Blow Your Mind: Exercises to Loosen Your Imagination with Anna Quinn

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Dates: Wednesdays, January 6th - February 24th
Time: 10:30am to 12:00pm
Cost: $150
Limited to: 12 participants
​Where: Online
​Full
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​“The creative imagination is what drives us, nourishes us, gives us the taste and capacity for life. The imagination poses searching riddles, and the moment it does, poetry and science, philosophy and cosmology are born.” Rikki Ducornet

Even the most experienced writers crave inspiration, yearn to breathe in new ideas, shake things up and swim through new portals of imagination. In the company of writers from all genres, and all experience levels, this generative workshop will offer intriguing exercises and fresh approaches to loosen your
imagination, make it thrill and ripple, gain fluidity with form, content and style, open up new possibilities, cultivate experimentation and basically, blow your own mind. All you need to do is show up each week with an open and playful intention, and explore the extraordinary, strange, jaw-dropping places that exist within your inventive, original, artistic, infinite self.

​​Anna Quinn is the author of The Night Child, published by Blackstone Publishing, 2018. The Night Child was selected by Ingram as a “Best Book for Book Clubs 2018”, and was a #1 Amazon bestseller in Psychological Fiction. Her writing has appeared in Writers’ Digest, Psychology Today, Alone Together Anthology, Washington 129 Anthology, and more. She hopes to complete her second novel by Dec. 2020. Anna has been a writing instructor for twenty-nine years.

The Ongoing Poetry Workshop with Gary Copeland Lilley (afternoon)

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Dates: Thursdays, January 7th - March 11th
Time: 2:30 to 5:00
Cost: $200
Limited to: 8 participants
​Where: Online
​Full

​A weekly poetry workshop open to writers of any skill level or genre, a gathering of writers coming together in a supportive environment to work on the development and refining of our personal aesthetics. Yes, free to do your poetic thing with a focus on the crafting of poems, and on not judging poets. That is exactly the attitude this ongoing workshop has always maintained, while working the literary elements we use to create poems: gaining an understanding of poetry’s major operating modes, discovering ways to build the sharper images, enhance the poem’s musicality, and to convey those subtle meanings and significant statements uncovered in the poetic process. Each week, bring 9 copies of a poem in progress. Simply put, this workshop rocks as much as you want it to.
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Gary Copeland Lilley: is the author of eight books of poetry, the most recent being The Bushman's Medicine Show, from Lost Horse Press (2017), and a chapbook, The Hog Killing, from Blue Horse Press (2018). He is originally from North Carolina and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. He has received the Washington DC Commission on the Arts Fellowship for Poetry. He is published in numerous anthologies and journals, including Best American Poetry 2014, Willow Springs, The Swamp, Waxwing, the Taos International Journal of Poetry, and the African American Review. He is a Cave Canem Fellow.

The Ongoing Poetry Workshop with Gary Copeland Lilley (evening)

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Dates: Thursdays, January 7th - March 11th
Time: 5:30 to 8:00
Cost: $200
Limited to: 8 participants
​Where: Online
​Full
​​
​A weekly poetry workshop open to writers of any skill level or genre, a gathering of writers coming together in a supportive environment to work on the development and refining of our personal aesthetics. Yes, free to do your poetic thing with a focus on the crafting of poems, and on not judging poets. That is exactly the attitude this ongoing workshop has always maintained, while working the literary elements we use to create poems: gaining an understanding of poetry’s major operating modes, discovering ways to build the sharper images, enhance the poem’s musicality, and to convey those subtle meanings and significant statements uncovered in the poetic process. Each week, bring 9 copies of a poem in progress. Simply put, this workshop rocks as much as you want it to.
​
Gary Copeland Lilley: is the author of eight books of poetry, the most recent being The Bushman's Medicine Show, from Lost Horse Press (2017), and a chapbook, The Hog Killing, from Blue Horse Press (2018). He is originally from North Carolina and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. He has received the Washington DC Commission on the Arts Fellowship for Poetry. He is published in numerous anthologies and journals, including Best American Poetry 2014, Willow Springs, The Swamp, Waxwing, the Taos International Journal of Poetry, and the African American Review. He is a Cave Canem Fellow.

