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SUMMARY:WEBINAR | Making Memoir Real: Captivate Your Readers with Dynamic Settings & Characters
DESCRIPTION:Dropping our readers into a particular time\, a particular place\, populated by particular people\, is essential to making readers care about our stories. Learn to create vibrant\, convincing reality on the page.\n\n\n\nFor Memoirist and Essay Writers \n\n\n\nMemoir is a juggling act. As writers\, our job is to bring the potent emotional stakes of our story to the page right from the beginning\, introducing conflicts and launching the book’s dynamic journey. But equally important is establishing the story’s reality and dropping our readers into a particular time\, a particular place\, populated by particular people. This is how readers begin to care deeply and invest their hearts in our work. \n\n\n\nThis interactive webinar will closely examine the techniques of setting and characterization—often taught in fiction workshops—and how important they are to memoir. We will study the difference between mere “description” and active\, dynamic detail and movement. Prompts will be provided for new work and for work-in-progress. \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\nDISCOVER how to transplant readers directly into the world of your memoir through vivid\, specific detail\n\n\n\nLEARN the craft of characterization techniques borrowed from fiction and applied to true stories\n\n\n\nIDENTIFY the difference between static description and dynamic\, active detail that propels your narrative forward\n\n\n\nPRACTICE writing prompts designed to deepen both new work and works-in-progress\n\n\n\nEXPLORE how to establish emotional stakes early while simultaneously grounding readers in time\, place\, and character\n\n\n\n\nThis webinar is ideal for writers at any level who…\n\n\n\n\nwould  like their work to immediately capture attention\, to engage agents\, editors and—most of all—readers\n\n\n\nstruggle with “Why would anyone care about my story?”\n\n\n\nworry their prose is moving too slowly\, that they may be “explaining too much” and showing too little\n\n\n\nare insecure about their storytelling skills (that’s all of us)!\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 our most popular and beloved presenters\, DINTY W. MOORE\, is the author of the memoirs Between Panic & Desire and To Hell With It and the writing guides Crafting the Personal Essay and The Mindful Writer\, among other books. He has published essays and stories in Harper’s\, The New York Times Magazine\, Georgia Review\, Kenyon Review\, Southern Review\, Short Reads\, and elsewhere. He is founding editor of Brevity\, the journal of flash nonfiction. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\nBefore the replay is sent\, you may request a refund less a $10.00 processing fee. 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/making-memoir-real/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260606T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260607T150000
DTSTAMP:20260507T072627
CREATED:20260427T214703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260430T174411Z
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SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Give Sorrow Words: Grief Writing as Sanctuary
DESCRIPTION:Learn to write compelling pieces that go beyond self-healing to provide paths through grief and sanctuary for your readers.\n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturday & Sunday\, June 6-7 | 1:00-3:00 pm EDTFor All Writers \n\n\n\nArt serves a vital role as witness to events and emotions we have trouble naming. We know which poem arrived at just the right time in our lives\, which song helped us imagine a path through deep feelings\, and which book helped us navigate our grief. \n\n\n\nBut what makes those pieces resonate in readers’ hearts? How does writing foster empathy? How can language\, with its strengths and inadequacies\, help us build sanctuaries within ourselves and where others can go to be witnessed and held? \n\n\n\nTaught by one of our most knowledgeable and empathetic presenters\, this deeply experiential seminar is a hybrid of generative writing and craft conversation. We’ll begin with a gentle writing practice to help you gather the glimmers of your own grief; then move into craft conversation and generative writing portals. grief\, \n\n\n\nWe’ll discuss key craft elements in published poetry\, how they can elevate emotional subjects from sentimentality to specificity\, and connect readers to an emotional experience.   \n\n\n\nWe’ll examine a variety of grieving experiences through the lenses of reckoning\, regret\, remembrance\, ritual\, revitalization\, and restoring (re-story-ing). This framework will offer six possible portals into exploring and writing about your own grief\, creating a sanctuary for your soul and the souls of others.  \n\n\n\nWe will have space for optional sharing at the end. In the seminar’s confirmation email\, you’ll receive a packet of recommended prep work\, containing additional optional readings and links to (very) short films on grief. After the class\, you’ll receive the seminar recording\, slide deck\, and all poems used for our conversation. \n\n\n\nPlease be prepared to write. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this interactive 2-Day live seminar\, you will:\n\n\n\n\nLEARN key craft elements that help dramatize emotion\n\n\n\nUNDERSTAND the difference between sentimentality and sentiment\n\n\n\nANALYZE poems addressing different aspects of grief\n\n\n\nENGAGE with your own grief to create six new portals to longer work\n\n\n\nPRACTICE writing through different lenses on grief\n\n\n\nIMAGINE how writing can serve as sanctuary to self and others\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis course is ideal for writers in all genres who are interested in using language to help meet personal and collective grief.