Summer 2021 live workshops on Zoom
sponsored by the Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis
The Art of Theme and Voice in Fiction and Memoir
(Saturday, June 12, 12:00 -5:00 p.m.)
Every writer craves an authentic voice and strong themes--two key elements that make writing stand out. Both voice and theme reveal authenticity and emotional truth, linking writer and reader in a personal way. Find out more>
sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts
Weeklong Storyboarding Intensive: Your Book Starts Here
(July 19-23)
Five days of immersion in your book--with expert coaching and a small online community of fellow book writers to guide and support you. Includes daily morning craft workshops, plenty of writing time, and private coaching with Mary. For writers building a book at any stage, in any genre.. Find out more>
sponsored by the Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis
Writing Authentic, Amazing Dialogue for Fiction and Memoir
(Saturday, July 10, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
Dialogue makes or breaks your fiction. Although some writers have a natural ear for writing authentic-sounding dialogue, most have to learn the technique: how to translate spoken dialogue to the page, bring in enough subtext to create tension, and more. Find out more>
sponsored by the Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis
Writing Your Life: How to Plan, Write, and Develop Your Memoir
(Saturday, July 31, 12:00 -5:00 p.m.)
Whether you are trying to write the story of your life for publication or as a family legacy, this class by the author of two memoirs will show you how to organize your stories into a readable, interesting work. Find out more>
Retainer program
"You coached me when I had nary a clue how one might take reams of chaos and turn it into an organized framework. Without your initial belief, teaching, editing, and coaching, I wouldn't have started."
—Christine Kane, author of The Soul-Sourced Entrepreneur
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. Three 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 2021. Find out more >