Gateway to Memoir (starting at $199)

Interested in writing memoir but not sure where to begin? Got a memoir in the works but could use some guidance? “Gateway to Memoir” is a foundational workshop that will show you the basics of the genre. We will spend four weeks discussing time in memoir, the ethics of writing memoir, establishing place and how to turn the people who populate your past into characters. The final two sessions will be reserved for workshopping writing submissions.

Minda Honey’s essays have appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, the Washington Post, the Guardian, the Oxford American, Teen Vogue, and Longreads.

Her debut memoir, THE HEARTBREAK YEARS is a hilarious and intimate portrait of a Black woman finding who she is and who she wants to be, one bad date at a time.

Putting Our Grandmothers on the Page: Poetry, Prose, Memoir & Monologue (starting at $150)

“Grandma, come back, I forgot
how much lard for these rolls.”

Carolyn Forche’s poem, "The Morning Baking," is an address to her dead grandmother that evokes powerful longing and confronts the limits of memory. Grandmothers are a universal archetype––those from whom we are descended, the grandmothers we are, as well as those who influence us from fairy tale and myth. Grandmothers are rich thematic territory for poetry and prose, but we face challenges of writing past cultural stereotypes or into historical silences. How do we leap beyond sentimentality to grapple with shifting cultural norms? Grandmothers both illuminate and shadow our personal, family and cultural identities. In this writing generative workshop, participants will use prompts of personal photos, objects, and memory to excavate and expand our ideas and feelings about “grandmother.” New and experienced writers are welcome.

Kelly is a poet, playwright and workshop facilitator and author of four poetry collections. Her award-winning plays are produced around the US and Canada, and published by dramatic publishers. A past IWWG Board Member, Kelly teaches creative writing, including Monologue Play Labs & Showcases.

6-Week Intensive: Transitions, Translations, Transformations

with Carmen Bugan

This minicourse explores literary language through the Protean lens of transitions (life transitions, travel and exposure to other cultures, languages, and ways of thinking); translations (work on producing several versions of a poem from another language); and transformations (reflecting on how the language of our writing changes over time). What does creative language know but keeps to itself—like wise Proteus who changes shape and is able to see into the future?  We will devote two sessions to each of these lenses, and participants will be asked to bring to class a favorite poem, an excerpt from a story, or a memoir. Each two-hour session will involve reading and discussion of example poems and guided writing exercises.  Work we will discuss: “When Giving is All We Have” by Alberto Rios, “Transformation” by Adam Zagajeswski; excerpts from The Snow Geese by William Fiennes (review here); and excerpts from “The Wonderful Adventures of Nils” by Selma Lagerloff. This course will help ease writers’ block and help writers meditate on the vast possibilities of creativity.

Dr. Carmen Bugan, a George Orwell Prize Fellow, is a prize-winning poet and writer who has published ten books including poetry, memoir, and literary criticism.  Her new and selected poems, Lilies from America was a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation. Her memoir, Burying the Typewriter won the Bakeless Nonfiction Prize, was shortlisted for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing, and was serialized for radio as a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Her book of essays, Poetry and the Language of Oppression (Oxford University Press) was named an “essential book for writers” by Poets and Writers.  Bugan appears at book fairs and festivals such as the London Book Fair, the Cork Literary Festival, The Goteborg Book Fair, and Le Livre sur les Quais (Morges, Switzerland) and lectures widely at universities in Europe, Middle East, and the United States. She is a member of the Geneva Writers Group and of the Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers. She teaches memoir, creative writing, and provides book doctoring and private tutorials. Her forthcoming book of poems, Tristia, will be out this winter.

Abby Jiang is a Chinese-American author born in Shanghai. She grew up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (文化大革命), a time when she was sent to a factory and the countryside to learn from workers and peasants as part of the movement's policies.

After the Revolution ended in 1976 and China reopened its universities, Abby took the national entrance exam and graduated from the Library Science program at the Fudan University branch school in Shanghai, now known as Shanghai University. Following her graduation, she worked as a librarian at a research institute in Shanghai, where she was soon promoted to chief librarian.

