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Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual Write-Ins hosted by The Writers Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.
Write-Ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a Write-In that works best for their schedule.
Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass!
Sessions:
THURSDAY, Oct. 17th | If you’ve watched the news lately you'll know that understanding how to stay safe online is crucial. This beginner-friendly class will introduce you to concepts and practices for writers who want a simplified explanation for protecting your personal information and privacy while navigating the internet.
By the end of this course, participants will:
Please note that this is a single-session class; the Oct. 10th class on Digital Safety is a separate class covering the same topic.
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual Write-Ins hosted by The Writers Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.
Write-Ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a Write-In that works best for their schedule.
Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass!
Sessions:
Sunday, Oct. 20th, from 1 - 2:30pm │ In this panel, lead by writer and activist Chino Lee Chung, our panelists will read a sample of their writing that employs an element of craft they're particularly proud of and discuss their process as it intersects with their identity as Queer BIPOCs. There are so many elements of craft that we can discuss and learn from such as dialogue, setting, stakes, tension, extracting the heart of interviews, research, or emotionality. Panelists to be announced soon.
TUESDAYS, Oct. 22nd - Dec. 3rd*| Branching out from the roots of magical realism, horror, and fantasy, fabulist writing—exemplified by authors like Carmen Maria Machado, and Kelly Link—has captivated today's literary imagination. Speculative fiction, slipstream, fabulist—there are many names for writing that blends the imaginary and the real, giving equal weight to ghosts and relationship problems. But why is it that the stranger and the weirder the tale, the more it resonates with us on a deeply personal level? Could it be because we are not rational creatures?
Writers like George Saunders, Toni Morrison, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez use elements of the magical, the surreal, and the real to weave their layered tales. We will read and study their work and also look at feminist authors like Angela Carter, Margaret Atwood and Octavia Butler who have also experimented with this form to tell tales of dark imagination and subversion.
In this class, we will focus on different elements of craft in fabulist stories and how we can use them to write our own stories. How do we build a magical world? How can we use imaginative elements to elicit strong emotion in readers? How can fabulism be used to talk about issues of race, power, and class? There will be weekly writing assignments, and you will have a chance to share shorter writing prompts and discuss a full story or chapter in the writing workshop. Open to writers wanting to experiment with new forms or experienced writers.
*Please note - there is no class Nov. 12th.
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual Write-Ins hosted by The Writers Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.
Write-Ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a Write-In that works best for their schedule.
Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass!
Sessions:
THURSDAYS, Oct. 24th - Nov. 14th | Join our engaging Short Story Workshop, designed to enhance your storytelling skills through collaborative learning and insightful feedback. This workshop incorporates light outside readings to inspire and inform your writing, offering examples of compelling narratives and diverse styles.
We'll use the Liz Lerman Critical Response Process to provide structured, supportive feedback that fosters creativity and growth. This method emphasizes mutual respect and constructive critique, allowing writers to ask questions and guide the discussion about their work. Participants will share their short stories, engage in meaningful discussions, and refine their pieces based on peer feedback.
Whether you're a novice writer or have experience, this workshop offers a welcoming environment to hone your craft, gain new perspectives, and prepare your stories for publication. Come ready to write, read, and collaborate in this enriching and supportive community of writers! All genres welcome.
Because this is a workshop environment, students are expected to begin the course with a piece of fiction in progress.
The Writers Grotto is pleased to present authors Jenny Bitner and Doug Henderson for a discussion on the art of freelancing. Learn what you need to get started on your business, the tools you need to succeed, and how to turn your art into a career.
Mondays, Oct. 28th - Nov. 18th | Your voice is the essence of your writing, the key to making words come alive, and the signature that sets you apart. This class is a haven for anyone seeking to unearth and refine their genuine writer's voice, take creative risks, and witness their writer’s soul flourish. It’s discovery and growth. We grow when we connect with and share our authentic voices. This is an intensive, please be prepared to dig deep and engage in free writing exercises.
Inspired by literary examples you will explore a variety of styles - from narrative to poetry, enter uncharted territories of your mind and heart, and bask in the supportive embrace of fellow writers. You will learn techniques to infuse your writing with depth and emotion. Discover the freedom to express your ideas and emotions in your unique way. Watch your writing evolve and make meaningful strides.
This class is suitable for writers of all levels and genres. It will equip you with the skills and confidence to express yourself authentically on the page.
*Please note that this class is currently only open to students already enrolled in Plan Your Novel in 6 Weeks with Lisa Lerner.
Saturdays and Wednesdays in November (2nd, 6th, 9th, 13th, 16th, 20th, 23rd, & 27th)* | It’s almost National Novel Writing Month again, so let’s get to it! The first step is to have a solid idea and then give yourself permission to write it—the wrong way. Perversely, writing “wrong” is an excellent way to figure out how to write right. Hey, it’s only 1,667 words a day!
