workshop video.png

Workshops

  • Writing 101: Gotta Start Somewhere

    4 WEEK

    TUES, AUG 18, 25, SEPT 1, 8; or

    SEPT 15, 22, 29, OCT 6; 6:30-8:30 PM

    ZOOM

    MON, SEPT 14, 21, 28, OCT 5; 4-6 PM

    Gotta start somewhere, right? In this non-critiquing, experiential workshop, you’ll immerse yourself in a wide variety of exercises, assess your writing strengths, and set do-able writing goals. No experience needed. Just bring pen, paper, and your burning desire to write.

    READ MORE & REGISTER

  • Start Your Writing Journey!

    6 WEEKS

    WED, SEPT 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, OCT 7; 5-6:30 PM

    ZOOM

    Want to write memoir, fiction, poetry…but don’t have a clue where to begin? Or don’t even know what you want to write, but know you gotta start somewhere? This isn’t a grammar class. It’s a jump start for your writing career. You’ll learn basic principles of good writing; face down the nasty Inner Critic; tackle a variety of blocks and obstacles; and so much more. No previous writing experience needed.

    READ MORE & REGISTER

  • Spark and ReSpark: Re-ignite Your Craft & Creativity

    4 WEEK

    MON, AUG 17, 24, 31, SEPT 7; 4-6 PM

    ZOOM

    Revive your most powerful writing core in this four-week intervention designed to re-ignite your writing craft and creativity. We’ll clear roadblocks, mend injury, regain focus….and we’ll design a workable plan of action for your latest writing project! There will only be a hint of homework and gentle optional workshopping for writers of all genres.

    READ MORE & REGISTER

  • Joy Sawyer is one of the most inspiring, uplifting, and energetic writing teachers with whom I’ve studied, and I’ve taken literally hundreds of classes with dozens of writing teachers over many decades. She brings a fresh and very optimistic attitude to every class that she teaches. One of her greatest strengths is the way she uses poetry to spark discussions, which results in deep sharing and great writing prompts. Joy is a fabulous facilitator who packs SO MUCH into an hour, and always keeps discussions on-topic and on time. I always come away from a class with her with fresh writing I’d like to further work with. She is amazing.

    PAULA HAGAR

  • Joy is an amazing teacher. Many teachers mouth a lot of platitudes, but Joy speaks words of writing wisdom you can carry with you a lifetime. She is a great listener, but also keeps things moving in her classes, switching it up with exercises, readings, workshopping, etc., all while keeping us focused on the subject.

    HOLLY WOODWARD

  • Joy is an absolutely phenomenal teacher: encouraging, enlightening. She’s very knowledgeable and clearly a skilled writer. And she provides such a beautiful, positive environment in which writers can be challenged without becoming discouraged. What a wonderful workshop. I will always remember it.

    CHRISTINA LEWIS

  • I have taken classes with Joy for several years now. She has a signature style, one that combines her own life and writing experience with a personalized mentoring approach. Joy makes me feel that I have something important to say, and she gave me tools (writing exercises, examples of poets’ work) that helped me become a better poet. I feel heard and valued in her classes, and that is worth everything.

    CAROL McDONALD