In 1987, Abby immigrated to the United States and settled in New Jersey. She is married and has one daughter. Over the years, Abby has worked at the library of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as well as in other public and research libraries. She has also gained experience as a bookkeeper for a law firm and as a licensed Realtor.

Paths to Publishing (starting at $50)

Paths to Publishing: You've written a memoir, novel, or book! Or a story or essay! Now... how do you get your prose into the hands of readers? There are many paths--traditional, self-publishing, or a hybrid approach. And all can seem daunting. This course defines these paths, explores each path's pros and cons, helps participants discern which might be the right one(s) for them, and gives practical how-tos and next steps.

Sharon Short is the author of more than fifteen published books. Her newest, Trouble Island, is historical suspense (Minotaur Books), set in 1933 and inspired by true family history. Short is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest, for which she writes the column, “Level Up Your Writing (Life).”

Having the Last Word: Obituary Writing 101 (starting at $45)

This workshop presents end-of-life storytelling in the form of obituary as a life-affirming privilege and gift. Instructor Andi Penner shares her extensive experience with eldercare, her passion for end-of-life planning, and her expertise as a writer and editor to teach you the craft of writing bespoke personal remembrances. In this generative workshop, you will learn to compose stories, instead of filling in a template, that recall and honor a life (perhaps your own). You can find some of Andi's writing at andipenner.substack.com, but you won’t find her obituary online just yet!

Andrea (Andi) Penner, whose poetry and prose has been published in literary magazines, anthologies, and academic journals, lives and writes in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is passionate about end-of-life planning, including obituary writing, as a way to honor our loved ones.

Self-Editing Poetry: Demystifying How to Strengthen Your Own Poems (starting at $79)

Reading poetry can be intimidating, writing poetry can be frustrating, and editing your own poetry can feel impossible. In this workshop, we will demystify and practice the steps and techniques of self-editing poetry. Included with the class are edits and feedback on up to two pages of poems by the instructor. Poems must be submitted at or before one week prior to the class start date.

Oisín (formerly Elisa) Rowe (they/them) is a trans and disabled writer, editor, and poet. They are a senior editor at Game Over Books and an editor at VanDunk edits. Their poems or writing have appeared in WBUR, Business Insider, Massachusetts Review, SAND journal and elsewhere. You can find links to Oisín's work at www.oisinrowe.com

Elevate Your Fiction in Any Genre (starting at $50)

Elevate Your Fiction in Any Genre: Readers love stories that fit genre expectations. That's why stories and memoirs are classified into genres--so readers can narrow down the numerous options to a subset of books they think will interest them. But how can you make your story really stand out to readers--even while fulfilling genre expectations? This course focuses on how to overcome this seeming conundrum to create stand-out stories that readers will remember--and tell other readers about.

Sharon Short is the author of more than fifteen published books. Her newest, Trouble Island, is historical suspense (Minotaur Books), set in 1933 and inspired by true family history. Short is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest, for which she writes the column, “Level Up Your Writing (Life).”

Writing Gender (starting at $45)

In this workshop, we will draw on literary examples and exercises to learn ways to create our own stories, anecdotes, and images of gender, stories that began before we were born, in the ways our families understood maleness and femaleness, and grow and change throughout our lives, as we do.

Joy Ladin (www.joyladin.com) has published eleven books of poetry, including recently published Family and National Jewish Book Award winner The Book of Anna, and three books of about gender, Once Out of Nature, Through the Door of Life, and The Soul of the Stranger.

Between the Lines: Exploring Four Stories
by Women Writers (starting at $139)

In Between the Lines, we'll explore short stories by four different women, paying attention to how they're created, how they make us feel and what they make us think. We'll look at each story's language, patterns, characters, points of view and references to real events or other texts. We’ll ask: What did this writer HAVE to tell us? And how are we affected by what they said? A short writing prompt will follow each discussion, with time for optional sharing.

Anndee Hochman is a journalist, essayist, storyteller and teaching artist. For more than 30 years, she has guided learners of all ages in reading, discussing and writing memoir, poetry, live storytelling and creative non-fiction. Her books include Anatomies: A Novella and Stories (Picador USA) and Everyday Acts & Small Subversions: Women Reinventing Family, Community and Home (The Eighth Mountain Press).

