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SUMMARY:WEBINAR | Writing Through Menopause: Navigating Our Changing Voices
DESCRIPTION:When what used to work no longer works\, rather than turn away from your creative practice\, turn inward with compassion. \n\n\n\nFor All Writers \n\n\n\nThe physical\, emotional\, and psychological effects of perimenopause and menopause touch every aspect of the life of the person living through it. For many\, this period feels like an unraveling\, a time when change is demanded in many different ways\, and our writing is not exempt.  \n\n\n\nWe may have changes in lifestyles\, schedules\, health\, or personal responsibilities that have required us to shift the ways we used to write. We may discover that we want something different than what we’ve been pursuing or that our current values are no longer aligned with our earlier years. Even the ways we use language may change. This can feel at best destabilizing\, at worst\, terrifying. Who am I becoming? What do I need to say? What do I no longer need to say? What if I have nothing left to say? \n\n\n\nIn an environment where artists are encouraged to “stay in their lane\,” creating similar content (especially if they’re achieving external success)\, we may be afraid to try something new or lose hope and connection to one thing that has always kept us tethered to ourselves: our writing. \n\n\n\nIn the natural pause and unspooling that comes with menopause and aging\, we can let the changes teach us their secrets and grow in unexpected ways—both with our craft and our content. Our writing voices\, interests\, and routines will change. Learn to move into those changes with ease and compassion for yourself and for your writing. Using gentle questions and generative prompts\, we’ll honor where we’ve been\, where we are\, and where we’re going next. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it live? No worries—a replay will be available to all registrants. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this webinar\, you will:\n\n\n\n\nEXAMINE how peri/post-menopausal changes impact your writing\n\n\n\nEXPLORE ways in which you’ve changed as a writer during this season of life\n\n\n\nLEARN ways to be at ease with the natural pauses and changes in a writing life\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY a key shift in your own life story\n\n\n\nCONNECT that shift to your creative work\n\n\n\nREFLECT on questions to imagine new work and new ways of creating\n\n\n\n\nThis webinar is ideal for writers…\n\n\n\n\nfeeling the impact of (peri)menopause on the way they relate to writing\n\n\n\ncurious about how (peri)menopause can be an invitation to new ways of storytelling\n\n\n\nwho feel disconnected from the writer they used to be\n\n\n\nwho are moving into a new stage in their work or life\n\n\n\nwho feel boxed in to being a certain kind of writer or working in a certain genre\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\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\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\nFULL REFUNDS ARE AVAILABLE before the replay is sent out. For a refund\, EMAIL us at info@WritingCraft.com. Canceling your Zoom invite will not initiate this process. \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\n\n\nLocation
URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/writing-through-menopause/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251206T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251206T163000
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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
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251213T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251213T163000
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CREATED:20251103T203231Z
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SUMMARY:WEBINAR | The Words That Start the Wave: Memoir Openings Designed to Move
DESCRIPTION:Great memoirs begin with a single\, unforgettable moment. In this session\, we’ll explore how to write an opening that pulses through your story—anchoring tone\, tension\, and truth from the first lines.\n\n\n\nFor Memorists \n\n\n\nIn this 90-minute webinar\, you will dive headfirst into the art of crafting an unforgettable memoir opening. Learn skills that allow you to deploy metaphor with precision in order to create depth for your story\, and study how the use of ordinary moments and crystal clear images set up patterns that will linger in the reader’s mind. Examine how sentences can be crafted to establish your singular voice and raise the stakes from the very first line. And gain experience in cueing the thrum of backstory—the invisible pulse of what has already happened\, which creates a powerful undertow that pulls your reader through the story.   \n\n\n\nBy the end of the session\, you will have a set of shiny new tools\, along with some insights and inspiration to create an opening that will hook your readers\, launching your memoir on a wave that will carry them from the first word to the last. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it live? No worries—a replay will be available to all registrants. