Whose Story Is It: Narrative Arc
Tuesday, June 16 • 6–7:30 pm (CT)
Start to understand what your story might look like, underneath the situation.
You will learn:
- How to read shiny objects as signposts that point to your stories.
- A bare-bones definition of what makes a story—and how that can translate to the nuanced stories you want to tell.
- A simple creative flow to build your narrative arcs in real time as you write.
Resource Yourself: Support for the Journey
Tuesday, July 14 • 6–7:30 pm (CT)
Explore frameworks to help you move through your story even as you're living into it.
You will learn:
- How your energetic patterns can support your best creative flow.
- Practices to partner with writing mentors and peers while you find your bearings—ongoing.
- Frameworks to develop your writer's trail map and track your project.
Look Around: Ecosystems
Tuesday, August 4 • 6–7:30 pm (CT)
Learn how location sets a stage for your story to unfold and reveals key context that you (and your readers) can understand intuitively.
You will learn:
- How thematic imagery helps us build stories so that readers can relate.
- Exercises to balance external content and internal meaning.
- Ways your surroundings can help your project evolve even when you're not writing.
This summer dress rehearsal is free to members of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers.
And it's open to a limited number of guests for just $111. Is that you?
You'll get:
- Live access to all three sessions, followed by lesson recordings with access until the end of the year.
- Guided practice exercises and time to freewrite among peers.
- In-person reflection facilitated by Amy & Jenn. (You must be present to participate—no recordings shared.)
- The experience of what it's like to write in Courageous Wordsmith.
- Tools to integrate into your writing practice and clarity on how to partner with writing peers.
- BONUS follow-up letter from Amy:
Ask me a narrative-craft or project-related question and I'll mail you a card with my handwritten answer.
In each call, we'll model interactive creativity around topics that build your fluency in narrative craft—your language of storytelling—and guide you in simple steps toward writing your book.
Why does this matter?
I have a not-at-all-secret agenda: sharing skills so that creative writers can build creative partnerships they trust.
It's no secret that some people seek to divide us—for their profits, at our peril.
Real-life writing can connect us.
Ultimately Courageous Wordsmith—and our passion for writing beautiful books—is all about connections between people.
We'll approach these calls using the same methods I developed as a high school language teacher, repurposed in Courageous Wordsmith.
These aren't old-school grammar lessons but practical skills to apply as you choose, with the compassionate witness of peers. Meanwhile, you're helping me share my methods using clear, reliable words.
In other words: I’m teaching you to write a book while you help me write mine.
What comes after this preview:
This summer, see how Courageous Wordsmith works for you as a writer... and preview our full-fledged 9-month Language Lessons for Writers series.
Back to my not-at-all-secret agenda:
Summer participants who later sign up Language Lessons for Writers with up to 2 friends will get a BONUS small-group Creative Partners Session with Amy to explore YOUR partnership practices.
I don't offer this high-value bonus lightly. It's the next iteration of my life's work—30+ years of teaching wordsmithing.
It's time to let writing connect us.
The fine print
By joining the calls, you agree that I can use your words that pertain to my work—but not your writing without permission. Furthermore, you may help me share my content eventually, but you will keep my work confidential until I first share any specific content myself. These same copyright rules apply for all writers within Courageous Wordsmith.
You also understand that the chosen topics are not subject to debate, and that I will have a specific agenda for each call, which I will workshop in real time.
It goes without saying that this is a creative writing workshop.
By signing up, you agree that you’re here to write, in a mutually supportive learning environment.
Reserve your spot
Enter the email you'll use for Circle. We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
When you submit this form, you will be taken to a checkout page.
About My Method:
When I talk about my MAGIC model for collaboration, I’m referring to a series of organizing principles I once modeled as a language teacher in the outer-ring Minneapolis suburbs:
- Meaningful
- Alignment of Gifts
- Interactive Creativity
Now I’m turning to MAGIC to get my next book written. The people of Minnesota and beyond need this information out there, in my own voice, but curated much faster than I could deliver my message alone.
Think of it like a table read for actors, except that I’m writing the book as I teach you these skills.
I’m calling these First Draft Recordings, and I’ll do it in three simple steps:
- I’ll teach
- You’ll write
- We’ll reflect on what worked
Your homework, before and after, is to keep me informed in small, simple steps of how you’re understanding and using these language lessons.
It's also to envision your book writing journey, ongoing.
Travel safely.
Love, Amy