The Modern Publishing Landscape

The publishing industry today looks much different than it did a decade ago. In that time, self-publishing has outgrown its longstanding 'vanity' stigma and become a viable publishing option for many writers. The traditional publishing industry has also experienced great changes and as a result it just isn’t what it used to be, even for those who’ve found success within the system.

This workshop provides an overview of the modern book publishing landscape and gives advice to authors on how to successfully navigate it. We’ll discuss the general publishing options of Traditional Publishing, DIY, and Assisted Self-Publishing — how it all works and the logistics of moving your book from the computer screen to the bookshelf.

Emily Perkins is the Senior Publishing Consultant at FriesenPress – the largest publishing services provider in Canada.

Her publishing career spans over 20 years – and the globe. She spent years in Amsterdam working in graphic design and later worked as a typesetter and proofreader in the financial printing industry.

Emily’s eclectic experience allows her to provide a holistic approach to her part in guiding the FriesenPress sales team, which ensures authors self-publish the best possible books.

World Building for Any Novel (starting at $129)

A character’s world greatly impacts how that character responds to the obstacles they face and ultimately shapes who that character becomes. This mini-course will discuss the techniques necessary to create and/or strengthen works with complicated and layered worlds and timelines. This course is for any project with large worlds, whether that be science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, intergenerational novels, or a mystery novel, or if you simply want to understand how to incorporate diverse characters and perspectives. We will explore how to keep your readers engaged in such layered storylines. Considering writers such as Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, and Margaret Atwood, we will be inspired to write stories that immerse readers in worlds that illuminate today’s conversations. We will spend four weeks learning world-building techniques, developing the character of multiple protagonists, incorporating diverse characters and world settings, and keeping track of your world’s details/rules. The final two weeks will be spent generating materials or making plans for revisions using your new tools. Start a novel, strengthen one already begun, or even finish a short story during our exploration of world-building techniques.

Melissa Michal is of Seneca, Welsh, and English descent and is a fiction writer and essayist. Melissa has work appearing in the SFRA and other spaces. Her story collection, Living Along the Borderlines, was a finalist for the Louise Meriwether first book prize and she writes Indigenous futurism novels.

Gateway to Memoir II (starting at $199)

In this 6-week workshop we will build on the foundation and skills developed during Gateway to Memoir I with more of a focus on:
Developing and strengthening your voice as a writer
Identifying narrative arcs at the chapter and book level
How to do self-research to aid your memory

The final two sessions will be reserved for workshopping writing submissions.

Minda Honey’s essays have appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, the Washington Post, the Guardian, the Oxford American, Teen Vogue, and Longreads.

Her debut memoir, THE HEARTBREAK YEARS is a hilarious and intimate portrait of a Black woman finding who she is and who she wants to be, one bad date at a time.

Accessing Our Wounds through Words (starting at $89)

Writing difficult narratives can offer an opening, create awareness, and begin necessary conversations. Often, we seek penning our experiences to help make sense of our wounds, to assign meaning to what is not easily expressed. This three-part workshop-based class offers practical and empowering exploration into the trauma-writing process. Instructor Rebecca Evans has instructed trauma writing to a wide range of students and in a variety of settings. She shares her own curated process that she developed while confronting vulnerability and pain on the page. Through compassionate and gentle exploration, students will learn to re-frame their experiences into craft that feels true and meaningful. Session one includes methods to help establish sacred writing practices, including space for self-care. Students will explore concepts to help manage emotions that might surface during writing sessions. Session two offers a study in forms, crafts and approaches. Students will explore narrative accessibility should they wish to share or publish their work. Session three helps students establish a creative and safe ongoing writing practice. This class is open to writers of all levels.

Rebecca Evans writes the heart-full guidebooks for survivors. She teaches high school teens in the Juvie system and co-hosts Radio Boise’s Writer to Writer show. She’s a disabled veteran, an avid gardener, and lives with four Newfoundlands and her sons.

Her poems and essays have appeared in Brevity, Narratively, The Rumpus, Hypertext Magazine, and more. Her books include Tangled by Blood (Moon Tide Press, 2023) and Safe Handling (Moon Tide Press, 2024).