TOP
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual write-ins hosted by the 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.
In this lecture, Audrey Ferber and Susan Ito will discuss their experiences with starting and running writing groups. You'll learn about the logistics of successful writing groups as well as the how to not to let feedback from others derail your writing goals.
Take some time for your writing this fall with a series of virtual write-ins hosted by the 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.
Are you in a writing rut? Does your creativity feel in need of a jumpstart? Looking to renew your writing practice? Get your writing groove back with this fun-filled rapid-fire writing prompt session.
In this class we’ll:
This class is for writers of all levels and all genres.
Why do some memoirs and novels take off from the first page, while others stall out before the end of chapter one? More importantly: How can you make sure the book you’re writing gets all the necessary gears lined up on those all-important first ten pages?
In this combination craft lecture and trouble-shooting workshop, you’ll learn the three Cs of narrative engine: Character, Conflict, and Clock. What’s clock, you say? It’s a simple but elusive element that’s crucial to your story’s drive—but many writers don’t realize their pages are missing it. Character and conflict are also more complex than they first appear. Drawing from the teachings of novelists Eileen Pollack and David Haynes along with Lisa Cron’s book Wired for Story, this class will demystify all three Cs, then lead you through exercises and instructor feedback to identify Character, Conflict, and Clock in your narrative. Does your character have a compelling inner issue? Is your conflict harnessed to a theme that makes it meaningful? You’ll leave this class with the major story elements of your own work clarified, and your narrative engine ready to rev.
You’ve finished your novel or are close to doing so, and you want to find an agent. To raise your chances of getting noticed by one, you will need a strong query letter.
In this class, students will learn how to write an impactful query letter (primarily for fiction writers) through class lecture which includes:
* Identifying the key components of a query letter
* Discussion of what’s working and not working with query letter examples
* Highlights of what to do and what not to do
Following class, you will have an understanding of the fundamentals in developing your own query letter.
What is it that makes a book so riveting you can’t put it down or a movie so compelling you’re on the edge of your seat, waiting to learn what will happen next?
In this class, we will answer this question and learn how to bring that same narrative drive to our own creative writing projects. Using examples from literature, film, and TV, we will explore the craft of narrative construction and how a richly drawn character pursues goals and overcomes obstacles to create irresistible, emotionally resonant stories.
We will use in-class exercises to map your story, develop your main character, and learn how to construct a scene. Then, in a workshop setting, you will have the opportunity to present what you know of your story (in outline form, graphically, or just verbally) to the class. We will discuss each of these student stories from the standpoint of narrative craft, applying the tools we have learned to help you create a more complete and gripping story arc, which will allow you to write with more confidence and clarity.
This class is appropriate for writers of fiction, memoir, plays, and screenplays—anyone trying to develop their characters and stories. It is designed for writers at any point in their careers, from beginner to professional. Story craft is an essential set of tools we need to apply to every writing project.
Questions? Contact mauryzeff(at)gmail.com
Do you want to write a story with an omniscient narrator but worry the workshop will accuse you of “head jumping”? Curious to write parts of your memoir in second person but unsure you can pull it off? If you desire the increased freedom and artistic possibility of mastering point of view but feel daunted by technicalities, this class is for you.
Over four Wednesday evenings, we’ll break down the concepts you need in clear, simple terms, with a special focus on controlling psychic distance. But most important, we will play with the new imaginative possibilities, experimenting with short in-class and between-class assignments involving omniscience, third-person collective (the “we” point of view), varieties of second person, and more. This exploratory, discussion-driven class for both fiction and nonfiction writers will give you the tools and experience to become skilled in point of view, exponentially increasing your writing powers.
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.
Over the course of eight weeks, we will dive deeply into the shape and structure of short stories, looking at different forms and styles. We will read from a broad selection of short stories, and break them down to better understand their design, and their authors’ intentions. By reading deeply, and taking a close look at how these stories work, we will gain a better understanding of how to shape and design our own stories, and engage our readers. Our final two weeks will be reserved for workshops, so students can share work and receive feedback.
This workshop is ideal for any student working on a story or essay, but who are unsure of how best to form the shape or structure.
Students should enter with a rough draft of a story or essay, and be eager to shape that work into something exciting. Students in this course will receive feedback on their works in progress, so they can enter next quarter's workshop energized and filled with ideas for revision.
This is the second quarter of Storytelling: A Yearlong Intensive. Students are welcome to register for this class regardless if they attended the first quarter.
Books required: The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing by Alice La Plante.