\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\nFunny\, kind\, and direct\, Laraine Herring is a popular CRAFT TALKS presenter and one of our strongest voices on deeply personal writing that powerfully connects with readers. \n\n\n\nLaraine’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. A retired professor of creative writing and psychology\, Lariane 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. Laraine’s work has appeared in The New York Times\, Tiferet\, The Rumpus\, The Manifest-Station\, and many more. 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.” \n\n\n\n— Meg Weber\, author of A Year of Mr. Lucky (Sincyr Publishing) \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!” \n\n\n\n— Naomi Kaplan \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.” \n\n\n\n— Janine Weyers \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.” \n\n\n\n— Grace Welker \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.” \n\n\n\n— Janet Burrue \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/give-sorrow-words/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Seminars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260610T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260610T163000
DTSTAMP:20260507T072627
CREATED:20250508T193202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260502T164105Z
UID:10000025-1781103600-1781109000@writingcraft.com
SUMMARY:WEBINAR | Self-Publishing Foundations: Prepare\, Plan and Promote for Long-term Success
DESCRIPTION:Savvy book marketers know that successful promotion starts long before publication.\n\n\n\nAll Genres \n\n\n\nSet yourself up for lasting success with key decisions to make and actions every self-publishing author should take before publication—steps that significantly impact how well your book will market once it’s out in the world. While these elements aren’t always labeled as “marketing\,” neglecting them can limit your book’s reach and longevity. \n\n\n\nWhat can you do when you’re not active on social media (and should you be)? When marketing\, where should you spend and where should you save? How can you connect with other authors as colleagues\, early readers and potential blurbs? Through David’s expert experience and case studies showing how people with limited free time put these principles to work to achieve their goals\, you’ll understand how to weave marketing strategy into the publishing process itself\, so your book launches stronger and stays marketable for the long haul. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this webinar\, you will:\n\n\n\n\nLEARN the “forever decisions”: the 9 things you cannot change without republishing your book.\n\n\n\nUNDERSTAND the 5 types of comp titles research and how each contributes to a successful launch.\n\n\n\nDISCOVER why creating a distribution plan is the first and most important step in self-publishing.\n\n\n\nGET THE NITTY-GRITTY on how to coordinate print book pre-ordering using IngramSpark and Amazon KDP to meet deadlines\, make/save money\, and avoid publishing the wrong version of your book.\n\n\n\nLEARN the A-B-C list method for reaching testimonial writers\, influencers\, and readers/buyers.\n\n\n\nFORMULATE a review strategy: a framework for seeking and using editorial and customer reviews during book preparation.\n\n\n\nKNOW HOW TO LEVERAGE the strengths of self-publishing when it comes to distribution\, pricing\, media outreach\, and contacting influencers.\n\n\n\n\nThis webinar is ideal for Writers who…\n\n\n\n\nWonder if self-publishing is right for them\n\n\n\nNeed to know more about self-directed marketing\, even if they’re publishing traditionally\n\n\n\nWant to build connections with readers long before their book is released\n\n\n\nUnderstand better with detailed case studies of how other authors “did it”\n\n\n\nDon’t have vast sums of money for marketing\, or vast amounts of time to spend online\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\nOriginally presented on June 3\, 2026 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR PRESENTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDavid Wogahn is the author of six self-published books\, including the Countdown to Book Launch® series of publishing guides and the Before the Launch workbook. In 2012\, he became the author of the first LinkedIn Learning course on the topic of self-publishing (Lynda.com at the time).David is a frequent speaker and trainer and has given presentations for the Independent Book Publishers Association\, IBPA Publishing University\, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)\, the Independent Writers of Southern California\, the Santa Barbara Writers Conference\, and Jane Friedman\, among other publishing professional organizations.Before founding the author services firm AuthorImprints.com in 2011\, David worked for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee and the Los Angeles Times\, and was co-founder and COO of the first online publisher of sports-team branded websites known today as the CBS College Sports Network. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\nBefore the replay is sent\, you may request a refund less a $10.00 processing fee. 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/self-publishing-foundations/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinars