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this webinar\, you will:\n\n\n\n\nEXAMINE the key elements of a strong memoir opening \n\n\n\nLEARN to use those elements in your own work\n\n\n\nDISCOVER opening pitfalls—common reasons agents/publishers/readers don’t read on\n\n\n\nBALANCE backstory with the story that launches on page one\n\n\n\n\nThis webinar is ideal for writers who:\n\n\n\n\nAre uncertain how to start writing their memoir.\n\n\n\nHave a memoir in progress\, but are stuck.\n\n\n\nAre embarking on a revision of a current project.\n\n\n\nWant to capture the attention of readers—and hold them.\n\n\n\nAre receiving rejections without feedback.\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\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\n \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\nFULL REFUNDS ARE AVAILABLE before the replay is sent out. For a refund\, EMAIL us at info@WritingCraft.com. Canceling your Zoom invite will not initiate this process. \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\n\n\nLocation
URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/words-that-start/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T163000
DTSTAMP:20260507T114126
CREATED:20251114T202340Z
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SUMMARY:WEBINAR | Using AI for Writing Business Efficiency: The Practical\, Ethical Way to Spend More Time Doing What You Love
DESCRIPTION:If you’ve ever spent hours on tedious research or business tasks\, struggled to come up with marketing plans or marketing copy\, or felt intimidated by the rapidly evolving landscape around AI\, this session is for you.\n\n\n\nFor All Writers \n\n\n\nWriters and publishing professionals are suddenly awash in AI promises—“Outsource your editing to AI!” or “Use AI to automate your marketing!” —yet most of us are quietly wondering: Can these tools really help without compromising quality or ethics?  \n\n\n\nYes.  \n\n\n\nIf you apply your critical thinking skills and thoughtfulness to the process\, and if you’re willing to pay a monthly fee for the professional versions of today’s AI tools. \n\n\n\nIn this class\, publishing industry expert Jane Friedman demystifies the current AI landscape and shows through examples and live demos how to incorporate AI tools into your workflow so you can reclaim creative time and reduce time sinks. Drawing on other authors’ examples and her use\, Jane shows how to use AI responsibly\, with human oversight and respect for readers\, writers\, and the larger community. It is possible to use AI in a way that keeps your voice your own and your copyright intact. \n\n\n\nCan’t make it live? No worries—a replay will be available to all registrants. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this webinar\, you will:\n\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY administrative and business tasks ripe for AI assistance\, especially marketing and promotion tasks\n\n\n\nLEARN HOW AI can be used as a research assistant\, with citations you can check—and how it can serve as another layer of protection against errors creeping into your work\n\n\n\nDISCOVER HOW AI can be helpful for brainstorming and idea refinement (it’s great at generating common\, boring ideas to work against!)\n\n\n\nGET methods of generating of quick first drafts using your own words\n\n\n\nLEARN HOW to prevent AI from training on material you upload\n\n\n\nGAIN a clearer sense of how to use AI with care and transparency\n\n\n\n\nWhat is not covered:\n\n\n\n\nUsing AI to generate images or video\n\n\n\nUsing AI to write longform articles or books from scratch (but short summaries? yes!)\n\n\n\nAn explanation of all the AI tools and features available today; instead\, Jane will focus on a handful of tools she uses and knows best\, primarily ChatGPT\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBut isn’t AI illegal/unethical? While lawsuits are underway about the legality of how some of these models have been trained\, the courts have not yet made any decisions about whether that training was fair use (legal) or infringement. Even if the courts find that the models constitute infringement\, the most likely outcome is that financial remedies will be put in place. The AI companies will not suddenly be shut down or go out of business. AI technologies will continue to develop just as they always have and on a global scale. \n\n\n\nAI companies now legally license material from established media outlets and publishers\, including the largest New York publishers and educational corporations. AI is taught in schools\, used by professors\, and plays a role in nearly every business around the globe. It’s true that some people use AI in unethical or illegal ways. In fact\, Jane was personally affected by such use. But that’s not the same as the tool itself being unethical or illegal. This class will emphasize how to use the technology in an ethical\, legal manner. \n\n\n\nBut isn’t AI bad for the environment? The energy required to use AI is akin to any modern convenience. Here’s a ​big-picture overview​ from a former physics teacher about the environmental costs and a data scientist who cares about sustainability (and has published a book on the topic) who ​agrees​ with his conclusions: Cheat Sheet & Carbon Footprint.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis webinar is ideal for people who have little or no experience using AI tools and aren’t sure how to use them; those using AI who want to guard their copyrights and learn best practices; and authors in any genre or category.\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\nFor nearly three decades\, Jane Friedman has helped thousands of authors build sustainable careers. She is the author of The Business of Being a Writer\, Second Edition (University of Chicago Press) and a frequent speaker at global industry events. Her expertise has been cited by The New York Times\, Publishers Weekly\, and Poets & Writers\, and her long-running newsletter\, The Bottom Line\, helps industry professionals stay on top of publishing trends—especially the evolving role of AI. With a background that spans traditional publishing\, digital marketing strategy\, and entrepreneurial authorship\, Jane offers a uniquely balanced perspective on harnessing technology without sacrificing craft or ethics. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\nFULL REFUNDS ARE AVAILABLE before the replay is sent out. For a refund\, EMAIL us at info@WritingCraft.com. Canceling your Zoom invite will not initiate this process. \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\n\n\nLocation
URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/using-ai/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251230T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251230T140000
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SUMMARY:The Writers Bridge | How to Pitch Your Book in 2026 with Literary Agent Jessica Berg
DESCRIPTION:Whether you’re talking to agents\, publishers or readers\, you need to comfortably talk about your book.\n\n\n\nWhat makes a great pitch\, and the platform you need to support your book. \n\n\n\nGetting your book to the shelves means talking about it–clearly\, concisely\, and in a way that builds excitement and anticipation. And talking about your platform is part of that pitch.  \n\n\n\nLiterary Agent Jessica Berg has heard thousands of pitches\, and helped the authors she represents shape their platform and refine their pitch to attract publishing deals\, plan their marketing\, and ultimately reach readers.  \n\n\n\nCohost Allison K Williams has shepherded writers through live and virtual pitch events\, and helped them get comfortable talking about themselves and their books with top agents in New York and London. She’s pitched a fair few books herself and learned some surprising new elements of her own platform for 2026. \n\n\n\nWe’ll talk about successful book pitches\, how your platform can support your pitch\, and hear some of YOUR pitches on the next episode of The Writers Bridge. \n\n\n\nJoin us TUESDAY December 30th at 1PM EASTERN – live and FREE on Zoom\, all welcome! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur special guest \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJessica Berg is a literary agent\, author\, and the founder of Rosecliff Literary. She loves stories that explore grief\, longing\, ambition\, and survival and the complicated ways they intersect.  \n\n\n\nShe earned her MFA from Spalding University and contributes regularly to Writer’s Digest. Jessica serves on the boards of the Women’s National Book Association and the Historical Novel Society\, and teaches nationally on querying\, comp titles\, and the business of authorship\, with a focus on building sustainable\, long-term writing careers. Her client list includes Vincent Zandri\, Lisa Roe\, Arizona Bell\, and others.. \n\n\n\nJoin your hosts Allison K Williams (SEVEN DRAFTS)\, Sharla Yates (CRAFT TALKS) and our special guest for this lively\, funny hour of frank talk about writing and publishing. \n\n\n\nFREE\, all welcome! Sign up to receive the Zoom link the day before. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEnjoy past recorded sessions here\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR PRESENTERS\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAllison K Williams has edited and coached authors to publishing deals with Penguin Random House\, Knopf\, Mantle\, St. Martin’s Press\, and numerous small presses. An expert in author marketing and community building\, her platform includes the Brevity Blog (80k+ followers)\, Instagram (10k+)\, a mailing list (12k+)\, and Facebook (5k+)\, with publications in the New York Times and appearances on NPR and CBC. Her book\, Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book\, sold on proposal. She leads the Rebirth Your Book writing retreats and co-hosts The Writers Bridge. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSharla Yates is the author of the poetry chapbook What I Would Say if We Were to Drown Tonight\, published by Stranded Oak Press (2017). She hosts a webinar series\, CRAFT TALKS for writers on writing\, and co-hosts The Writers Bridge with Allison K Williams. Her nonfiction essay\, “Address” was a finalist for the 2015 Columbia Journal writing contest and the 2016 Penelope Niven Creative Nonfiction Award. She is the former Director of Education at the Creative Nonfiction Foundation and teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh. \n\n\n\n\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\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation
URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/bridge-pitch/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Writers Bridge
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