Write a novel that grips readers from the first page and never lets go. In this workshop, you’ll master the classic three-act structure—a time-tested framework that underpins some of the most compelling stories across genres. We’ll explore the essential components of each act, from inciting incidents to climactic resolutions, and we'll analyze a few bestselling novels that have used this structure effectively.
Megan Tady is the author of Bluebird Day, a Washington Post Noteworthy Book, and Super Bloom, which was awarded an IPPY Gold medal for Best Regional Fiction in the Northeast. She runs the freelance writing and editing company Word-Lift and offers book coaching and ghostwriting. Her writing has appeared in Oprah Daily, People, L.A. Parent, Woman's Day, Writer's Digest, The Huffington Post, and Ms. Magazine, among others. Megan lives in Western Massachusetts with her family.
Megan Tady is the author of Bluebird Day, a Washington Post Noteworthy Book, and Super Bloom, which was awarded an IPPY Gold medal for Best Regional Fiction in the Northeast. She runs the freelance writing and editing company Word-Lift and offers book coaching and ghostwriting... Read More →
Julie is the author of "This All-at-Onceness" a linked essay collection named one of Kirkus Review’s 100 Best Indie Books of 2019, and of the novel "Burning and Dodging.” Her newest novel, “Whistlebrook,” will be released in late 2026. She is a regular contributor to Cogn... Read More →
Samantha Kolber is the owner and publisher of Rootstock Publishing, a curated hybrid and traditional press in Montpelier, Vermont. She is the author of Birth of a Daughter (Kelsay Books, 2020), a 5-Star Readers’ Favorite and Poetry Winner in the 2023 San Francisco Book Festival... Read More →
Becky is the Vice President and Executive Editor at Koehler Books. She learned the power of words at the age of six, when she slid a note under her sister's door that said “I don’t love you—I don’t even like you.” That declaration moved her sister, who never tattled again... Read More →
Randy has been a worker/owner at Collective Copies for 28 years. In that time they launched Levellers Press and several imprints. Randy has overseen the development of E-book conversion and distribution and is also a Senior Account Executive with several titles out including one of... Read More →
Whether you want to submit individual poems to journals or publish a complete manuscript, this workshop will give practical advice for presenting your best work. We'll explore how to find journals and presses that best fit your writing style, the importance of formatting, titles, and cover letters, poetry contests and the option of self-publishing. Publication involves risk-taking, so we'll also talk about dealing with rejection.
Gail Thomas has published seven books, most recently This World. Her poems have been widely published in journals and anthologies. Among her awards are the A.V Christie award from Seven Kitchens Press for Trail of Roots, the Charlotte Mew Prize from Headmistress Press for Odd Mercy... Read More →
We each have a story. How do we get our story on the page? This workshop will offer techniques to awaken personal stories through writing exercises, readings, and discussion. Open to writers who are beginning their story as well as those who are already 'on the page.'
Celia Jeffries is the author of the award-winning novel BLUE DESERT. Her work has appeared in numerous newspapers and literary magazines including Westview, Solstice Literary Magazine, and Puerto del Sol, as well as the anthology Beyond the Yellow Wallpaper. Jeffries holds an... Read More →
"The Stories We Carry" is a workshop that explores identity and how it shapes voice, memory, and storytelling. Participants will first embrace some of the stories they have been told, and then with guided prompts, reflection and creative writing, they will reclaim their narrative, and share the stories they want to tell. This workshop is ideal for poets, memoirists, and emerging writers seeking authentic voice, cultural connection, and creative empowerment.
Imagination is essential to creating a better future. If all we see when we look into the future is dystopia, that’s what we will inevitably create. This session will demonstrate the process of writing “thrutopia”—a vision of the world we desire, and a road map for how to get there.
Jennifer Browdy, PhD, has taught literature, writing and leadership for social and environmental justice at Bard College/Simon’s Rock for many years. She coined the term “purposeful memoir” and has shared her own life story and the techniques of purposeful memoir in severa... Read More →
