arc. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful TWO-DAY live seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY the scope of your memoir by finding the deeper “story” beneath the “situation” of your experiences.\n\n\n\nEXPLORE different memoir structures (using published memoirs as examples) and find the right fit for your story.\n\n\n\nLEARN HOW to strengthen your narrative arc\, and which scenes to expand\, cut\, or rearrange to build momentum and emotional resonance.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers who:\n\n\n\n\nNeed help deciding what material belongs and doesn’t belong in their memoir\n\n\n\nHave a complete or near-complete draft of a memoir\, and need help shaping it into a compelling arc\n\n\n\nWant to explore different structural possibilities for their memoir\n\n\n\nWant to hone the structure of their manuscript before submitting it to agents and editors\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKatie Bannon is a writer\, editor\, and educator whose work has appeared in The Washington Post\, The Rumpus\, ELLE Magazine\, Narratively\, and more. Her memoir manuscript\, which charts her journey as a compulsive hair puller\, was a finalist for the Permafrost Nonfiction Book Prize. A graduate of GrubStreet’s Memoir Incubator\, she holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from Emerson College. She is a developmental editor who loves working with memoirists and essayists on how to write and revise their most vulnerable\, taboo stories. She teaches at GrubStreet and lives in Central Massachusetts with her partner and two cats. \n\n\n\nStudent Testimonials\n\n\n\n\n“Katie is the best writing instructor I have ever had. Her presentation was impeccable. She provided an abundance of ideas\, details\, examples\, and information. In fact\, the class was overflowing with information. I have nothing but praise for Katie and the class content.” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Katie was an amazing instructor. She explained core concepts with clarity and ease\, provided excellent examples and writing samples\, and created a very supportive learning environment. The class truly exceeded my expectations!” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Holy moly\, this was a superb class. Instructor was well-prepared with lots of valuable and well-organized information and ideas. I have already begun applying some of the tools from class to revise—and what a difference it’s making!” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/master-your-memoir/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Event-Template-from-Canva-3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250816T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250816T170000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20250708T232008Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250805T180147Z UID:10000040-1755352800-1755363600@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Telling the True Story: Essential Strategies for Writing Memoir DESCRIPTION:A memoir is a story from a life\, not a whole life story.\n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturday\, August 16 @ 2:00-5:00 pm  EDT \n\n\n\nEveryone has a story worth telling. This seminar will help you tell yours with clarity\, power\, and purpose. Designed for writers at all levels\, this course offers essential strategies for crafting a compelling memoir.  \n\n\n\nWe’ll explore how to shape memory into narrative\, how to handle time and structure\, and how to find the story within the story. We’ll also tackle the ethical challenges of writing about family and loved ones\, the difference between confession and art\, and how to build a memoir with scenes\, summary\, reflection\, stakes\, and a plot. We examine relevant examples as we learn tools and no-fail techniques you can take straight to the page. \n\n\n\nYou’ll leave with a solid foundation for your memoir project—and a clear understanding of how to transform lived experience into literature. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful three-hour live seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nDISCOVER how to deploy the double perspective memoir requires\n\n\n\nADDRESS the “WHY NOW?” principle\n\n\n\nLEARN HOW memoirists use literary craft\, and not just raw memory\, to build a story\n\n\n\nEXPLORE ethics and ways to sharpen your memory\n\n\n\nCOME TO GRIPS with conflict; even internal journeys must have tension\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers who:\n\n\n\n\nAre intrigued by the idea of writing memoir\n\n\n\nAre working in micro memoir\, memoir essays\, or book length\n\n\n\nHave a draft and are embarking on revision\n\n\n\nAre interested in publishing memoir\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOne of CRAFT TALKS’ most popular presenters\, for her insightful and inspiring webinars\, HEATHER SELLERS is the author of 11 books\, including four books on craft\, a memoir\, a children’s book\, a collection of short stories\, and four volumes of poetry.  She teaches in the MFA program at the University of South Florida\, and her work has appeared in The New York Times\, Reader’s Digest\, The Sun\, and The Best American Essays. