The Astoria Bookshop creative writing workshop continues ONLINE with three coming up this May! Contact me for more info and to register.
Online Creative Writing Workshops Continue
Author: Kelly Jean
Coming This Summer!
Thrilled to be teaching two sessions of Stand-Out Stories: Personal Essay for College Applications and Beyond at The Center for Fiction via Zoom this summer!
We’ll spend two weeks mining memories and trading true tales to help students see that their slice of life is as valuable as anyone else’s in the world.
Spread the word and feel free to contact me at kjfitzsimmons@gmail.com with questions.
College Essay Coaching
If you are looking to provide support for the rising juniors and seniors in your academic community, I offer private coaching, a single-session group workshop focused on generating ideas for their college essays, or a two-week/weekend intensive where we will create and revise multiple drafts.
I’m excited to share that I’m leading two such intensives, Stand-Out Stories: Personal Essays for College Applications and Beyond, this July & August at The Center for Fiction.
My goal is to help students find and craft a focused, personal story that opens a window into their unique character for admissions officers—while also being respectful of the trauma many of them are still processing due to the pandemic and our country’s continued civil unrest.
I’m presently booking online offerings for the summer and am open to both in-person and online sessions in the fall. Reach out!
News! Corona Chronicle Semi-Finalist
The 21 essays selected from our entries demonstrated a depth of thought and engagement with their subject matter and details that we felt best captured the experiences and questions of New Yorkers over the last year.
Ellipses Rare Books
Honored to share that I have been selected as a semi-finalist in The Corona Chronicle Essay Contest from Ellipsis Rare Books in support of the Food Bank for New York City – the provider of 80 million free meals per year for hungry and homeless New Yorkers.
NEA: Big Read
Registration now open!
I’m thrilled to lead this FREE online workshop for teens through The Center for Fiction built around the NEA Big Read: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.
All students who want to develop their close reading and writing skills are welcome, grades 10-12. Saturday afternoons in May via Zoom.
Click here for more information and to register before March 28th.
Virtual Write-Ins Continue
‘You Do Do’ Virtual Write-Ins are continuing this March! Tuesdays and Saturdays (10 am – 12 noon). Sign-up today to set aside some focused writing time this month.
This was so great – I had a random idea that I wrote in my notes app and came out with nearly 2000 words – ME, A POET!! LOL it’s amazing how far a little group accountability can go.
Timothy Lindner, Revisionary Writing and Editing, LLC
New! Register for one or multiple sessions through the same link.
Valentine’s Story Swap
Happy Valentine’s Day! My gift to you is this throwback No, YOU Tell It! #podcast featuring one storyteller getting out in the world after a breakup and the other meeting his fiancée’s judgy relatives for the first time.
Click here to give a listen or find No, YOU Tell It! on your favorite podcasting platform.
Fall in love with writing this February
“You Do You” virtual write-in sessions continue this February. Now on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 am- 12noon.
Sign up below to set aside some writing time for yourself.
This month’s Sunday creative writing workshops are focused on character. Yep, see below for more info and to register.
February Offerings
Creative Writing Workshops
Sunday, 2/7 at 4 pm – The L-O-V-E Word! Click here for more and to register
Sunday, 2/21 at 4 pm – Character Therapy Click here for more and to register
“YOU DO YOU” VIRTUAL WRITE-INS
(All sessions 10 am – 12noon EST)
Week 1: Tue, 2/2 click here to register & Sat, 2/6 click here to register
Week 2: Tue, 2/9, click here & Sat, 2/13 click here
Week 3: Tue, 2/16 click here & Sat, 2/20 click here
Week 4: Tue, 2/23 click here & Sat, 2/27 click here
2021 Workshops and Virtual Write-Ins start this week!
Writing, like new year’s resolutions, can be intimidating.
After a tumultuous year, I’m making 2021 all about setting small goals rather than tangle myself into a knot over long-term, lofty ones.
Don’t worry about how “good” you are! Instead, set the small goal of joining us this January for an online workshop or virtual write-in. Allow yourself the freedom to flex your imagination in the company of other creatives.
Sessions are on a suggested donation basis, pay what and if you can. All are welcome. Full information and registration links below.
Upcoming in 2021
Bi-monthly creative writing workshops resume every other Sunday. Each month has its own theme. For January, we’ll be exploring the role of setting.
January 10th at 4 pm – Senses in Setting: Using all five senses to unlock your setting. Click here to register.
January 24th at 4 pm – Mentor Text: Studying “The Story of an Hour” and playing with how to use setting in your story. Click here to register.
NEW! “You Do You” Virtual Write-Ins: Share a two-hour block of focused time with fellow writers to work on personal projects. *Note: A prompt will also be provided in the chat for added writing inspiration.
Sessions are held twice a week via Zoom. January schedule:
Week 1: Tuesday 1/5 (10 am – 12 pm ET) click here to register
and Thursday 1/7 (6 – 8 pm ET) click here to register
Week 2: Tuesday 1/12 (10 am – 12 pm ET) register here
and Thursday 1/14 (6 – 8 pm ET) register here
Week 3: Tuesday 1/19 (10 am – 12 pm ET) register here
and Thursday 1/21 (6 – 8 pm ET) register here
Week 4: Tuesday 1/26 (10 am – 12 pm ET) register here
and Thursday 1/28 (6 – 8 pm ET) register here
Happy New Year!
What an unexpected year for No, YOU Tell It!
We were rehearsing for our first show at Sunnyside Plays and looking forward to an in-person Lambda Literary story swap when COVID-19 cases exploded in NYC back in March. Our future quickly became uncertain and we weren’t sure if we’d be swapping stories ever again.
Despite technical difficulties, a different genre of performance, and a huge learning curve, we were pleased to deliver two virtual story swaps. We hope listening to the stories provided a needed respite.
Storytelling has both the power to elicit empathy and create connection, and though we couldn’t physically be together we hope both of these things came through the screen. We’re especially grateful to everyone who came out to support the storytellers. And if you missed the shows, check out our podcast!
Thank you so much to our storytellers, partners and sponsors, producers, and especially our audiences for making the best out of this chaotic virtual year.
Shows like these are possible because of your support – if you’d like to donate, you can do so here: 
thefield.org/sa/620242
Until next time, Happy New Year!
