Where it Began
Since 1999, I’ve been leading generative, first draft writing workshops in my home in San Francisco, and coming up with weekly writing prompts. The workshops and the prompts I’ve created have inspired many writers to follow through on a project—or return to a lifelong dream of writing—including becoming a novelist, a poet, an essayist, or a life coach.
During these workshops, I set the table with snacks, and always, something sweet. For years, this was usually a plate of Laguna Writers Brownies. Later, my love for baking would expand to healthier, less sweet options, and lead me to publish a memoir cookbook, Kitchen Inheritance: Memories and Recipes from my Family of Cooks.
Where it’s Going
In 2009, some of the writing I do in my workshops, and the writing prompts I create, found a home on my blog, The Catalyst. And now, you can find them here, along with a whole array of recipes, as well as links to poems and quotes to buoy you as a writer when you feel like you might be sinking.
Subscribing to The Writing Catalyst is like participating in one of my workshops, because you’ll receive regular newsletters with a writing prompt and an example of the work that it inspired. Most of the time, this will be my own writing, but occasionally, I’ll have writing guests, which highlight the writing of one of my workshop participants.
Paid subscriptions will include more: virtual workshop sessions, discussions with writers across all genres, and audio files to inspire and entertain you (and hopefully, spark some new ideas about what you want to write next). Occasionally, the posts will also include news about my upcoming retreats and workshops.
At the founder’s level, you’ll get a one on one feedback session with me, and special discounts on my writing retreats, both in the US and internationally. No matter what level you choose, you won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox. And who knows? You, reading this now, this could be your first step towards completing your next writing project.
To learn more about me and my background, check out my bio on the Laguna Writers website.
