From Start to Finish:
Creating a Writing Plan and Sticking to It
June 8, July 6, August 3, September 7
8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pacific)
Summertime. The next three months stretch out in front of you like honey. You’ll have time to get outdoors, take the trips you’ve postponed and be with people you’ve longed to hug.
And where, oh where, will your writing fit into it all?
Oh, yeah. That.
Now’s the ideal time to build momentum on all the progress you’ve made over the past few months, start a book or screenplay from the very beginning, or bring a project to completion.
But it won’t happen unless you make the time and follow through.
And that’s where our Summer Writing Program comes in.
We’ll meet once a month through the summer to help you develop a writing plan and stick to it, and we’ll be here to help celebrate with you in September when you look back at what you accomplished.
Here’s how the summer will unfold.
This is all about developing good habits and discipline. Those may not seem like creative words, but they’re the framework in which your creativity can soar.
June 8: We’ll start by talking about strategies for setting up and sticking to a writing plan. “Daybatching,” reward systems—even something as simple as putting a sticker on the calendar for every day you write—can keep you on track. We’ll give you a few options so you can choose the one that fits you best.
We’ll talk about beginnings and endings—the difference between starting a project and finishing one. What stage is your project in, and what kind of support do you need?
We’ll also put you in a small group and give you assignments each month to meet and workshop each other’s writing. In addition, within your group, you’ll have a writing buddy for weekly accountability.
July 6 and August 3: We’ll check in with you and see how you’re doing. We’ll give you ways to measure your progress and keep going even if (or when) your momentum lags.
And September 7, we’ll congratulate you on your progress with an end-of-summer celebration.
We know how hard it can be to keep showing up at the computer when the sirens of summer call your name. But we also know how important it is to keep writing—how much you can accomplish and how great you’ll feel when you do.
So, here’s the deal. The four summer sessions are just $145. Total. That’s a ton of support for about $1.50 a day.
We’re going to hold you—and each other—accountable.
Your Summer Writing Program facilitators are David Kirkpatrick, Amy Ferris, and Debra Engle.
In case you think we’re just talking the talk, there’s this...
David Kirkpatrick has made a commitment to his agent to turn in his epic Merlin in September, so he’s writing every day to meet his deadline.
Debra Engle has three book proposals in progress, so she’s setting up a schedule to get them in the hands of her agent and finish at least one of the books before the end of the summer.
Amy Ferris is finishing her memoir/novella for SheWrites Press, along with working on a TV project with Marta F. Kauffman. She is also contributing monthly to Women's eNews.
We’ll be just as accountable as you are. In other words, we’re all in this together. And we can’t wait to celebrate your progress come September.
Faculty
Registration fee: $145 for six hours of instruction and a summer of support.
EVENING CLASS
June 8, July 6, August 3, September 7
8 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pacific)
Please note: Our classes are designed specifically for live participation, so your attendance is important. If you need to miss a class for any reason, you’ll receive a passcode-protected link to watch the recordings after the course is over.
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