Remote writing retreat and independent study intensive this summer
Best creative week ever! I came with just an idea and I left with a detailed map that I can use to write my first draft. Wonderful community, too--relaxed, yet everyone is focused and productive. I can see why writers return every year.
—past attendee
sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts
Your Book Starts Here: How to Plan, Write, and Develop Your Book
July 20-24
A week for you and your book, at any stage, in any genre. Daily workshops with Mary on Zoom, private coaching and personalized assignments, and a wonderful virtual community. Give yourself—and your creativity—a week to focus on your book, have plenty of time to write, plus gain craft skills at your level. Excellent for writers with a book in process in any genre or those just starting out. Set aside time to get quiet enough to hear your own words. Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts. Find out more >
I made more progress in this one week than in two years of my MFA program. Now I understand the bones of my novel and will finally finish it.
—past attendee
Summer remote workshops
sponsored by the Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis
Writing Your Life: How to Plan, Write, and Develop Your Memoir
(Friday, July 17, 12:00 -5:00 p.m.)
Whether you're writing your memoir for legacy or publication, bring your ideas or draft to this afternoon Zoom workshop and dive into the structure, flow, and organization of your story. Learn the difference between autobiography and memoir, why memoir needs a focus, and how to create yours. Find out more>
Afternoon Intensive: Writing Dialogue for Fiction or Memoir (Saturday, August 22, 12:00-5:00 p.m.)
Urban legend has it that agents and editors read through a manuscript to find a page of dialogue--and if it doesn't sing, they don't read more. Dialogue is one of the trickiest aspects of memoir and fiction to write well. But it is learnable--so bring your dialogue scenes and tune up your ear and language with this afternoon Zoom workshop. Details to come.
Retainer program
"I love how my book is finally taking shape, with your remarkable guidance and amazing gift for eliciting my best work." "Your help and excellent counsel has helped me persevere to write my first book. I can't thank you enough." “You've given me so much—to not only jump start my rewrite in response to the agent feedback I received, but also to keep improving my writing on future projects."
—past retainer clients
Get personalized help with your writing project at any stage. Five weeks of private coaching with check-ins by email, customized assignments, and evaluation of up to 250 d/s pages of your book-in-progress. Limited spaces available. Now booking for fall and winter 2019. Find out more >