Wordsmith Writing Coaches offers two very different writers' groups:
- PRESS, which offers writing sprints to maximize your writing productivity and pace; and its critique group (also known as SLAKE) to refine your writing craft and learn to publish wisely;
- Writing Labs, your affordable one-on-one access to professional editing, mentoring, ghostwriting, and any sort of practical help or moral support with your writing.
The first writers' group, PRESS, is geared mainly for those who have chosen writing as a private vocation or public career. Students and scholars are also welcome, and we will adapt to your needs when you are present. You'll find that we welcome writers of all sorts. Membership in PRESS gives you access to our Discord server and a complimentary paid subscription to the weekly PRESS updates on our Substack, Write Well & Publish Wisely. It also gives you a discount of 15% to 20% on all Wordsmith Writing Coaches services. PRESS discounts for online courses and special events are even deeper.
But the heart of PRESS is the regular weekly and monthly meetings. The writing sprints and the critique group (SLAKE) are different sides of the same coin— they are the currency of a writer's life. You need not attend both of them if you don't want to, but you will find that each supports and strengthens the other. PRESS is a fun and helpful writing community!
The second writers' group, Writing Labs, isn't a "group" experience at all. Think of it as having a Wordsmith coach/editor as a personal, private consultant—that's what any working relationship with a Wordsmith associate will feel like, but with Writing Labs, you'll have your first four billable hours per month for the membership fee of $159. Additional billable time is at the same discounted rate that PRESS members enjoy: This is the perfect arrangement for those who need to keep an editor on retainer as affordably as possible.
Perhaps you want professional help on a regular basis, but you don't want to make a commitment to a group, or be limited to a group's schedule. Perhaps you need a dissertation coach or a writing therapist, or a book coach to help you publish wisely. Perhaps you want a writing craft-and-career mentor that you can afford!
Students, faculty, professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, anyone who needs regular low-cost access to an expert editor or writing coach will love this option.
Both groups are geared to help you in practical ways right now while also equipping and empowering you to grow as a writer over time— to learn new strategies and hone your skills.
Each time you meet with us will help you in the moment.
Consistent participation over time will help you a great deal more.
Here's how they compare:
SLAKE
(the critique group)
Meets on the last Sunday of every month, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm Pacific Time.
Submission deadline is one week before the meeting date. Late submissions are held for the next meeting.
Limited to eight critique participants per meeting; for discussion participants, the more the merrier!
Focuses on two things:
1) Honing every aspect of the writing craft for fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, professionals, and creative entrepreneurs. Our simple and encouraging method is proven effective, and our community is warm and supportive.
2) Learning the writing business in ways that are relevant for you, whether you pursue traditional, hybrid, or independent publishing, magazine submissions, book events, speaking opportunities, etc.)
We prioritize individual critique time over group training and topical discussion, but we leave no questions unanswered.
PRESS
(the writing sprints)
Meets via Zoom on Monday and Thursday evenings, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Pacific Time (UTC -7). Post-session chat can run an additional half-hour. Additional sprint sessions are scheduled from time to time, especially during NaNoWriMo.
No limit to the number of participants per session.
No restriction on what kind of productivity you may do during a session: writing, revising, editing, brainstorming, character-building, illustrating, worldbuilding, organizing, "clearing the decks" of other tasks so that your brain is free to focus on writing, etc.
No submission process: set your own goals, share your own struggles and victories.
No tricky software to learn: just a Zoom meeting. Click the link and you're in.
Focuses on doing the work, not critiquing the work.
This is where we all PRESS forward together, building momentum every week!
(Pay for ten months at once, get two months free!)
Writing Labs
(4 hours per month, pre-paid, at our lowest price)
Writing Labs gives you four hours per month of billable time with a coach/editor at the lowest hourly rate that we offer. You choose your favorite Wordsmith Associate,* you arrange when you meet with them or how much work you send to them. Of course you don't have to stop at four hours per month! Additional billable time is 20% off our normal rate, same as PRESS members: just $60 per hour.
It's like having a Wordsmith associate on a monthly retainer: they'll schedule their other work around your prepaid, pre-scheduled time with you.
Bring us anything: application letters, bio blurbs, blog posts, research papers, scripts, poetry, love letters, slide stacks, speeches, website copy, and we'll help you get it right. We focus on solving problems, learning skills, and mastering specific tasks.
*Some Wordsmith associates do not participate in Writing Labs!