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“Simply the best teacher I have ever had\, ever.” – Kate L. \n\n\n\n“There is so much content! All the time was full\, and there are so many concepts that are so\, so useful.”  – Anon \n\n\n\n“Heather Sellers is a born teacher. She can convey complicated writing skills in ways that can be practiced immediately. I recommend her workshops & books!” -Pat D. \n\n\n\n“Her workshops are a gift for any writing student.” -Eva I. \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/telling-the-true/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MASTER-Event-Templates.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250719T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250719T170000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20250604T145751Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T121151Z UID:10000032-1752933600-1752944400@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR |Short & Sweet: Maximizing the Power of Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction DESCRIPTION:No matter the word count\, engaging stories need emotion and substance on the page. What can you do with less?\n\n\n\nNonfiction and Fiction \n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturday\, July 19 @ 2:00-5:00 pm  EDT \n\n\n\nCan an impactful story be told in a few pages? What about a paragraph? A sentence? Absolutely! No matter the length (flash\, sudden\, micro)\, short storytelling uses the same tools as longer forms—just compressed. Writing efficiently (and effectively) is a valuable skill in both creative nonfiction and fiction. When every sentence counts\, stories become laser-focused and dynamically rich. Writing short can also enhance reader enjoyment—not only by getting to the heart of the story quicker but also by layering nuances for the reader’s contemplation afterwards.  \n\n\n\nUsing fun prompts and practical worksheets\, this seminar offers interactive\, hands-on learning. We’ll deconstruct examples and use an editorial checklist to reduce word count without losing meaning. We’ll focus on essential elements like descriptive language\, sentence structure\, cadence\, and the best starting point for your story.  \n\n\n\nThroughout the seminar\, you will develop a short story and reduce it to essential elements without sacrificing emotion and connection with readers. Capturing quality over quantity with finesse and editing skills\, you’ll create a tight\, powerful story that sings off the page. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful three-hour live seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY and ELIMINATE overwriting habits\n\n\n\nLEARN to focus on a single plot \n\n\n\nINCORPORATE thematic elements\n\n\n\nDEVELOP writing techniques to pare down verbiage while creating descriptive and concise language\n\n\n\nREFINE your overall editing process\n\n\n\nDISCOVER fun contests and submission opportunities\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers who:\n\n\n\n\nTend to throat clear before leaping into action\n\n\n\nHabitually overwrite\n\n\n\nAre word-count obsessed\n\n\n\nOverthink their story \n\n\n\nAre looking for a new challenge\, or want to shake up their writing practice\n\n\n\nAre interested in submitting to contests and journals\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKristin Owens\, Ph.D.\, is an award-winning faculty member with over 25 years of university experience. Now a full-time writer in sticky southwest Florida\, Kristin has over 100 bylines with celebrated magazines such as Writer’s Digest\, Wine Enthusiast\, and 5280. Her personal essays have won New Millennium Writing Awards honorable mention\, awarded finalist for the New Letters award in nonfiction\, and included in RISE!\, a Colorado Book of the Year.  \n\n\n\nKristin holds certifications with the Court of Master Sommeliers and Cicerone and travels the world writing about wonderful wines\, beautiful beers\, and surprising spirits. You can usually find her working and playing on a cruise ship. She is the author of Elizabeth Sails (2024 Rising Action/Simon & Schuster)\, a Gilda Award finalist. \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“Kristin Owens is a wealth of information and practical advice when it comes to writing\, editing\, and publishing a novel\, essay\, or memoir. She is funny\, comfortable\, and smart in transferring information. I loved the classes and hope you will have more and bring Kristin back.” – Sue \n\n\n\n“Kristin truly excels on the mic\, coming prepared and demonstrating impressive knowledge that captivates her audience. Her ability to command attention is remarkable and adds significant value to her lectures. Additionally\, Kristin successfully facilitated a creative writing workshop that was exceptionally well-attended\, further showcasing her talent. We have received excellent feedback from guests regarding her sessions\, highlighting their appreciation for her engaging approach and expertise.”  – Cunard \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-short-and-sweet/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Event-Templates-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250628T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250628T170000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20250522T143647Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250612T033455Z UID:10000031-1751119200-1751130000@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR |The Self-Editor’s Toolkit: 10 Tools\, Tips and Techniques to Develop Your Memoir or Personal Essay DESCRIPTION:The triumph of finishing a draft is soon overtaken by wondering\, Now what do I do? Get the practical and creative tools you need to deepen and polish your work to its greatest potential.\n\n\n\nNonfiction and Memoir \n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturday\, June 28 @ 2:00-5:00 pm  EDT \n\n\n\nAfter the joy of creating comes the picky process of self-scrutinizing\, taking stock\, and tuning up–essential steps in the writing process. Shifting from generative to reflective mode can be tough\, but there are simple\, straightforward methods to refresh your perspective and gain entry into what’s already on the page.  \n\n\n\nIn this three-hour seminar\, learn 10 techniques that creatively (and sometimes stealthily) re-engage you with the work\, including scaffolding\, housekeeping\, reverse outlining\, perhapsing\, tic lists\, set design\, flow checks\, and runway time. You’ll practice some of these methods live\, then pick from the toolbox to build a personalized action plan for revising your work that suits your writing style. \n\n\n\nUsing big-picture inventories and line-level search-and-destroy tactics\, deep conceptual inquiries and thoughtful worksheets\, you’ll gain greater clarity about how to refine language\, structure\, characterization\, and more\, and a new enthusiasm for self-editing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful Three-hour live seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nAPPROACH your work with fresh perspectives\n\n\n\nCLARIFY your aims for the work \n\n\n\nAPPLY simple techniques and inventories that instantly elevate your prose \n\n\n\nBRING more dimension and depth to your work \n\n\n\nPLAN a clear and understandable revision process for your draft\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers who want to refine\, strengthen\, and deepen existing CNF and memoir drafts.\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR Instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLise Funderburg studied at Reed College and the Columbia University School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in The New York Times\, Threepenny Review\, Philadelphia Inquirer\, National Geographic\, Salon\, The Nation\, More\, and The Chattahoochee Review. \n\n\n\nHer latest book is Apple\, Tree: Writers on Their Parents (University of Nebraska Press\, 2019)\, a collection of all-new work by 25 writers\, which Publishers Weekly deemed a “sparkling anthology” in its starred review. Her previous book was Pig Candy: Taking My Father South\, Taking My Father Home (Free Press\, 2008)\, which was chosen as the Drexel University Freshman Read in 2012. Pig Candy fits into several genres—including narrative nonfiction\, memoir\, travelogue\, and biography—but essentially\, it’s a book about life\, death\, and barbecue. \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“Great job of presenting new strategies to keep me writing!” \n\n\n\n“Very well organized and illuminating.” \n\n\n\n“I really\, really felt comfortable with Lise as a person guiding us…she was so relatable\, warm\, and committed to offering helpful advice.” \n\n\n\n“Lise helped me find my voice when I dove into writing to process some difficult and painful life experiences. She patiently walked me through early drafts that read more like diary entries than memoir\, and through her wise counsel\, I found a road map to give voice to my experience and rediscover the joy of writing.” \n\n\n\n“She created a wonderful roadmap to follow!”“THANK YOU!!! Loved this very thoughtful\, inspirational\, and informative presentation.” \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/the-self-editors-toolkit/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Event-Templates-3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250607T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250614T160000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20250417T153707Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T151339Z UID:10000020-1749304800-1749916800@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:2-DAY SEMINAR | The Quest for Clarity: The Blueprint Method to Structure Your Nonfiction Book or Memoir DESCRIPTION:Writing a nonfiction book or memoir with authority requires command over your material and your ideas. Learn how to focus on what matters most so you’re prepared to craft a compelling book proposal.