workshops + classes
Enrolling now for LATE FALL 2026. Small groups. Limited Spots.
The Art of Beginning: 6 Week Class
- Begins October 27, 2026 via Zoom
- Six Tuesdays 7:30pm Eastern (4:30pm Pacific) - Recorded for replay
In this 6-week class for all levels and all genres, we'll dive into first memories, first sentences, and the tyranny of first pages as we explore the central question: How can I connect in a meaningful way to myself, my character, my story, and my creative practice?
Our 1-hour sessions meet weekly on Zoom (replay available if you cannot attend live) and asynchronously through the week on the Wet.Ink platform, where you will upload your writing weekly, and get to read and offer support for your cohorts' work.
Our weekly Zoom sessions include a centering practice, check in, slide presentation on elements of creative writing craft, and guided generative writing time to get the juices flowing for the next week's prompt.
- Six 1-hour Zoom sessions for Live (or Replay): Oct 27, Nov 10, Nov 17, Nov 24, Dec 1, Dec 8 (NOTE: no class on 11/3 for election day),
- Asynchronous connection/feedback throughout the month via Wet.Ink
- $277 with code SPARROW by Oct 25 / Full registration: $325
** Enrollees are invited to join The Art of Creative Writing Workshop on Thursdays for $100
Whatever your genre – song, screen, nonfiction, fiction, poetry – and whatever your previous experience, welcome to The Art of Beginning Again.
- Begins October 27, 2026 via Zoom
- Six Tuesdays 7:30pm Eastern (4:30pm Pacific) - Recorded for replay
In this 6-week class for all levels and all genres, we'll dive into first memories, first sentences, and the tyranny of first pages as we explore the central question: How can I connect in a meaningful way to myself, my character, my story, and my creative practice?
Our 1-hour sessions meet weekly on Zoom (replay available if you cannot attend live) and asynchronously through the week on the Wet.Ink platform, where you will upload your writing weekly, and get to read and offer support for your cohorts' work.
Our weekly Zoom sessions include a centering practice, check in, slide presentation on elements of creative writing craft, and guided generative writing time to get the juices flowing for the next week's prompt.
- Six 1-hour Zoom sessions for Live (or Replay): Oct 27, Nov 10, Nov 17, Nov 24, Dec 1, Dec 8 (NOTE: no class on 11/3 for election day),
- Asynchronous connection/feedback throughout the month via Wet.Ink
- $277 with code SPARROW by Oct 25 / Full registration: $325
** Enrollees are invited to join The Art of Creative Writing Workshop on Thursdays for $100
Whatever your genre – song, screen, nonfiction, fiction, poetry – and whatever your previous experience, welcome to The Art of Beginning Again.
The Art of Songwriting: 6 Week Workshop
- Begins November 4, 2026 via Zoom
- Six Wednesdays 7:00pm (4:00pm Pacific)
In this small group 6-week songwriting workshop, you'll get support, feedback, encouragement, accountability, and connection. And best of all - by the end of the 6 weeks, you'll have started (and maybe finished) 4-6 new songs.
In Session 1, we'll lay down guidelines for a supportive Workshop method and go step-by-step through a pre-writing method for working with prompts. After that, our sessions will primarily be focused on workshopping: you'll bring in a new song every week, and either perform it live or play a recording (phone memos are fine), with your lyrics in the chat so the group can discuss. Organically embedded in the discussions, you'll get support and valuable insight into songwriting art and craft, including song structure, lyrics, motif, melody, feel, and more.
- Six 105-min Zoom sessions (live): Nov 4, Nov 11, Nov 25, Dec 2, Dec 9, Dec 16 (NOTE: no class on 11/18 )
- $277 with code SPARROW by Oct 25 / Registration after Oct 25: $325
The Art of Creative Writing Workshop: 6 Week Workshop
- Begins November 5, 2026 via Zoom
- Six Thursdays 7:00pm (4:00pm Pacific)
Writers, let's get serious: It's hard to write alone. No one can write your story for you, but in this small group 6-week songwriting workshop, you will get everything else – supportive community, valuable feedback, guidance, and accountability.
