CLASS + CRITIQUE: New Year, New Beginnings: Cultivating a Writer’s Mindset – Principles and Practices That Actually Work (Copy)

Description

Instructor: Allison Alsup
Genre: Multigenre Workshop
Number of Sessions: 1
Meets:  9:30 AM – 1 PM Central Time
Dates: 1 Saturday, January 24, 2026
Where: Burnt Canoe Studio (4820 Banks Street)
Cost:  $95 / $88 Early Bird until January 10, 2026.

– Two first come discounted spots for BIPOC students at $47.50/ $44 before January 10, 2026.

What makes a writer a writer? What inspires new ideas? What keeps them going?

Some cite the muse or innate talent, others learning new craft or cultivating a daily practice. To a certain extent, all are true. But as an editor who’s worked with a diverse portfolio of writers, I’ve come to understand the importance of mindset: those make or break creative beliefs and approaches that long standing writers embody–often without knowing they are–and that fuel their work year after year.

Cultivating a writer’s mindset isn’t about post-it affirmations or walking over hot coals. Rather it’s about applying specific principles that directly affect the quality of our writing, and just as importantly, keep us engaged with our work.

Let this be the year you finally honor your secret desire to write or dust off that project on the shelf. Or perhaps you’ve been writing a while and feel stuck. Whatever your experience, consider joining this interactive workshop for both new and experienced writers alike as we dive into three essential mindsets, including: the importance of expansive thinking; of asking the right questions; and experimenting with process. We’ll also engage in hands-on, custom writing exercises designed to put these principles into action. Expect to leave with fresh, actionable approaches to your work and renewed creative spirit.