a community of writers, readers, & seekers
THE WRITERS CIRCLE: SUMMER COHORT
WHAT IS THE SUMMER WRITERS CIRCLE?
The Writers Circle summer cohort differs from the fall and spring cohorts. Please read through the description carefully before applying.
This summer Writers Circle is a space that provides structure, accountability, and support for those with a specific nonfiction writing project. Examples of what that might look like include working on a book, a series of essays or blog posts, or another nonfiction piece. It is not ideal for someone who wants to learn about writing or isn’t sure what they want to focus on.
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The format of the summer Writers Circle is 12 weeks of alternating writing marathons and peer review workshops on Sundays from 9-12 PST. There are no classes or 1-on-1 calls in this cohort, just a focus on writing, editing, and being in community with other writers. Access to the 24/7 virtual writing salon is included in your registration fee.
I will be both your facilitator and peer in this experience as I will be working on my own writing during this time, too. Please note that my teaching assistant (TA) may facilitate up to 4 of these sessions.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
FAQs
WHAT WILL WE DO EACH WEEK?
In addition to access to the daily writing salon space on Zoom and our Whatsapp group, we will meet over 12 weeks to write and offer feedback in alternating weeks:
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1st Sunday: Writing marathon (brief, written check-ins at beginning, middle, and end) - 3 hours
2nd Sunday: Feedback workshop (choosing a piece up to 1,500 words to submit) - 2.5 hours
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In other words, there will be 6 writing marathons and 6 peer review sessions. Attendance is not required for every session, but please commit to making the majority.
WHEN DOES IT START AND WHAT ARE THE MEETING TIMES?
This summer cohort will meet on Sundays beginning at 9:00 am PST and run for 12 weeks beginning June 4th through August 20th. The fall Writers Circle will begin the beginning of September (see separate description and application).
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE SUMMER WRITERS CIRCLE?
Weekly meetings over 12 weeks
Daily writing salon access on Zoom, open 24/7 with Whatsapp group
Discounts on in-person writing practice retreats and writing salons
HOW WILL THE FEEDBACK DAYS WORK?
Essays of no more than 1,500 words should be submitted by midnight on Thursdays so that those reading and reviewing your work will have time to read through them once before our meeting. You will read 2-3 of your peers' essays in return, and on Sunday, you'll discuss your feedback with the others who read the same essays in breakout rooms before moving into new breakout rooms with the writers whose essays you wrote and who read your essays, too, to review it all one by one. Don't worry, it makes sense once you start doing it!
WHAT IS THE DAILY WRITING SALON ON ZOOM?
This is an optional virtual writing space for you to join any time when you wish to work on your writing project in community, including those in The Writers Circle and others. At this time, the most active time is from 8:30-10:00am PST but you can join anytime for any amount of time. Participants are encouraged to follow the light structure of a brief check-in followed by an optional 5-minute sit and 5-minute free-write with a check-in every 90 minutes or so. It is a self-run space. When I am present, I facilitate, but when I am not on, participants are responsible for time-keeping. This is an excellent space to find accountability and motivation during your writing time.
WHY IS THERE AN APPLICATION PROCESS? WHAT QUESTIONS ARE ASKED? WHEN WILL WE FIND OUT IF WE ARE ACCEPTED?
To make sure this space is a good fit for you, I ask that you complete the application so I can get a sense of your project, goals, and experience, which is what the questions will focus on.
While I do not require any specific prior experience to join The Writers Circle, I do discourage individuals who haven’t done any writing in a long time from applying and encourage them to join my free writing practice sessions and/or the writing salon to get started. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have about this.
Applicants will hear back from me within 10 days of their application and then sent an invitation to officially register.
In your application, you must indicate which section you are applying for
WHAT IS THE COST? ARE PAYMENT PLANS OR SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE?
The cost for the summer Writers Circle is $99.
Payment plans are available upon request and can be broken down into 2-4 payments but will come with a $5 processing fee for each payment unless paid via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or Google Pay.
One scholarship is available for a student who considers the Writers Circle a good fit but is experiencing financial hardship and cannot pay the fee; if you wish to apply for this scholarship, please submit the application and then send an email to me at AuthorKatieAllen@gmail.com explaining in 1-3 paragraphs why you’d like to join the cohort and that you’re applying for the scholarship. If you have previously received a scholarship, you may still apply but priority will be given to new students.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE IN THIS COHORT? DO I HAVE TO ATTEND EVERY MEETING?
As the summer Writers Circle comprises writing and review days only, there is currently no limit to the total number of participants allowed in this cohort. You'll never have more than 2 others in your peer groups regardless of the total number of students.
I ask those committing to these 12 weeks to attend the majority of the sessions and to provide notice if you are unable to attend, especially the feedback workshops.
WILL SESSIONS BE RECORDED AND MATERIALS FROM WORKSHOPS BE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS?
No, sessions will not be recorded
UPCOMING WRITING RETREATS
Participants in any Writers Circle receive discounts on writing retreats; ask Katie for details
ABOUT YOUR TEACHER & PEER WRITER
Katie Allen, MA
I've been teaching for over 12 years and have taught in the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, China, and have traveled to over 30 countries altogether. I published my first book Teranga: A Memoir of Belonging in 2021 after reading "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg, which helped free me of my inner critic so I could finally write and share about that time in my life with the world. I then had a chance to study in-person with Natalie for 2 weeks and I've been focusing on carrying on her lineage ever since, teaching writing workshops and classes online and hosting retreats in-person based on her teachings and modeling my retreats after her own while bringing my own skills and personality to the experience.
TESTIMONIALS
Katie is a great facilitator for creating meditation, writing and love of nature during her retreats. You feel a sense of belonging and a reaffirmation of why we write. Would highly recommend the retreat experience!
Katie is a passionate and at the same time experienced and level headed writing workshop leader. Participating fully herself, everyone is made to feel welcome, accepted, open, and relaxed to fully participate also. The strong foundation provided lends itself to the risk taking we writers crave in community.