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ORGANIZER;CN="David Wogahn":MAILTO:davidw@authorimprints.com
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260614T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260705T163000
DTSTAMP:20260507T072627
CREATED:20260419T152119Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T171451Z
UID:10000118-1781449200-1783269000@writingcraft.com
SUMMARY:4-WEEK WORKSHOP | Writing From Photographs: From Image to Essay
DESCRIPTION:Photographs are a powerful source for creative nonfiction. Learn practical approaches to bring them to life as scenes\, draft an essay\, and get personal feedback. \n\n\n\nLimited to 12 memoirists\, essayists\, and creative nonfiction writers \n\n\n\nLive On Zoom | Sundays\, June 14 – July 5\, 2026 | 3-4:30 pm eastern \n\n\n\nStarting a nonfiction piece can often feel daunting\, despite having stories and experiences you wish to tell. Memories may feel incomplete—and can be inaccurate. But photographs can inspire your process and provide a starting point for our writing\, serving as an object\, an image\, and a memory touchstone. When used as prompts for our writing\, pictures can become rich reservoirs of personal and cultural history. Drawing on photographs that intrigue\, haunt\, or conjure forgotten memories\, this four-week course explores the rich possibilities that photographs can serve in prompting your nonfiction writing and developing your craft.You’ll work with your own photographs\, inspiring your writing with concrete moments to describe\, reflect\, and expand on. At the end of the four weeks\, you’ll have a short essay or the start of a longer piece.This small-group\, workshop-format course will include instructor feedback on 1\,000 words. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOver these three weeks\, you will …\n\n\n\n\nLEARN techniques of nonfiction narrative\, including writerly presence\, details and description\, and the art of scene-making\n\n\n\nDISCOVER how to use photographs to create richly imagined narrative nonfiction stories\n\n\n\n EXPLORE the possibilities of your own photographs as prompts for expressive essays and scenes \n\n\n\nEXPERIMENT with crafting and refining narrative nonfiction both individually and with guided workshopping\n\n\n\n\nSchedule\n\n\n\n\nWeek 1. Photographs and StoriesWe will look at how writers find stories in photographs and consider the different approaches a photograph can prompt. Then we’ll experiment with low-stakes writing inspired by your own photographs.\n\n\n\nWeek 2: Incomplete PhotographsExplore how to turn a photograph into a scene\, filling what is outside the frame and delving into memory and experience in the process. We will consider ways of crafting compelling descriptions and writerly presence. \n\n\n\nWeek 3. Expanding the WritingExpanding on the work from Week 2\, this week will focus on refining a draft of an essay. We will uncover ways of giving focus and depth to the developing piece towards a more richly textured draft. \n\n\n\nWeek 4. Revision and CritiqueThe final week offers guided group feedback\, helping each other in thinking about directions for giving the writing a more solid frame and focus. \n\n\n\n\nThis course is for beginning and intermediate writers who want to\n\n\n\n\nexplore elements of creative nonfiction that draw on memory and experience \n\n\n\nexperiment with how photographs can prompt stories \n\n\n\nrefine their prose style and techniques\n\n\n\nlearn practical approaches to nonfiction storytelling \n\n\n\nhave a pile of photographs to inform their memoir…but aren’t sure how to use them\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔Think you might miss a class? No worries\, replays will be available. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJames Polchin is a writer and cultural historian\, and a clinical professor at New York University. He is the author of Indecent Advances: A Hidden History of True Crime and Prejudice Before Stonewall\, a finalist for an Edgar Award\, and Shadow Men: The Tangled Story of Murder\, Media\, and Privilege That Scandalized Jazz Age America. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Book Review\, Slate\, TIME\, Huffington Post\, CrimeReads\, Paris Review\, Rolling Stone\, The New Inquiry\, Brevity\, and the Gay and Lesbian Review. He has been interviewed about his work by BBC4 Radio\, NPR\, Advocate\, The American Scholar\, CrimeReads\, Bookforum\, and Publishers Weekly\, among others. \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“He really created a transformative course. His insightful comments on everyone’s writing were really superb\, encouraging revision while also providing inspiration and direction.”  \n\n\n\n“I appreciated the thoughtful feedback and helpful questions.” \n\n\n\n“I was surprised by how much I was able to generate in a short time and in a way that felt fresh to me. The course opened up new pathways to consider.” \n\n\n\n“Big thanks to James for a class that fed my writing and my heart.”  \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 first class\, you may request a refund (less a $25 processing fee).After class begins\, you may request a refund for the remaining value of the course (less a $25 processing fee). \n\n\n\nNo credits or refunds will be available after the 1st class. \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\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation
URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/writing-from-photographs/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Workshops and Masterclasses
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