In this supportive workshop, we will meet twice a week to keep ourselves on track for our monthlong challenge. Each class will focus on prompts to help you write important story beats such as your opening image, inciting incident, midpoint, and that utterly miserable dark night of your main character’s soul. We will focus on honing your premise and log line, getting the most juice out of your idea, raising the stakes, and inserting clever twists and eyebrow-raising reveals. Remember: it’s okay for a first draft to be a hot mess. As a wise neurologist once told me, “Everything is fixable if you are still above ground!”
Each session will begin with a mini-craft lecture about the prompt and then in-class writing. Live feedback will be given, if desired. As time allows, we will talk through story challenges and offer suggestions to help you move forward. By the end of the month, you’ll be shouting it from the rooftops: “It nearly killed me, but—I WROTE A NOVEL!
*Wednesday classes take place from 8-9am and Saturday classes take place from 10-11am
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual Write-Ins hosted by The Writers Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.
Write-Ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a Write-In that works best for their schedule.
Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass!
Sessions:
Wednesdays, Nov. 6th - Dec. 18th | Limited to four students.
Discover a story roadmap, unlock your creativity, and write the best version of your novel.
Starting a novel is an exciting venture—and one that can soon turn daunting. Unlike the compressed energy of a short story, the novel’s world spools out over time and often involves the management of layered plots and a large cast of characters. But these challenges are also opportunities. In this course, we will look at published novel beginnings to discover the narrative engines of the early chapters. We will also investigate the way writers such as Brit Bennett, Scott Turow, and Jhumpa Lahiri maintain narrative tension throughout their books. We will talk about how this tension shapes finished work from these writers and from students’ own favorite writers. Through short writing assignments, we will try out different approaches to our own novel beginnings, and each student will be able to workshop one early chapter for helpful feedback.
This course is designed for writers who are just starting out on their novels, as well as those who have novels well underway and are already thinking about revision.
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual Write-Ins hosted by The Writers Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.
Write-Ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a Write-In that works best for their schedule.
Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass!
Sessions:
THURSDAYS, Nov. 7th & 14th | As a writer in the 21st century, you will need some incarnation of this statement on your grant, fellowship, and other funding applications, your residency applications, and your author web page. This statement serves as your opportunity to demonstrate that you are a thoughtful, deliberate writer who takes their literary career seriously.
In this seminar you'll learn how to cast your work in its strongest, most evocative light. You will read several statement examples, learn how vetting committees use them, and then craft, workshop, and revise several drafts of your own statement. You will complete a series of writing exercises to generate ideas about how to talk about your work. We'll polish your statement until it is ready to impress! Open to writers of all genres including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, songwriting, essays, and graphic novels.
SATURDAY, Nov. 9th | You've heard the alphabet soup of these conferences: ACA, AWP, CEA, MLA, PCA, and so many others.
In a safe and supportive environment, you will learn:
This day-long, hands-on workshop is for writers who are applying to have their work—poetry, fiction, essays, and creative nonfiction—accepted for a panel at a writers' conference or convention, whether virtual or in-person. Students should be prepared to engage in several online research and task activities.
SATURDAYS, Nov. 9th - 23rd | Does writing sex scenes make you nervous? Sex in books can be awkward - in fact, it's the awkward, the unusual, the failed sex that is often the most powerful writing. But writing sex shouldn't be awkward. Some writers like the "fade to black" approach to sex, while others like writing about it in the broad daylight.
What makes good sex writing, and how can we learn to do it? Good sex writing, like good sex, starts with learning the basics (in this case, by reading others), experimenting (playing and getting messy), and making it your own - making it your unique style.
In the first of the three classes, we will read sex scenes and talk about them as literary devices. How do they move forward the plot, the story, the character development? And in the second class, we will share our first experimental try at writing a sex scene. For the third class, we will revise and make the scene our own.
Even if writing about sex makes you nervous, you will leave this class with a better understanding of how you want to write about sex and how sex, like every other aspect of a book, is an extension of character and narrative.
Please note that this class covers adult topics and is only open to students 18 or older.
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual Write-Ins hosted by The Writers Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.
Write-Ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a Write-In that works best for their schedule.
Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass!
Sessions:
Thursday, Nov. 14th | Dive into the world of flash fiction, where every word matters and every sentence packs a punch. Welcome to the universe of micro fiction, where the power of storytelling meets the art of brevity.
In this class, you will:
Whether you aspire to craft standalone micro-stories or use this form to enrich your longer works, this course will equip you with the skills to create concise, impactful narratives that leave a lasting impression.
Join us for an evening of readings by The Writers Grotto Members. All are welcome.
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual Write-Ins hosted by The Writers Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.
Write-Ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a Write-In that works best for their schedule.
Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass!
Sessions:
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual Write-Ins hosted by The Writers Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.
Write-Ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a Write-In that works best for their schedule.
Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass!