Poetry in Progress with Peter Quinn

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Dates: Mondays, January 11th through February 22nd
Time: 2:00 to 3:30
Cost: $120
Limited to: 7 participants
​Where: Online
​​One Seat Available
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“Write nothing that can’t, in the stress of the moment, actually be said” Ezra Pound

Poetry is how our mind speaks. We write these conversations down. The ones we like best we share them with others. In groups like this one. This class is optimized for remote learning. The experience should be uniquely rewarding in this format.

We don’t critique, we react to each other’s poems. We tell the poet what we have heard, what we liked, how it made us feel.

You will email a poem to other participants at least 3 days prior to the session. The idea is to receive feedback to a poem then read a new poem at the end of each session to be reacted to at the next session.

Each session will end with a prompt and time to give it a go. You’d be amazed what starts when you let your mind hear the prompt. Really hear it. Be brave. It’s safe.

​The goal of each session is to have us leave wanting to write more. And to find our selves writing better.

Peter Quinn published ‘Painting Circles on Straight Highways’  (Irenicon Press), in 2012. His works appear in Mississippi Mud, Foxfire, the Portland Oregonian and Pacific Northwest Magazine, Northwinds Anthology, and A Ritual to Read Together: Poems in Conversation with William Stafford, (Woodley Press). He received the Academy of American Poets Award in 1976. He continues to write poetry and lead workshops to feed his poetry passion.

Crafting Effective Personal Essays with Samantha Ladwig

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Date: Saturday, January 30th
Time: 10:00 to 2:00 (with a half-hour lunch break)
Cost: $150
Limited to: 12 participants
​Where: Online

Personal essays are more than just recaps of our lives; they take readers through life changing moments, both big and small, and show how the experience has changed them. Done thoughtfully, personal essays have the power to move readers, inspire fellow writers, and shape our worldviews. 

During our time together, you can expect to:

• Write on a number of prompts.
• Explore the prompt that speaks to you most.
• Learn how to find the larger, connective story within your personal essay.
• Learn how to approach difficult characters and uncomfortable truths with empathy and compassion.
• Learn how to read personal essays like a writer.
• Engage with your story in a safe and comfortable environment.

This workshop is open to writers of all levels. Please come to class with a notebook and an open mind.
 
Samantha Ladwig is a writer, book reviewer, and the owner of Imprint Bookstore in Port Townsend, Washington. Her work has been published by Literary Hub, New York Magazine, Bustle, Real Simple, Vice, Bust Magazine, and others. For clips and more information, visit www.samanthaladwig.com.   ​

First Aid for Your Fiction with Peter Mountford

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Date: Saturday, February 13th
Time: 10:00 to 3:00 (with an hour lunch break)
Cost: $150
Limited to: 16 participants (6 minimum)
​Where: Online

This class introduces the eight most common craft problems that fiction writers struggle with, including some that they rarely notice — among them, "Evasive Protagonist Syndrome," "Excessive Scene Disorder," and “Oops, Where’s My Plot?” During class you will learn tools for self-diagnosis and cures for all of these afflictions, and you’ll apply these tools to ten pages of your own writing. This class will have a one-hour break for lunch.

Peter Mountford is the author of the novels A Young Man's Guide to Late Capitalism (2012 Washington State Book Award in fiction), and The Dismal Science (a NYT editor's choice). His work has appeared in The Paris Review, Southern Review, The Atlantic, The Sun, Granta, and The Missouri Review. He is currently on faculty at Sierra Nevada University's MFA program, teaches at Seattle's Hugo House, and is a writing coach and developmental editor with clients around the world. 

The Art of the Query Letter with Jennifer Haupt

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Date: Sunday, February 21st
Time: 1:00 to 3:00
Cost: $90
Limited to: 20 participants (10 minimum)
​Where: Online

Whether you are trying to secure an agent for your book or querying small publishers directly, sending a stand-out query letter is essential. You only have one shot so make it count with a concise, intriguing, and description of your book as well as a bio that puts you in the best light possible. This 2-hour workshop will go over the basic components of a perfect query letter and how to put your special spin on your query. We'll also spend time with writing prompts geared to help you write your pitch.