Our 90-minute sessions meet weekly on Zoom, we will workshop your writing, and you'll get feedback as we explore the art and craft of creative writing.
We'll start each session with a brief centering practice. In Session 1, we'll get to know each other and the memoir/essay/CNF work that everyone will be working on, and lay down guidelines for a supportive Workshop method. After that, our sessions will be focused on workshopping.
- Six 90-min Zoom sessions (live): Nov 5, Nov 12, Nov 19, Dec 3, Dec 10, Dec 16 (NOTE: no class on Thanksgiving)
- $277 with code SPARROW by Oct 25 / Registration after Oct 25: $325
** Enrollees in this workshop are invited to be a part of The Art of Beginning cohort for $100
- Begins November 5, 2026 via Zoom
- Six Thursdays 7:00pm (4:00pm Pacific)
Writers, let's get serious: It's hard to write alone. No one can write your story for you, but in this small group 6-week songwriting workshop, you will get everything else – supportive community, valuable feedback, guidance, and accountability.
Our 90-minute sessions meet weekly on Zoom, we will workshop your writing, and you'll get feedback as we explore the art and craft of creative writing.
We'll start each session with a brief centering practice. In Session 1, we'll get to know each other and the memoir/essay/CNF work that everyone will be working on, and lay down guidelines for a supportive Workshop method. After that, our sessions will be focused on workshopping.
- Six 90-min Zoom sessions (live): Nov 5, Nov 12, Nov 19, Dec 3, Dec 10, Dec 16 (NOTE: no class on Thanksgiving)
- $277 with code SPARROW by Oct 25 / Registration after Oct 25: $325
** Enrollees in this workshop are invited to be a part of The Art of Beginning cohort for $100
Teaching Philosophy
Guidance. Encouragement. Accountability. Community. Support.
That's what I've needed in every class or workshop I've ever taken. That's what these workshops are all about.
I've got your back.
Writing is hard. But let's call the page a playground. We'll take a chance on the monkey bars. Climb the big slide. Swing higher. Spelunk. Venture into memories, emotions, ideas, senses. These workshops are a safe space to try and try again.
Quantity yields Quality.
The more you write, the better – and braver – you'll get. Generation is more important than perfection. So let's let loose and just make art. (In fact, perfectionism is not what we usually think it is. Perfectionism is a defense mechanism that rears its head when we're afraid to be vulnerable. But art making comes out of vulnerability, and it needs to be a little wild to express itself honestly.)
I won't leave you out to dry.
Here you'll be in a safe space, and the ego can lay down its armor. In that safety, you'll generate new work and receive feedback along the way. Who knows - you might get a good string of words. You'll probably get some crap, too. It doesn't matter, as long as you keep writing. My best work as a songwriter and as a literary writer has always come from just writing. And writing more.
Writing changes you.
It does this crazy thing, writing. It pulls up sunken ships. Reveals hidden pathways. Illuminates dark places. Uncovers inner wisdom. Heals broken parts. Grows your heart.
*Everyone gets an A.
Even if you don't do the exact assignment. Even if you don't use the prompt. There's no fail. Only do. Congrats! Just by being in the class, you get an A.
Companionship.
I'll be writing alongside you, staying present in my own practice, generating first drafts and revisions, feeling vulnerable, and bravely showing my work – just like you.
That's what I've needed in every class or workshop I've ever taken. That's what these workshops are all about.
I've got your back.
Writing is hard. But let's call the page a playground. We'll take a chance on the monkey bars. Climb the big slide. Swing higher. Spelunk. Venture into memories, emotions, ideas, senses. These workshops are a safe space to try and try again.
Quantity yields Quality.
The more you write, the better – and braver – you'll get. Generation is more important than perfection. So let's let loose and just make art. (In fact, perfectionism is not what we usually think it is. Perfectionism is a defense mechanism that rears its head when we're afraid to be vulnerable. But art making comes out of vulnerability, and it needs to be a little wild to express itself honestly.)
I won't leave you out to dry.
Here you'll be in a safe space, and the ego can lay down its armor. In that safety, you'll generate new work and receive feedback along the way. Who knows - you might get a good string of words. You'll probably get some crap, too. It doesn't matter, as long as you keep writing. My best work as a songwriter and as a literary writer has always come from just writing. And writing more.
Writing changes you.
It does this crazy thing, writing. It pulls up sunken ships. Reveals hidden pathways. Illuminates dark places. Uncovers inner wisdom. Heals broken parts. Grows your heart.
*Everyone gets an A.
Even if you don't do the exact assignment. Even if you don't use the prompt. There's no fail. Only do. Congrats! Just by being in the class, you get an A.
Companionship.
I'll be writing alongside you, staying present in my own practice, generating first drafts and revisions, feeling vulnerable, and bravely showing my work – just like you.
TEACHING + EXPERIENCE
In addition to my lifelong creative practices as a writer and musician, for over a decade I have taught creative writing, creative process, songwriting, and music business in undergraduate, graduate, and community spaces: at Antioch University Los Angeles in the Undergraduate, MFA, and community Inspiration2Publication programs; University of Wisconsin - Madison in the Summer Music Clinic; International Women’s Writing Guild as conference faculty; Los Angeles Master Chorale as Voices Within Teaching Artist; Los Angeles Songwriting Workshop; and more. I have been teaching holistic yoga practices since 2009.
Additionally, I am former the editor-in-chief of Lunch Ticket, a literary and art journal, and have served as presenter, panelist, and moderator at the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs), FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region-West), and NERFA (Northeast Regional Folk Alliance) conferences, and at SONA Foundation's Music & Money, Wellness Fest, In Session, and Fireside Chats on Mental Health.
Additionally, I am former the editor-in-chief of Lunch Ticket, a literary and art journal, and have served as presenter, panelist, and moderator at the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs), FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region-West), and NERFA (Northeast Regional Folk Alliance) conferences, and at SONA Foundation's Music & Money, Wellness Fest, In Session, and Fireside Chats on Mental Health.
EDUCATION + certification
- Post-MFA Certificate in Creative Writing Pedagogy, Antioch University
(with Tammy Lechner and Amy Sage Webb; Teaching Assistantships with Aimee Bender, University Southern California (USC), and Barbara Abercrombie, UCLA Extension)
Winner: University Library Research Prize for post-Masters dissertation research on the intersections of lyric essay, feminist pedagogy, and postmodernism. - MFA in Creative Writing, Antioch University
– Primary: Creative Nonfiction (with Hope Edelman, Brad Kessler, Peter Selgin, Sharman Apt Russell, Christine Hale)
– Secondary: Literary Translation (with Dan Bellm) and Fiction (with Peter Nichols and Steve Heller)
Winner: University Library Research Prize for MFA dissertation research on the Wicked Stepmother narrative - Post-BA Diploma, Berklee College of Music
- Major: Songwriting (with Pat Pattison, Henry Gaffney, Andrea Stolpe)
- Principle Instrument: Clarinet - BA in Psychology, Brandeis University
- extensive coursework in Classical and Early Music woodwinds (with Sarah Mead, Lydian String Quartet, Diane Heffner, Neal Hampton)
- research in Creativity (with Teresa Amabile)
Additional Professional Development:
- Certificate of Completion in the Power of Music in Healthcare, Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University
- Teaching Artist, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Voices Within
- Yoga Alliance eRYT500 / YACEP, studies with Dr. Ryan Peebles, Christy Marsden, Claire Hartley, Daniel Stewart, Max Strom, Russ Pfeiffer