Are You Ready to Take a Writing Course With Me?

Next week starts Magical Craft & American Nature Writing Masterclass.

Last week I received an email from a woman who invited me to her retirement party. I don’t know Barbara, although we met at a reading once at Hollins University. Receiving an invitation like this may seem strange, but this happens when you produce work that touches other people.

Barbara is retiring as a preserve manager on the St. Johns River in Florida. She’s having a big party to celebrate. If you happen to be down this way that day, she said, please stop by.

Thank you for your service, I said. We say this to soldiers. Why not say it to a person who accepted a smaller paycheck and less big-world recognition to take care of the environment? Her career was service.

The arrival of a new baby, my grandgirl, at my house means that I won’t be able to pop in on Barbara’s retirement, unfortunately, but her message triggered a few thoughts.

Writing is on Barbara’s Bucket List

First of all, Barbara said that taking a writing course from me is on her bucket list. She is interested in repurposing her life.

That is birdsong to my ears.

I’d love to help Barbara “repurpose” her life, her stories, her dreams for the river, her years of service. To guide her in story-finding and story-writing would be truly an honor.

When We Need to Pivot

So many of us are in this position of having lived our lives one way only to find that we are in metamorphosis. We architectured our lives to fit some box that culture or parents created for us, and now we recognize it as a box. It’s too small, too dark, too square.

Or maybe it’s not a box. Maybe it’s a path, and the path is ending.

Writing

Many of us are called to write about these changes.

Reasons Not to Write Are Manifold

That so many people are writers is a marvel, since we know that:

1. Fewer people are buying books.

2. Fewer people are reading and buying magazines.

3. More people are watching reels, videos, and movies than reading books and magazines.

4. Gallup found in 2020 that 54% of American adults lack English literacy proficiency. More students are reading below grade level.

We Are Pulled To Write Despite the Statistics

• Because the written story is a powerful medium.

• Because writing is transformative. It can change one person, it can change an entire world.

• Because it’s creative.

• Because it keeps us engaged and forward-thinking.

• Because it helps us process our lives.

• Because it helps us find meaning.

Coming Up

All this is to say that if writing is part of your being, I’d love to help you with it.

I’m teaching 2 blockbuster courses this fall. Both start the first week of September.

Magical Craft of Creative Nonfiction

Magical Craft of Creative Nonfiction convenes on Tuesdays 7-9 pm Eastern Time starting Sept. 3, 2024. I’ve taught this course to hundreds of adult writers. It’s a great class. You can get a lot of the information from my book Craft & Current, but you can’t get community and you can’t get real-time explanations and assistance there. All skill levels welcome.

Tuition is $475.

American Nature Writing Masterclass

American Nature Writing Masterclass meets on Wednesdays 7-9 pm Eastern, starting Sept. 4, 2024. I taught this for the first time last winter to 30-something people, who produced stunning, publishable work. All skill levels welcome.

Tuition is $600.

To Register

Go to my website, where the courses can be found under the tab “Work With Me,” or use the links above to find more info and register.

Who I Am

In 1999 I published my first book, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, with Milkweed Editions. It is an environmental memoir that tells the story of growing up in the longleaf pine flatwoods of the southern US—an ecosystem that had been disappearing to the point it was critically endangered.

The book did well. It was a New York Times Notable and to date has sold a quarter million copies.

Ecology of a Cracker Childhood is credited with bringing attention to a critically endangered ecosystem and starting a movement to restore an iconic landscape. (Recently I revisited my old love, longleaf pine, by publishing an essay in The Bitter Southerner, “Burning the Forest for the Trees.”

Since Ecology I’ve published 11 books. The last two I brought out independently, which I am telling you is a game-changer. I can prove this by showing you the numbers.

I’ve tried to be a hella-writer. I’ve worked really really hard at it. And the work has paid off. I’ve won an American Book Award, Pushcart Prize, Southern Booksellers Award, Southern Environmental Law Center Writing Award, Nautilus Award, and Eisenberg Award, and many others.

My books have been translated into Turkish, French, and Italian.

Even more important than accolades are the people that my stories have brought into my life. I’ve been able to meet, know, hang with, learn from, teach, and enjoy the most wonderful people imaginable—people with amazing lives and amazing stories and amazing homes and amazing leadership roles.

Now I am an entrepreneur. I am proving that great writing doesn’t have to be an impoverished and destitute (albeit noble) pursuit, and that great writing can be synonymous with paying the bills.

If You Need a Payment Plan

No worries. Set up a schedule and you can mail checks or use PayPal, whichever is easier.

What People Have Gone On To Do

Folks who have taken courses from me have gone on to

1. Write and sell a book proposal.

2. Get an advance of $60K (more than I’ve ever gotten for one.)

3. Have a book published by a major press.

4. Publish a book themselves.

5. Get activated with marketing a book they’ve already published.

6. Get published in their dream magazine.

7. Get serious about their vision for themselves.

8. Get published in many magazines and journals.

9. Start Substacks that have achieved 1,000 readers/followers in less than a year.

10. Increase their readerships no matter how they publish.

11. Win cash awards for their writing.

12. Begun to share their writing with a few friends.

13. Actually write for their own joy.

Here Are Things People Say About My Teaching

To work with a teacher who has a world view of radical compassion is just the biggest gift.

—Katharine W.

Such fab fab workshops.

—Parv F.