Jennifer Haupt is the author of the novel In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills (April 2018) and editor of ALONE TOGETHER: Stories of Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19 (Sept. 2020). She has also ghost-written memoir, and her essays and articles have been published in O, The Oprah Magazine, Psychology Today, The Rumpus, Spirituality & Health, The Sun, and elsewhere. She teaches at Hugo House in Seattle, and writing conferences and workshops around the country.

Spirit in the Dark: A Poetry Workshop with Kathryn Hunt

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Date: Saturday, February 27th
Time: 10:00 to 4:00
Cost: $150
Limited to: 8 participants
​Where: Online

Outrage, remembrance, prayer, manifesto. How do poets marry the lyrical and social engagement? Inner life with history? The personal and the political? We'll consider the poetry of contemporary poets from the U.S. and around the world and explore ways our imaginations might invite something greater than ourselves into our own poetry. I’ll provide writing prompts and feedback on your drafts and send you a packet of poems to read two weeks before we meet. You’ll finish the day with three drafts of new poems. The class is open to all lovers of poetry — beginners and experienced writers alike. Please come with a notebook or laptop and an open mind.
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Kathryn Hunt’s poetry has appeared in the Sun, Radar, Orion, Missouri Review, Carolina Quarterly, Writer’s Almanac, and Narrative. Her first collection of poems, Long Way Through Ruin, was published by Blue Begonia Press. Where Rivers Come Together, her second collection, is in manuscript. She is the recipient of residencies and awards from Ucross, Hedgebrook, Artists Trust, and Joya AIR (Spain). She recently completed a memoir, Why I Grieve I Do Not Know. She’s worked as a waitress, shipscaler, short-order cook, bookseller, printer, food bank coordinator, filmmaker, and freelance writer. kathrynhunt.net

Get Inspired, Stay Inspired: Cultivate Good Writing Habits and Stay Motivated with Nicole J. Persun

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Date: Saturday, March 6th
Time: 10:00 to 2:00 (with a 30 minute lunch break)
Cost: $200
Limited to: 12 participants (minimum of 6)
​Where: Online
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There’s a common misconception that the muse is fickle and withholding, but career authors know the truth: you are your own muse. In this class, we’ll discuss eight ways for authors to cultivate a healthy, consistent writing habit. We’ll also cover practical writing exercises to jump-start your work-in-progress and re-engage your inspiration. If you’ve been struggling to write in light of recent events, are looking for a creative boost to get you through the winter, or simply want to develop better habits, this class is for you.

Nicole J. Persun is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author. She got her start publishing fantasy, but nowadays writes book club fiction under the pen name Jennifer Gold. Nicole has a master’s degree in writing and instruction and is a board member of the Pacific Northwest Writers’ Association. In addition to her writing career, Nicole works as a horse caretaker on a large farm in the Pacific Northwest. She fills her spare time with books, animals, and coffee. Learn more at nicolejpersun.com  and jennifergoldauthor.com.

Submitting Your Essay: Crafting the Perfect Pitch with Samantha Ladwig

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Date: Saturday, March 13th
Time: 10:00 to 2:00 (with an hour writing/lunch break)
Cost: $150
Limited to: 12 participants
​Where: Online

Do you have a personal essay but aren’t sure where or how to submit it? This one-day workshop is for any writer looking to pitch their completed or in-progress work to publications such as Literary Hub, Bustle, Catapult, Longreads, Washington Post, Real Simple, and other online and print magazines. 

During our time together, we will: 

• Discuss best pitching practices by reviewing examples of pitches.
• Analyze the piece you’d like to pitch in order to find the right publication for your work.
• Write and review your own pitch in a supportive setting.

