I am passionate about the teaching of writing in much the same way that I'm passionate about writing itself: it's this whole vast expanse of possibility, endless pages to be filled, ideas to be shared and refracted back--modified, altered. I love giving people the tools for self-expression and then watching them light up with the experience.
upcoming
All Ghosts Welcome Here: A Writing Workshop for Young Writers
Saturday, October 4, 1-3 pm
@ Community Writing Center, Salt Lake City
It takes a lot of skill to build a haunted house where readers can lose themselves through creaky doors and down dark hallways, into spooky attics or basements. In this class, we'll explore classic and contemporary haunted houses in stories and pop culture. We'll learn how to create a successful haunted house story, focusing on building atmosphere, setting scenes, steering clear of the ordinary, and avoiding common pitfalls. This class is for 12–15-year-olds interested in the ghostly or the macabre.
Writing the Perfect Haunted House Story for Ages 12-14
Four Saturdays: October 11, 2025 - November 1, 2025
via THE LOFT on zoom
It takes a lot of architectural know-how to build a house that people can actually live in--construction, plumbing, electricity, all sorts of expertise. In a similar way, it takes particular literary skill to build a haunted house where ghosts dwell and readers can lose themselves through creaky doors and down dark hallways, into spooky attics or basements. In this class, spend the weeks leading up to Halloween learning how to construct a successful haunted house story. We'll read selections from classic and contemporary ghost stories (provided) and complete a series of writing activities that will help you create your own convincingly haunted house, with lively instruction and discussion along the way.
This class is for anyone interested in the ghostly or the macabre, whether you're already an avid writer of the paranormal, or it's a genre you want to explore. Class sessions will focus on such topics as atmosphere, scene setting, and avoiding the ordinary, as well as common pitfalls to avoid. Writers will have the opportunity to share their work with the class for feedback, and our final session will culminate with a reading of your best work or favorite haunted scenes from others.
past
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Seeking Solid Ground
May 13-17, 2025
at SOARING GARDENS, Laceyville, PA
Ever notice how big insights can come from the smallest experiences? Whether you’re stuck in the present, dragging yourself forward, or feeling lost in the liminal, this retreat will help you find big breakthroughs in the small moments—and produce some heartfelt writing along the way. Inspired by the beauty of rural Pennsylvania, we'll combine the regenerative aspects of this natural setting with structured opportunities to write, read, and connect.
For writers and aspiring writers of all levels and any genre who want to find solid ground in writing and life.
Finding Yourself in Greece
June 12 -18, 2025
Evia, Greece
Life can often leave us feeling adrift, estranged from who we thought we’d be. Sometimes a change of scene, an immersion in the unfamiliar, can help us rediscover and regain our sense of self. That’s where “Finding Yourself In Greece“ comes in, a journey of self-discovery in a land of breathtaking beauty.
“Finding Yourself in Greece” is a week-long retreat on the Greek island of Evia. Writers will stay in one of two locations, La Casa Grande or Villa Cortesia. We’ll meet daily at La Casa Grande for writing, reading, connecting, giving feedback, and exploring the local culture.
Multigenre Toolkit: Leaning into the Liminal
March 1, 2025 (past)
via THE LOFT on zoom
Liminality is often defined as the space between "not anymore" and "not yet," a time of transition as we move tentatively from what's known and familiar to what's unknown and often scary. Yet liminal spaces allow us to see the world from a fresh perspective, which is something we can very much leverage in our writing.
In this class, we'll explore all kinds of liminal spaces, from the physical (i.e. moving houses), to the relational (i.e. breakups or bereavement), to the emotional (i.e. mental health challenges), and beyond. We will explore how other writers have not only navigated such spaces, but used them to create meaningful and lasting work. Using this writing as a guide, we'll create our own work that acknowledges fear of the unknown while exploring its flip-side: the practice of possibility.
Readings will be provided in class, and will include selections of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from a variety of classic and contemporary writers such as Carmen Maria Machado, Emily Dickinson, Nina Lacour, Chen Chen, Camille Dungy, Florence Williams, Andrea Gibson, James Baldwin, Seamus Heaney, and Ada Limón.
Multigenre Sampler with Laura Walker
February 15, 2025 (past)
via THE LOFT on zoom