Registration for Alchemy is Now Open!

October 11 - November 21, 2010

I'm so excited to announce that full details and registration for Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing are now available.

I created this course for creative souls who want to improve their writing through practical techniques and inspirational tips. Alchemy is about transforming common, everyday objects (words) into something beautiful (your stories).

I created Alchemy for you, but I also designed it for me -- for the writer I was several years ago when my writing had plateaued and I was looking for ways to improve. So I've packed this course with techniques I wish I'd known back then. These are simple techniques with big impact, many of which I've learned while working on my MFA in creative nonfiction -- but you don't need to be interested in grad school to benefit from them. I've also included tools and tricks I've developed over the last seven years as a freelance writer and editor, along with helpful nitty gritty tips on writing basics.

During the six weeks of the course, we'll look at how to combine techniques and inspiration to deepen and  w i d e n  our writing. Each week we'll focus on a particular craft lesson and apply it to our stories. You'll choose the kind of writing you want to do, maybe blog posts, essays, articles, or a book project. It's up to you. Bring whatever stories are clamoring to be told. (There will also be prompts and nudges to help you find topics and capture inspiration if you need some guidance.) Once class is over, you'll have access to the materials and private community for eight more weeks. This means you'll have until January 16, 2011 to revisit lessons and catch up on anything you missed. (When you register, you also have the option to sign-up for private editing and coaching services with me at up to 33% off my normal rates.)

Alchemy is a combination of practicality and magic -- just like writing itself. I hope you'll join me in The Word Cellar for class next month!

Get all the details here and then register here.

Summer Vacation (In The Word Cellar)

nantucket sunset, 8 august 2010

As you may have gathered from this week's ::By Post:: (a collaborative project of virtual postcards), I'm living the island life on Nantucket for a few days. In the spirit of a good old fashioned summer vacation, I'm taking a week off from my In The Word Cellar writing posts. In the meantime, I invite you to stroll through the archives.

I also hope you'll check out the first In The Word Cellar course, Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing. I'm really excited about this online writing course for creative souls and hope you'll join us for lessons on the craft of writing, inspiration, and supportive community. You can find more information here and sign up to be on the mailing list here. I'll send out more information about the course (including registration details) in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned from another ::By Post:: postcard this evening....

In The Word Cellar normally runs on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Read other posts in the series here.

Introducing Online Writing Courses for Creative Souls

Remember on Monday when I promised to unveil a new project this week? Here it is! I'm giddy to announce the first In The Word Cellar course, Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing. This online writing course for creative souls will start in the fall. Please check it out and sign up to receive more information when the course schedule and registration are available.

Right now I'm sitting in my room at the Hilton New York, about to head down to the BlogHer speaker training session in a bit. But I couldn't wait to tell you about my new course! I'll share more, including the stories behind why I developed it, in the coming weeks. But for now, I leave you with the course description over here.

I hope to see some of you at BlogHer this weekend (maybe in my writing lab panel?), and I can't wait to have you join me this fall In The Word Cellar for Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing.