Write. Craft. Connect. Publish.
WRITING TO PUBLISH: One-Year Program with Award-Winning Author Ariel Gore
Dismantle creative barriers, and step confidently into your identity as a published author.
This year-long immersive online program transcends traditional craft instruction by embracing writing as a revolutionary act of self-discovery and cultural transformation. Through curated readings and weekly deadlines, you’ll explore how your personal narrative connects to broader societal stories and how your voice can contribute to essential conversations.
Open to writers at all levels working in all genres—whether you’re completing a book, honing your craft, ready to get more serious with your career, or just wanting to find out what might happen when you commit to a consistent writing practice.
“Ariel Gore’s year-long workshop was the best writing year of my life. Ariel builds her workshops with structure enough to encourage safety, and ample flexibility to support exploration. I finished two book projects that year, which would have been impossible (and much less fun) without that community.”
—Rebecca Kuder, 2023 alum and author of Dear Inner Critic: A Self-Doubt Activity Book
Our trimester schedule follows a 3-months-on, 1-month-off pattern, with weekly assignments except in December, April, and August. Monthly Zoom meetings occur at 1 pm Pacific time on the first Sunday of each month (starting September 7th, excluding April 5th). These optional but encouraged sessions will be recorded for those unable to attend. Guest speakers include authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers.
FIRST TRIMESTER: WRITING TO LIVE
September, October, November
Required reading: Zami by Audre Lorde, Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Required listening: Creative Fire: Myths and Stories on the Cycles of Creativity by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (available from Sounds True)
Recommended reading: The Wayward Writer by Ariel Gore
In the first session we’ll deep dive into the writing life as a mythic practice, soften any blocks, and erase imposter syndrome. What is your biomythography? Where is your underworld? What is the relationship between creativity and human consciousness? Is there any role for AI in the writers’ life? These are just a few of the questions we’ll investigate and experiment with.
December: Winter break
“Ariel Gore knows how to nurture and feed aspiring writers.”
—Patricia Harrelson, 2023 alum
SECOND TRIMESTER: LIVING TO CRAFT
January, February, March
Required reading: The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, Never Say You Can’t Survive by Charlie Jane Anders, Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell
Required listening: No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin by Meshell Ndegeocello
Recommended reading: Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
In the second session we’ll explore the role of the writer in contemporary society, learn basic professional conventions, and consider the writer-reader dynamic as well as the writer-publisher-reader triad. How and when should “audience” impact our creative output? What is the future of publishing? These are just a few of the questions we’ll explore.
April: Spring Break
“The year-long program was one of my favorite things ever—and the community we built is still rumbling along in a really sweet way.”
—Abby Braithwaite, 2023 alum and author of Contained
THIRD TRIMESTER: PUBLISHING TO CONNECT
May, June, July
Required reading: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, All Friends Are Necessary by Tomas Moniz, I Would Meet You Anywhere by Susan Ito
Recommending reading: Revolutionary Letters by Diane Di Prima
In the final spring-summer session, we’ll complete individual projects. Writers may choose to publish a chapbook, prepare a manuscript for submission and publication, or create a business plan for their own press or other literary project.
“The year-long course was a transformative, amazing, and inspiring experience.”
—Juliet Waller, 2023 alum
If you’ve never worked with Ariel Gore, please email arielfiona at gmail before signing up to chat about what you’re workng on and your goals for the program. Ariel Gore’s School for Wayward Writers is not accredited, but our alumni have published many stories, chapbooks, and books. Check some of our titles out right here.
Most of the required reading books are also available here: https://bookshop.org/lists/writing-to-publish-year-long-program. Creative Fire by Clarissa Pinkola Estes is available as an audio book only, from Audible or Sounds True. You may choose to listen to the other books on audio as well. I particularly enjoyed the audio versions of Klara and the Sun, I Would Meet You Anywhere, and On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous.
Full Year Tuition = $3,000 (a $500 deposit saves your spot.)
Or Per Single Trimester = $1,200 (a $250 deposit saves your spot)
Space is limited, so please sign up early. Venmo @Ariel-Gore-1 with your email address or email arielfiona at gmail with questions or for instructions on where to Zelle or send a check. Deposits are non-refundable. Balance due on or before September 1, 2025.
FAQ
Do I need to have a project in mind or know what I want to work on?
Nope! You’re welcome to start fresh—or to have a project you’re already into.
What is the time commitment?
The time spent with the course varies from writer to writer—and often from week to week, depending on how much time you have—but the 2023 cohort average were about 10-12 hours each week for writing, reading, and giving feedback to a few peer-writers each week.
Will I get feedback from Ariel?
Absolutely. You’ll get feedback every week.
Ariel Gore is a Lambda Award-winning author of 13 lucky books of fiction and nonfiction. Her most recent book is Rehearsals for Dying: Digression on Love and Cancer.