Sessions:
Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee. Maw is a writing coach and editor for poets. Maw has many years of experience as an educator, author, and editor. She teaches in the MFA Program at the University of San Francisco and is the inaugural poet laureate of El Cerrito, CA. You can learn more about her at mawsheinwin.com.
Initial bespoke services consultation by email to determine the fee. Katia will draw on her expertise as an award-winning longform journalist to provide written feedback on magazine pitches. Katia has written for The New Yorker, Forbes, Mother Jones, Marie Claire, The Atavist Magazine and many other publications.
Unleash your writing potential with Jenny Bitner. As a trained hypnotherapist, coach, and writing teacher, she'll help you overcome fear and tap into your creativity. Experience a transformative hypnotic session to release barriers and claim your full potential as a writer. Take the first step today.
In this three-session package of Creativity Hypnosis, experienced hypnotherapist and writing coach Jenny Bitner will help you delve into the depths of your subconscious mind to awaken your imagination and overcome creative blocks. This can be customized to deal with whatever issues around writing you are experiencing. Start this journey today!
Got an idea for a children’s book? As the brilliant Madeleine L'Engle said, "You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grownups, then you write it for children.” In this 30-minute private Zoom consult, Lisa will give feedback on your idea to help you realize your vision and elevate your story to reach multiple audiences in today’s market. And if you don’t know what “multiple audiences” means in the kid-lit genre, that’s okay; she will tell you! Lisa’s YA crossover novel JUST LIKE BEAUTY was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and is in pre-production as a movie. She has decades of experience writing children’s books for major publishers and regularly teaches workshops to kids and adults who want to write for kids. In her free time, she enjoys petting rabbits and eating cake. Curious cats can find out more at www.lisalerner.com
Chapbooks consultation (16-40 pages in length).
Folios consultation, up to 7 pages in length, with no more than 5 poems.
Individual Poems up to 2 pages in length.
Full-length poetry collections (45-80 pages in length).
Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee. Laird Harrison will work with you one-on-one to improve your written communication. Laird has experience with both creative and business writing and can assist with all levels of writing.
Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee. Laird Harrison, author of the novel Fallen Lake, provides editing and consultation services on all aspects of novel writing.
We will build your fictional work in a collaborative process for as long as it takes to create a whole and satisfying story. Thaisa Frank, a Pushcart Fellow, has published a novel and three collection of short stories. Her original approach, developed through teaching, addresses fiction from all cultures.
Industry veteran writer-director-producer provides consulting for documentary and narrative film projects of any length and at any stage, from concept to pitch deck to rough cut to screenplay draft. Production services also available through Bay Area-based The Unscripted Company.
As an award-winning journalist, author, and consultant with decades of experience, I offer expert editorial consulting services at competitive rates. I write reports, policy briefs, articles, op-eds, blogs, and other materials for major national institutions and individual clients. As a veteran reporter, I also help writers develop and tell their stories for articles and book projects. First, we discuss your project and needs and how I can meet them, then I provide you with an estimate and we move forward with a simple straightforward contract. I look forward to talking with you, learning more about your project, and working together. Estimates are based on $100/hour fee. You can check out my work at www.christopherdcook.com.
Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee.
Are you struggling to finalize a piece of science writing, whether it's an academic manuscript, article, or marketing blog? Need editorial help to make sure your message is clear and concise without losing accuracy? Jenny can help you improve your scientific content, using her unique combination of scientific and creative expertise.
Jenny Qi has a PhD in Cancer Biology from UC San Francisco and over a decade of experience in science communication spanning a range of industries, including biopharma, tech, and journalism.
This listing is for a 20-minute consultation to determine the scope of the project.
Kate offers comprehensive developmental editing services tailored for both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. With a keen eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of narrative techniques, Kate collaborates closely with authors to elevate their work to its highest potential.
For fiction projects, Kate provide detailed feedback on plot structure, character development, pacing, dialogue, and overall narrative coherence. She helps authors refine their storytelling techniques, ensuring that their readers are fully engaged and immersed in the world they've created.
In the realm of nonfiction, Kate specializes in organizing ideas, clarifying arguments, and refining the overall structure of the manuscript. She offer guidance on crafting compelling introductions and conclusions, maintaining a consistent tone, and ensuring that the content is engaging and accessible to the intended audience.
As every manuscript is unique, she provide bespoke services tailored to the specific needs of each author and project. Fees are determined based on the complexity, length, and scope of the work. With a commitment to professionalism and a passion for bringing out the best in every manuscript, Kate strive to help authors achieve their writing goals and create works that resonate with readers.
Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee. Polish your prose with New York Times best-selling author Julia Scheeres.
Polish your writing with Carly Stern, an award-winning independent journalist. Carly offers one-on-one consultations on all forms of narrative non-fiction, with an emphasis on writing about the self. Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, the Guardian US and The Washington Post.
Let’s chat about how your ideas fit into a basic story structure that will lead to an engaging narrative. Send me up to 2000 words of idea or story summary prior to meeting consult. Session will take place via Zoom.