I hope you know how much I’ve enjoyed your course. I’ve learned a lot, and there’s still a lot I need to do. You are so generous with your advice and enthusiasm!

—Shana J.

I truly appreciate your candour, insight, edits and support. This was such a generous and valuable offering to myself and all the participants in the Magical Craft course. 

—Vicki H.

I love what you have created from your life’s experiences and writing. And for teaching to help us better observe and express our feelings about this Earth. Your Substacks and online Zoom workshops have provided cherished guidance helping me to find a way to write, journal, and focus on my surroundings in a way that feels right in my heart.

—Mark L.

I’ve gained something profound and precious through not only what but howyou teach—your insight, respect for craft, generosity, and spirit of connectedness. But I’ve received even more of a blessing through the gift of your writing.

—Courtenay C.

More Praise

I want to add that, thanks to this course, I truly enjoy writing now. Before this course, writing always felt like work-- trying to figure out what to write, how to write it, on and on. Not to mention wasting a whole lot of paper!  But now when I sit down to write, I actually have a sense of knowing what I'm doing LOL!  It's so satisfying.

—Lynn V.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to take this course and learn from you. It has been such a pleasure.

—Dylann T.

I cannot believe tonight is our last class. I will miss it so!!! I have learned so so so much. It has been fast—I keep going over the notes so it will all sink in my 60 year old brain! So much to absorb and all wonderfully new to me.

—Suzie P.

Each night when I joined your zooms I felt all the good energy. So uplifting, encouraging and invigorating!

—Amanda D.

Throwing More Love

I just wanted to say that your class is truly a Magnificent Thing. It's not only practical (which I REALLY appreciate), but it also feels kind of like church—in all the good ways church can be fulfilling.

—Nina V.

I have learned (and continue to learn) so much from you.

—Lisa K.

Thank you again for your generosity of spirit. You are truly a treasure-giver of Arts and Letters.

—Lamont I.

You brought your heart to the course. You are an inspiring person. Thank you for all that you do.

—Kelly K.

I am profoundly grateful for your guidance on this journey.

—Laura T.

Thank you for the creative ecosystem you've created.

—Joanna K.

Thank you for being such an inspiring teacher to me and to so many. This is a HUGE contribution to the world. The more soldiers out there writing about environmental and natural issues, the more chance we have of improving, hopefully saving our parched planet. You are a driving force.

—Julia M.

You bring endless gifts and inspire all you meet.

—Pride F.

Also

I  wanted to let you know that i enjoyed both of the guest professors you introduced and they contributed to my learning from both a craft and art perspective.

—Melissa S.

Thanks again for your belief, vision, and passion, Janisse. Your energy makes things feel possible!

—Rachel M.

You've been a generous mentor to me and so many others, and I look forward to learning so much more from you, Janisse!

—Beth N.

That was a great class!!!

—Tania S.

I am sure you often are told that you are an amazing writer. I also wanted to share that you are a gifted and caring teacher. I am happy to be your student.

—Kelly K.

I'm so grateful to have found this community. Thank you for creating such a welcoming space.

—Ann P.

You make me want to be a better writer.

—Kelly H.

Even More

Weeks after the course concluded, I’m strikingly more confident and energized in my writing and editing ability.

—Sam G.

I haven’t enough words to express what your classes are doing for me. You’re opening emotions that have long been shut down, and that’s a good thing.

—Kathy A.

I’m enjoying and learning so much in your class and want you to know how special it is for me to be learning from you.

—Beth D.

I just wrote a first draft of the prologue to my memoir during that session. WHEEE! Thank you for everything you do for writers, Janisse. I mean it. ❤💚💜💙❤

—Jeanne M.

I am so grateful for you, as a teacher, a mentor, a writing companion, a friend. This class was a gift and I'm a better, more confident writer thanks to you.

—Sasha W.

One Last Long & Beautiful Testimony

You bring a strong combination of vulnerability/authenticity and courage to your teaching, and this is powerful.

In addition to this, your skills with writing and in framing the writing process are beautifully conveyed.

I am continually amazed by your energy, and cannot believe how much you offer to your students through your class time, handouts, newsletters, and especially your thoughtful replies to emails.

Importantly, you offer your enthusiasm and beautiful encouragement to other writers—this is a powerful gift, especially in a time of so much negativity out in the world. We need people, as many as possible, who can be beacons. You are a beacon, shining very brightly.

For course work, I found all your ppts, handouts, guests, discussions and readings very helpful. I really liked watching you live-edit. I do not have an MFA or a background in literature or writing, so it was particularly helpful to see this process.

Your goal-setting exercise continues to be helpful beyond the class. Your first lecture inspired me to start a book proposal, and that is already helping to frame my writing.

I feel very lucky to have been in your class. It has been a gift to learn from you. Thank you for sharing your time and your insights.

Rebecca W.

I Invite You to Join a Course With Me

Thanks to everyone who has ever taken a course from me and for letting me know what it meant to you. This praise keeps my fire burning.

If you’re leaning toward a course and you feel that you need more information, let’s arrange a time to talk. I have a new baby in the house, but I can always walk around bouncing her while I talk to you. Send me a message at wildfire1491@yahoo.com.

What Story Are You Called to Write?

What story is tugging at you?

If you’re ready right now to make the move to answer the tug of a story, or to write better, or to just write for your own sake, these buttons will get you moving.