Four Tuesdays | April 29, May 6, 13, 20 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

You Ought to Write a Book

In-person with Robrt Pela

You Ought to Write a Book is aimed at the first-time author who has a story to tell but doesn't know where to begin. Workshop participants will learn the difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing and the advantages of each. You'll explore what's behind your desire to write, refine your story idea, and learn about the importance of a story arc. You'll become conversant in the basics of outlining your story and the importance of keeping a writing deadline. You'll also learn writing tricks, like how to bust through "writer's block", as well as the importance of writers' groups and early readers. Participants will also learn how to sell their book once it's done: how to write a book proposal, how to shop for a literary agent or traditional publisher, or whether to self-publish your book instead!

REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP AND GET 50% OFF A SUMMER WORKSHOP!

In this class, you'll receive:

• A better understanding of the elements of a writing practice
• Basic techniques to start writing and keep writing
• Insight into the different types of publishing available to you today as an author   

Robrt Pela is a Pulliam Prize-winning journalist who for 30 years was a theater critic at New Times, the Phoenix city weekly. He's been a staff writer at The Advocate, Psychology Today, and Men's Fitness, and is a longtime regular contributor to the National Public Radio affiliate, KJZZ. These days he writes for Phoenix Magazine. His last book was Filthy, a biography of the film director John Waters; he's working on another, about America's broken elder-care system. He teaches a writing workshop called You Ought to Write a Book and owns an editing business called Red Pen LLC, where he works on book projects with first-time authors. Robrt and his husband divide their time among homes in Arizona, Ohio, and Provence.
 

Sign up

Four Tuesdays | June 3, 10, 17, & 24 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Discovering Your Themes: How to Gather and Order a Poetry Manuscript

Virtual with Jenny Benjamin

Delve into your poetry by exploring what themes are threaded through your poems and use this exploration to structure a full-length manuscript or chapbook. Analyze the work of other poets and use this activity to influence or inspire your own manuscript, one with sections or no sections but one with a system that urges the reader to keep going until the final poem. Consider writing in new forms and styles to inject surprising elements and experimental pieces into your body of work. Engage in writing activities that illuminate the themes inside of you that surface and shine in your poems. Even if you feel you have a chaotic grouping of poems, use this class to learn about your writing and the best way to gather the work you create.

In this class, you'll receive:

• Strategies on how to gather and order a poetry manuscript or chapbook
• New poems 
• Insights into thematic elements in your poetry

Jenny Benjamin is the owner of her freelance writing and editing business JB Communications, LLC. Over fifty of her poems have appeared in journals, including DIAGRAM, South Carolina Review, Fulcrum, Baltimore Review, Chelsea, and the Crab Orchard Review. Her first novel, This Most Amazing, was published in 2013 by Armida Books in Nicosia, Cyprus. Her poetry chapbooks, More Than a Box of Crayons (2018) and Painted Women in the Walls (2025), were published by Finishing Line Press. Her poetry chapbook, Midway, earned second place in the 2017 No Chair Press contest and was published in April 2018. Enhanced and Corrupted, the first two books of her young adult, science fiction trilogy were published by Ananke Press (October 2021, July 2022). Redeemed: Book Three of the Terrian Trilogy came out in January 2023. Her novel Heather Finch was published by Running Wild Press (June 2022). She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. More information can be found on her website: http://jenny-benjamin.com/
 

Sign up

Wednesday | June 18 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Examining the Self: Writing Under the Influence

Virtual with Laura Van Prooyen

In this generative workshop, we will read in community and write in response together “under the influence” of the selected poets. First, we will read poems aloud (Ocean Vuong & Mary Jo Bang, among others) that focus on ways we perceive the self. Reading aloud allows us to open both eye and ear to appreciate the poem’s craft, and we let the poems speak for themselves (note: this is not a discussion-based class where we talk “about” the poems). Then, guided by prompts drawn from the poems, we will write independently, drafting our own experience. We’ll close with the option to share our work. Get ready to jump into an engaging evening.

In this class, you'll receive:

• Engage with thought-provoking writing prompts
• Create new drafts of work
• Discover your poetic voice

Laura Van Prooyen is author of three collections of poetry: Frances of the Wider Field (Lily Poetry Review Books) a finalist for the Helen C. Smith Memorial Award for Best Book of Poetry, Texas Institute of Letters; Our House Was on Fire (Ashland Poetry Press) nominated by Philip Levine and winner of the McGovern Prize; and Inkblot and Altar (Pecan Grove Press). She is also co-author of Text Structures from Poetry, a book of writing lessons for educators of grades 4-12 (Corwin Literacy). Van Prooyen is the Managing Editor for The Cortland Review, facilitates free online workshops with Community Building Art Works for healthcare workers (www.cbaw.org), is the founder of Next Page Press www.nextpage-press.com and teaches poetry as visiting faculty at Trinity University. She lives in San Antonio, TX. www.lauravanprooyen.com
 

Sign up

Four Wednesdays | July 2, 9, 16, 23 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Write the Memoir to Remember

Virtual with Patricia L. Brooks

In an encouraging and insightful presentation, Patricia L. Brooks will help you capture the essence of your untold story. She will share with you how to produce a memoir to your own satisfaction, face your fears and conquer your story's emotional beats. With techniques and tips from her three daring memoirs, and her new release on writing memoir, she will help you to understand the journey to writing yours. Within this engaging and informative format, Patricia will inspire you to take the necessary steps to bring your work to fruition. Whether you are finishing a memoir, preparing it for an editor, or starting on your journey, you will find what you need here to keep going and enjoy the process.

In this class, you'll receive:

• Explore various techniques for structuring your memoir
• Learn how to use "mind mapping" to bring your story to life
• Get feedback from a professional author on your writing  

Patricia L. Brooks, MAOM, published three memoirs: Sick as My Secrets, Three Husbands and a Thousand Boyfriends and Gifts of Sisterhood - journey from grief to gratitude. She also published her non-fiction book Write the Memoir You're Afraid to Write in Nov 2024. Patricia is president and founder of the phenomenally successful Scottsdale Society of Women Writers, founded in 2005 and is president and owner of Brooks Goldmann Publishing, LLC with her husband, author Earl L. Goldmann, also founded in 2005.

Ms. Brooks is affiliated with Arizona State University, teaching memoir writing for the Piper Center for Creative Writing. She previously taught business classes as an adjunct in the W.P Carry School for over 10 years, at the Poly Tech and West campuses. 

Patricia and her husband live in Old Town Scottsdale. She has been in Arizona since 1976 when she transferred as a business student to ASU.
 

Sign up

Four Wednesdays | July 8, 15, 22, 29 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Sound & Vision: Crafting the Written Word Through the Sensory World

Virtual with Lorin Drexler

In this exploratory 4-week generative workshop series, we will use music, art, visual objects, and environments to generate new creative work. Each week will take a different approach to engaging the senses and prompting the imagination. Writers of all skill levels and genres are invited to participate!

In this class, you'll receive:

• Draft new poetry and/or prose piece(s)
• Discover techniques to channel inspiration
• Build effective work habits

Lorin Drexler is an American poet, fiction writer, and musician/producer. Currently residing in Mesa, Arizona, and originally from the windy city of Chicago, he graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a bachelor's degree in creative writing. His work has appeared in Fjords Review, Harpy Hybrid Review, Abstract Magazine, LitroNY, Vine Leaves Literary Journal, Maudlin House, and others. Lorin was also an award recipient in the 2019 Tempe Writing Contest.
 

Sign up