Writing is an art and a craft. As writers, we never stop learning and practicing.
Each module explores a specific topic. Some are related to a writing craft issue, (such as honing your voice, editing as a creative act, or enlivening your prose). Some will be dedicated to a genre (such as novels, personal essays, or poetry). In others, we’ll cover aspects of living the writing life (such as creating a sustainable writing practice or balancing creation with inspiration). Modules include writing lessons, reading recommendations, and exercises, activities, or prompts to help you practice what you’re learning.
Module Library
Modules are listed newest to oldest. Click on an image or title to view the module.
Self-Care for Writers (coming soon!)
How do we take good care of ourselves as writers so we can do good work—on the page and in the world? Like many other creatives, writers are often highly sensitive to the world around them. Whether it’s everyday stresses or the weight of specific situations, sometimes we struggle to stay focused and inspired in the midst of sadness and discord. In this module, we look at some creative self-care tips to help us navigate life as a writer.
Page Presence: Unleash Your Writing Voice
Just as a singer fills an auditorium with her voice, a writer fills the page with hers. Performers have stage presence. Writers have page presence. But what exactly is writing voice? It’s a combination of style, structure, pacing, rhythm, cadence, even grammar and vocabulary. But voice is larger than the sum of its parts. In this module we explore the facets of voice and unleash our own multidimensional writing voices.
Writing Rules Gone Rogue
“Show, don’t tell.” “Write what you know.” “Write every day.” Some pieces of writing advice have become clichés — and they’ve gone a bit rogue. There is some truth to them, but they can also be confusing and misdirected. In this module we’ll examine some of these adages to figure out what the heck they really mean — and whether or not they’re actually useful. We will wrangle the rogues into submission!
The Writing Life (double module)
This module is packed full of content. Examine what it means to live “the writing life,” from how we define that term to how we create goals, environments, mindsets, practices, and processes that serve both our writing and our everyday lives. This module is all about exploring and experimenting with the various components of creating a writing life that works for you.
Come to Your Senses
In this module, we explore using the five senses to add texture and vibrancy to our writing. We also look at how to slant and shade sensory details to create meaning, metaphors, and connection with readers.
Story Gathering
In this module we look at three core issues that keep us from writing and explore nine strategies for finding material for our work. (A note on terminology: The term “story” is used rather loosely to refer to a wide range of genres, forms, and styles.)
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