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From this class, you can expect to gain an understanding of what editors are looking for, how to explore your own newly formed ideas, and most importantly, how to formulate a clear and concise pitch. Please note that this is not a workshop on submitting to literary magazines.
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Samantha Ladwig is a writer, book reviewer, and the owner of Imprint Bookstore in Port Townsend, Washington. Her work has been published by Literary Hub, New York Magazine, Bustle, Real Simple, Vice, Bust Magazine, and others. For clips and more information, visit www.samanthaladwig.com.   

But I Don’t Like This Prompt!: Poetry Prompts to Push You Out of Your Comfort Zone with Lauren Davis​

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Dates: Mondays, April 5th – 26th
Time: 10:30am to 11:30am
Cost: $65
Limited to: 7 participants
​Where: Online
​​Full
 
Are you feeling stagnant? Do you want a challenge? Do you enjoy experiencing frustration, slight confusion, and a little outrage? Does only one side of your brain get all the say in your writing? During this workshop, Davis will provide a variety of poetry prompts designed to shakeup your approach to the page. The focus will be on creating first drafts. Join her in celebrating National Poetry Month!

Lauren Davis is the author of Home Beneath the Church (Fernwood Press, forthcoming), and the chapbooks Each Wild Thing’s Consent (Poetry Wolf Press) and The Missing Ones (Winter texts). She holds an MFA from the Bennington College Writing Seminars. She is a former Editor in Residence at The Puritan’s Town Crier and has been awarded a residency at Hypatia-in-the-Woods. Her work has appeared in over fifty literary publications and anthologies including Prairie Schooner, Spillway, Poet Lore, Ibbetson Street, Ninth Letter and elsewhere.

Navigating Independent Publishing Successfully with Terry Persun

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Date: Saturday, April 17th
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Cost: $125
Limited to: 15 participants (5 minimum)
​Where: Online

​Independent publishing – or self publishing – has gifted writers the opportunity to distribute their work without having to go through the traditional publishing houses. This class will cover all the key aspects of publishing your fiction, nonfiction, or poetry collection independently. We’ll start with answering why you might choose this path then move on to what is required of you as, essentially, the publisher of your own book. This will include discussions on editing and proofreading, cover art, layout and design, getting blurbs, creating a launch, publishing options, and marketing. There’ll be plenty of time for questions and discussion along the way.

Terry Persun has been writing professionally for over thirty years. His technical articles, ad copy, brochures, etc. have been published in literally hundreds of journals. Persun’s poetry and short stories have been published in a wide variety of University and independently run journals across the U.S. In the past thirty years, he has had over twenty novels and six poetry collections published by small independent publishers, and won several poetry awards (Proper pH Chapbook Award, Jeanne Voege Excellence in Poetry Award, and others) and fiction awards (a Book Excellence Award in science fiction, a Silver IPPY in historical fiction, a Star of Washington award in mainstream fiction, two POW Book of the Year awards, two USABookNews awards). He’s a three-time finalist in the ForeWord magazine Book of the Year Award. Persun has also published several nonfiction books about writing and publishing.

Edit Your Novel Like a Pro: The Focused Draft Approach with Nicole J. Persun

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Date: Saturday, May 15th
Time: 10:00 to 2:00 (with a 30 minute lunch break)
Cost: $200
Limited to: 12 participants (minimum of 6)
​Where: Online

When it comes to editing your messy first draft, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and get lost in the weeds. In this class, we’ll discuss an editing framework that will keep you organized. The focused-draft approach offers a holistic, multi-level view of your manuscript. By tackling different areas of craft - such as structure, pacing, emotion, and more - separately, you’ll stay grounded and productive without overworking your passionate prose. If you’re looking to gain confidence, efficiency, and organizational skills in your editing process, this class is for you.

Nicole J. Persun is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author. She got her start publishing fantasy, but nowadays writes book club fiction under the pen name Jennifer Gold. Nicole has a master’s degree in writing and instruction and is a board member of the Pacific Northwest Writers’ Association. In addition to her writing career, Nicole works as a horse caretaker on a large farm in the Pacific Northwest. She fills her spare time with books, animals, and coffee. Learn more at nicolejpersun.com  and jennifergoldauthor.com.