We offer three kinds of writers' groups memberships: PRESS, to maximize your writing productivity and pace, SLAKE, to refine your writing craft, and Writing Labs, where you can drop in for practical help and moral support with whatever writing task you are working on.
PRESS and Writing Labs meet weekly at varied times and places and require a monthly subscription.* SLAKE meets monthly at the Wordsmith office and is free of charge. All three are geared to help you in practical ways right now, while also equipping and empowering you to grow as a writer— to learn new strategies and hone your skills.
Just one visit will help you in the moment.
Consistent participation over time will help you a great deal more.
Here's how they compare:
SLAKE
(Free!)
Meets once a month, usually the last Sunday evening of the month, from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm Pacific Time.
Meets at the Wordsmith office, unless otherwise noted.
Online participation is welcome!
Limited to ten critique participants per meeting.
Submission deadline is ten days before the meeting date: late submissions will be held for the following month.
Focuses on learning the writing business (traditional, independent, and hybrid publication, freelance writing, that sort of thing) and honing the writing craft (every aspect of it, for fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, professionals, and creative entrepreneurs).
PRESS
($60/month)
Meets several times per week, usually Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Pacific Time (UTC -7). Check the weekly email for details!
Meets via Zoom and at the Wordsmith office, unless otherwise noted.
Online participation is more common than in-person participation!
No limit to the number of participants per session.
No submissions: set your own goals, share your own struggles and victories.
Focuses on doing the work, not critiquing the work!
Includes membership in SLAKE and all the benefits pertaining to that.
Writing Labs
($120/month)
Meets once or twice per week, usually Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Pacific Time (UTC -7).
Meets at the Wordsmith office and other locations as arranged (times will vary by location), but online participation is welcome!
Limited to ten drop-in participants at any one time, but people come and go.
Bring us anything: application letters, bio blurbs, blog posts, research papers, scripts, poetry, love notes, slide stacks, we'll help you get it right. We focus on solving problems, learning skills, mastering specific tasks.
Includes membership in SLAKE and PRESS all the benefits pertaining to that, plus guaranteed critique inclusion if the group is full, as long as your work is submitted before the deadline!
*PLEASE NOTE: The Wordsmith Writing Coaches office is currently closed in accordance with city and county contagion-control guidelines. Because of this, all writers' groups will meet online only. The monthly membership fee for PRESS is waived while Safer-at-Home restrictions are in place. For a limited time, you can receive free access to PRESS by simply joining the Free SLAKE membership.
You can find our California State-Mandated Risk Assessment and Protocols here. These will govern the Stage Three reopening of the Wordsmith office. Contact us directly with any further questions.