\n\n\n\nNarrative Nonfiction and Memoir \n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturdays\, June 7 & 14 @ 2:00-4:00 pm  EDT \n\n\n\nEven before you write a proposal\, distilling a book’s core is an essential first step in understanding what you’re writing about\, how you’re telling the story\, and who that story is for. These foundational structural elements help capture the attention of agents and publishers. \n\n\n\nIn this two-session course\, you will complete a mini-blueprint to help you clarify and strengthen several key aspects of your book’s structure. You’ll learn how to articulate why your book is needed and why you’re the right person to write it\, define its central point\, and craft a compelling killer sentence or early logline. \n\n\n\nYou’ll also develop book jacket copy\, brainstorm multiple draft titles and subtitles\, and determine your book’s dominant style—whether it’s an exposé\, a reinterpretation of history\, a memoir focused on family\, trauma\, or something else. In addition\, you’ll identify the structural “container” for your book\, such as a collective or chronological narrative\, and create (or make a good start) on an outline for the book that conveys a sense of momentum from one chapter to the next. It’s a summary of the story’s logic. \n\n\n\nParticipants will complete most or all of the mini-blueprint before our second class\, and we’ll review selected examples of participant work to highlight what’s working well and why\, along with common pitfalls to avoid. You will gain a much deeper understanding of your book—bringing you one step closer to writing a strong commercial nonfiction book proposal. \n\n\n\nRead more about Amy’s take on this topic here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful four-hour live seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nDISCOVER the elements of a blueprint that will help organize your research and ideas and nail the thesis of your book.\n\n\n\nACTIVATE the blueprint’s tools to uncover your ‘why\,’ the point of your book\, and your ideal reader.\n\n\n\nDRAFT an outcome-based outline that begins to reveal your chapter flow.\n\n\n\nEXPLORE the power of drafting titles\, jacket copy\, and other succinct elements that reveal your book’s purpose and focus.\n\n\n\nUNLOCK your book’s sense of urgency\, timeliness\, and undeniability.\n\n\n\n\nCan’t make the first session? No worries. We’ll send you the replay by Wednesday! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers who have a rough idea for a nonfiction book and no idea how to develop it\, as well as writers who have already produced many words but don’t know how to continue and have no discernible structure or outline.\n\n\n\nFor writers planning a memoir\, this seminar will help you find the focal points for your story and define its emotional center.\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAmy L. Bernstein is a professional nonfiction book coach helping subject-matter experts and memoirists to develop sellable manuscripts. Amy’s reputation as a results-oriented coach is growing\, as senior literary agents and publishers send authors needing direction and polish her way. She is a former award-winning journalist\, executive speechwriter\, and communications director in the George W. Bush and Obama Administrations. Amy is also a published author\, poet\, and essayist. Her new nonfiction book\, Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears\, Finding Inspiration\, was short-listed for the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize and won first place as best book of self-help and inspiration from BookFest 2025. \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“I love your enthusiasm\, your clarity\, your compassion\, and your humor! Great presentation. And it didn’t feel rushed at all. I look forward to the recording.” \n\n\n\n“It’s like you got inside my head and told me everything that I’ve been wondering about for the past 6 months. Thank you Amy!” \n\n\n\n“Thank you for the Master Class on how to write a book proposal for a nonfiction book. The class was absolutely first-rate! Your approach really helped take the edge off the process for a first- time book writer.”  \n\n\n\n“Amy Bernstein is a wizard. I entered her workshop with a proverbial problem – something was missing from my writing. Within 30 minutes of her instruction\, the words came. Don’t walk to her workshop\, run!” \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-the-quest/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Event-Template-1-3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250503T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250503T170000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20250325T204033Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250424T154745Z UID:10000014-1746280800-1746291600@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Exactly What Publishers Want From Authors: The Key Steps to Landing a Book Deal DESCRIPTION:Master the steps to getting your book deal and stand out in a competitive market\n\n\n\nAll Genres \n\n\n\nWhat do publishers want? How do they decide which book to make an offer on? What are the many steps between you and a book deal? For aspiring authors eager to see your book on the shelves\, but puzzled by the mysterious process of getting published\, this seminar will uncover the intricate decision-making process that book publishers use to select manuscripts. \n\n\n\nBy the end of this seminar\, you will have a thorough understanding of the inner workings of the publishing industry and be equipped with the knowledge and tools to dramatically increase your chances of a deal. Whether you’re a first-time author or looking to enhance your publishing strategy\, this class will be your gateway to unlocking the doors of the literary world. \n\n\n\nAll registrations will receive a publication/query readiness checklist. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful three-hour live seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nUNDERSTAND the key factors publishers consider when evaluating submissions\, including market trends\, target audiences\, and profitability.\n\n\n\nEVALUATE manuscripts using industry criteria such as story originality\, writing quality\, and thematic relevance.\n\n\n\nNAVIGATE the decision-making process by understanding who reviews your manuscript and their role in securing a book deal.\n\n\n\nDECODE the financial side of publishing\, from advances and royalties to the approval criteria for publication.\n\n\n\nSTAY AHEAD of industry trends and insights that shape publishing decisions.\n\n\n\nANALYZE real-life case studies of successful books and what made them stand out.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers:\n\n\n\n\nSeeking literary representation\n\n\n\nWho are self-published and looking to transition to traditional publishing\n\n\n\nWith finished nonfiction manuscripts who want to pitch directly to publishers without an agent\n\n\n\nWanting to gain a deeper understanding of the publishing industry\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR PRESENTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWith over 30 years of publishing expertise\, Amy Collins has sat on all sides of the desk in the publishing world. As an agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services\, Amy champions a diverse range of authors—her clients have secured deals with top publishers across genres like fantasy\, romance\, horror\, and thrillers. Her non-fiction clients focus on cookbooks\, pop-culture\, lifestyle and humor.  \n\n\n\nA former book buyer\, publisher\, and sales director\, Amy blends her sharp market insights with an unwavering commitment to her clients’ success. Beyond representing authors\, Amy is a USA TODAY bestselling writer herself\, with several non-fiction titles to her name\, including It’s the Little Things (Simon & Schuster/Adams Media). She’s a trusted voice in the industry\, regularly featured in Writer’s Digest Magazine and a speaker at major conferences worldwide. \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“I found Amy to be savvy about publishing\, down-to-earth\, and funny as hell.” – Nancy McMillan \n\n\n\n“I just want to say how much I have enjoyed this class. Your professional generosity is so refreshing and valuable. I think every single person in our class felt seen and personally guided. I know I certainly have.” – Pam O’Hara \n\n\n\n“This class was a gift not only to my career but to my spirit. As a writer who finds pitching and promoting myself anxiety-provoking\, I appreciated Amy’s breaking down the intimidating into a plan of small\, easily actionable steps. She is a generous teacher who inspires as well as she informs.” – Karen Novak \n\n\n\n“This session made me realize I didn’t hate pitching. I just didn’t truly understand its power and how to personalize it to my needs toward those I want to reach. Now I can’t wait to get started.” – Louis H. Mitchell \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-exactly-what-publishers-want/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Event-Template-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250405T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250405T160000 DTSTAMP:20260517T024636 CREATED:20250122T195931Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T143117Z UID:10000003-1743854400-1743868800@writingcraft.com SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Deep Characterization for Fiction: Uncovering Secrets\, Relationships and Your Character’s Inner Life DESCRIPTION:Do you feel like your character isn’t fully speaking to you? Dive deep into the mindset\, psychology\, motivations\, and relationships of your characters to produce stunning results.\n\n\n\nTo truly capture a character’s voice\, motivations\, and subtext\, it’s essential to imaginatively live in their skin. Characters drive your story\, and fully inhabiting their consciousness and uncovering their hidden mysteries will infuse new life into your narrative. This seminar is a guided deep dive into both the inner and outer worlds of your characters. \n\n\n\nThrough a series of immersive exercises\, you’ll start by exploring your character’s outer world in unique ways: drawing\, mind-mapping\, and sensory charts. These activities will allow you to experience your character’s surroundings in a fresh\, impactful manner. You’ll also take a meditative journey into your character’s inner world\, exploring how their environment influences their thoughts\, reactions\, and inner dialogue. This process will help you uncover histories and relationships within your story that you may not have discovered yet. \n\n\n\nBy the end of this seminar\, you’ll feel equipped to live inside your character’s skin\, with a repeatable set of exercises and techniques to deeply understand the characters in every story you write.  \n\n\n\nThere will be a break at the halfway point of our session. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this seminar you’ll:\n\n\n\n\nENTER a flow state and imaginatively immerse yourself in your character’s world\n\n\n\nMASTER techniques for eliciting emotional depth through setting and past memories\n\n\n\nMEDITATE to explore your character’s emotions and relationships in a profound way\n\n\n\nCREATE a mind-map based on emotion and character motivations\, while avoiding forced or inauthentic plot elements\n\n\n\nDEVELOP an ongoing emotional and analytical connection with your character\, allowing them to speak to you \n\n\n\nALLOW your character to drive the narrative\, ensuring their actions remain grounded in their authentic motivations\n\n\n\nDISCOVER character objectives through non-analytical means\, so you always understand why your characters do what they do\n\n\n\nREFINE your story’s POV and voice to reflect the evolving discovery of your character\n\n\n\nUTILIZE these exercises to overcome writer’s block and reignite your inspiration\n\n\n\n\nEvery registrant will receive a manual of exercises that can be used to continually deepen their character work. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for fiction writers in all genres who:\n\n\n\n\nFeel intimidated or confused about characterization\n\n\n\nStruggle to convey their characters in a lifelike manner\n\n\n\nFeel their characters aren’t speaking to them\n\n\n\nWant to understand their characters’ motivations but aren’t sure where to start\n\n\n\nSeek to go beyond analytical character analysis and fully inhabit their character’s world\n\n\n\nStruggle to emotionally connect with their character’s inner world or bridge the gap between inner and outer worlds\n\n\n\nAre drafting or significantly revising a work-in-progress\n\n\n\n\nWho this class may not be suited for:\n\n\n\nThe class focuses on delving deeply into both the inner and outer worlds of your character for fiction writers and illustrators. Writers of memoir or narrative nonfiction will need to create their own workarounds for many of the immersive exercises\, which is possible but won’t be directly provided by the instructor. \n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR PRESENTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBRITTA JENSEN’s novel\, Eloia Born\, won the 2019 Writer’s League of Texas YA Discovery Prize and was long-listed for the Exeter Novel Prize. Subsequent publications include a sequel\, Hirana’s War\, Ghosts of Yokosuka\, and the forthcoming Orphan Pods as well as short stories “Why Not Ophelia” in the Castle Anthology of Horror- Femme Fatales\, and “Noise in the Woods” in Mixed Bag of Tricks. Her stories explore themes of persevering through disability\, found family\, and the intersection of love and various cultures on new worlds. For the past twenty-two years she has taught creative writing and edited books. Friends often refer to her as a polyglot— a product of living twenty-two years overseas in Japan\, South Korea\, and Germany before settling in Austin\, Texas with her awesome capoerista/tailor husband. She loves coaching authors and editing books with The Writing Consultancy and Yellowbird Editors.  \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past Character Immersion Workshops for SCBWI\, Westbank Library\, The Writer’s League of Texas\, schools & TWC Workshops:\n\n\n\n“I got so much out of the Character Immersion Workshop and can’t wait to use it on more of my characters!” –Lynne Kelly\, author of Song for a Whale\, The Secret Language of Birds and Chained. \n\n\n\n“The class was so rich with ideas and wonderful exercises. Our group will be talking about some of your ideas for weeks to come\, I’m sure!”-Maureen Turner Carey\, author & librarian\, Westbank Library \n\n\n\n“I can’t express enough how much this workshop was a breakthrough for me\, but for the rest of the characters I have written since. I keep going back to the material because I had been stuck on an important character who was acting only on the surface of herself: she was showing up in the right scenes and saying the right things. When I put her through this Immersion Workshop I discovered her core motivation which will allow a more purposeful character to have much more impact those same scenes and those same lines.”-Marc Hess\, author \n\n\n\n“A breakthrough for me was better understanding my character through the POV of another. When writing from another character’s POV\, so much more was revealed that both clarified and verified things swirling around in my head\, but couldn’t yet breakthrough.”-Kellie McCants\, author and actor \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-deep-characterization/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Seminars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writingcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/6-2.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR