Summer Writing Workshops
From essay to pitching to divorce to humor, make time for writing this month.
It’s not easy to stay focused on creativity (or productivity) during the summer months, and that’s okay. Kids out of school and warm weather and family vacations can make it hard to schedule any time for your writing practice.
Just like kids need a break from school, we need to step away from writing sometimes, and that’s not a bad thing. But taking your writing routine down a few notches versus completely back-burner-ing it can help you prevent fall overwhelm after a summer slide.
Here are a few little opportunities to dive into your writing craft, write in community, and connect with other midlife women writers of all levels. From humor writing to pitching to essay craft, you’ll find drop-in workshops, writing circles, and a monthly membership that includes it all:
For divorced writers: Join Steph for Writing Divorce
This four week workshop has a soft start today (Monday, 7/7) and ends 7/31. With the wisdom, perspective and honesty of other midlife writers who have navigated divorce, we will explore readings, respond to writing prompts, and express the myriad feelings and experiences related to divorce in a safe, supportive community. Learn more and sign up here.
For aspiring authors: De-mystifying the process of querying agents
Drop into a Zoom workshop on July 10th at 11:00 MST/1:00 EST Join author Liz Alterman as she outlines how to craft a winning query letter and avoid common pitfalls like procrastination and fear of rejection. Whether you’re daydreaming about a book or are ready to start pitching, this session is chock-full of information with time for Q&A. Sign up here.
Drop into a writing circle Tuesday at 7 pm MST
Are you craving time to get back in touch with yourself, your creativity, and connect with like-minded women? Do you find yourself longing to explore and express topics that feel off limits, or vent emotions that you’ve been told are “too much”?
Welcome to Writing Womanhood. This is a space for writers of ALL levels—published authors, brand new bloggers, and bedside journalers. Daydreamers, poets, professional writers, and women who have never written a thing but need some place to put their thoughts, fears, feelings, and questions are all welcome in this sacred space.
Each week will explore a theme pertaining to womanhood: our bodies, the archetypes of maiden, mother, crone, our relationships, and our creativity. Together, in a safe, welcoming space, we’ll explore topics that may have felt off-limits, reflecting on our families of origin, motherhood, partnerships, careers, friendships, and dreams. Each session will include freewriting, prompts, sharing, and connection. Learn more here.
**This is our final writing circle before a mid-summer break!
For essayists and funny ladies:
Save the Date for Pitching Your Personal Essay on July 23rd at 10 am/noon EST and Using Humor In Your Essays and Memoir on Sunday, 8/3 at noon MST with the incomparable Elissa Bassist, over whom I unapologetically fangirled at Lighthouse’s Lit Fest last month. 😉 (THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE AMAZING, SO PUT IT IN YOUR CALENDAR AND I’LL SEND THE LINK WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS!)
Midlife women write better together
Want access to monthly workshops, co-writing sessions, and community, all for $39 a month? Consider joining MidCircle, a writing community specifically for midlife women. All guest presentations are included in the monthly fee, as well as critique groups, weekly co-working, and writing prompts. Learn more here.
Need some 1:1 inspiration and guidance?
You can work 1:1 with Steph on everything from essay crafting, brainstorming, woo for writers, revisions, and big picture goal-setting. Check out options here.
Happy writing this summer, and remember to be gentle with yourselves! Some seasons are for locking in, and others are for savoring life and absorbing stories for another day. Whatever your summer creativity looks like, I hope you are carving out time for your own peace and happiness.
XO,
Steph