The Writing Hive

The Hive offers an excellent jump start for a stalled project. It also offers hope coupled with a lot of practical advice. Finally, there is something great about community and knowing that others are on the same path, facing some of the same obstacles."

The Writing Hive 
A Mastermind Creativity Group
~ 5 months of Support, Community & Accountability

Aug. 27, 2024 - Jan. 7, 2025 - Fall 2024 cohort is full!
Every other Tuesday (10 sessions)
7-9pm ET on Zoom; $750 (payment plan available)
Limit 12 writers
Been in the Hive before? Contact me for. your discount code!

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• Are you ready to make real headway on your writing?
• Do you have an idea for a book - or a short story or personal essay - and want some help getting clear on how to proceed?
• Maybe you've started a rough draft, but need help staying motivated and on track?

The Writing Hive is a multi-genre group of writers who will learn from and support each other as they work on their writing projects. The Writing Hive will be your regular booster shot of inspiration, accountability, and community - no matter what stage of the game you're at.  The Writing Hive is unique and far more affordable than many groups out there!

• We meet on Zoom every other week for 20 weeks to give participants time to make good headway in between sessions.
• Each session begins with small groups of 3 writers for 30-minute listening sessions to share excerpts of works-in-progress written the previous week. This provides accountability and community, a chance to receive general positive feedback  to stay in action, and for some, this offers a small and safe place to begin to share our work which is essential to improving as a writer.  
• The remaining 90 minutes includes a mix of large and small group discussion, in-class exercises, and Q&A.

We discuss all aspects of the writing process, including lots of practical tips and exercises to stay motivated and productive, small group discussions, and time to connect with other writers struggling with similar issues. Let's learn from each other's successes and support each other with the challenges. 

Thank you again for such an amazing group. You are a wonderful facilitator and coach of groups. Hard to do, but you do it with such deliberate, practical compassion!"​

Who should join The Writing Hive?

• Writers ready to devote time and attention to make progress on their writing. (This could be a few essays or short stories, or a large writing project like a collection of poems or stories, or a novel or memoir, or a libretto, academic thesis!)​​
• Writers hungry to participate in a community of writers with similar goals
• Writers who want to build a sustainable writing routine
• Writers looking for accountability to produce work regularly (each session includes small group listening sessions or time to write)
• Writers ready to understand and explore evidence-based solutions to common writing process barriers (procrastination, perfectionism, writer’s block)​
• Artists in other solitary mediums (music composition, visual arts) who could benefit from a community to support their goals with a large creative project

The Writing Hive is best for people who:

• Have a general idea for their creative project, and are ready to start
• Have already started work on their project and want a supportive accountability group
• Want support as they begin to revise and work on a second draft
• Want to be part of an active accountability group and have a consistent deadline
• Want to share in an informal group and listen to the voices of others
• Want to connect with other writers and alleviate their sense of isolation
• Want a deep dive into the process of writing and how to set themselves up for success

The Writing Hive is not:

• This is not a workshop - participants will not be offering extensive critiques on each other's work. However, we will share excerpts of our work to start off each session in small groups and give/receive support and positive feeback. 
• ​This is not a class on craft, although supplemental materials may be provided for participants looking for additional resources, and we do devote a couple of sessions to specific craft issues.

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The Writing Hive is an intentional, safe community for writers to explore the process of writing, make headway on their goals, and expand their experience of a writing community. We do not discriminate against anyone, regardless of age, color of skin, national origin, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender expression and identity, sexual orientation, or anything else. We expect the same from our all of our participants.​

I found my enthusiasm and love for writing again. I honestly might have quit without it."

​What if you can't make a session?
It is totally fine if you think you'll miss a session or two - with 10 sessions, as well as ongoing email communications, you will not be left behind. Returning after a missed session is easy. Commit to the larger goal: five months of structured attention on and support for your creative project.

What kind of results can you expect to see?
​After being in The Writing Hive, of those recent participants surveyed:

• 100% are more clear about how to proceed with their writing projects
• 92% made significant progress on their writing projects during the Hive
• 90% created a stronger writing routine
• 83% feel less isolated
• 91% have stronger skills and more knowledge about writing
• 100% have more confidence as a writer
• 100% have a better understanding of how to manage when they feel stopped or blocked 

More results! Just a few quotes from those surveyed include:

• "I'm less critical of myself and able to allow my writing to unfold at its own pace."
• "I wrote 24,000 more words in my novel's first draft!"
• "I wrote 15 new poems and submitted 4 for publication."
• "I feel legitimate OK calling myself a writer--this is a big issue for me!"
• "I cataloged 20 images and wrote 7,000 words."
• "I am able to recognize when the inner critic is getting too much time."
• "I finished a rough draft of my piece, and began a second draft, clarified my subject."
• "I felt genuinely part of a writing community."
• "I completed a big part of my project--Learned a lot from the other members."
• "Through the Hive work, I’m less critical of myself."
• "I feel less alone for sure, and I have a writing routine."
• "I have accomplished seeing myself as a writer and committed to it, finally."
• "I started with 5,000 words on my new project & ended with 17,000. I also finished the last steps for another book and published it!"
• "I submitted short stories 7 times and got one accepted!"
• I got better about focusing on one project at a time and learned (again) that I am really motivated by numerical goals."
• "I feel less daunted by a long project. I also realized it is a slower process than I thought it should be. I have a better understanding of the balance between moving things forward and not getting lost in the rabbit holes."
• " I feel less alone."

Each Hive is customized for the genres and interests of current Hive members. Some evergreen topics are determined by the instructor, and some topics are voted on by current members of the Hive. Topics covered in the upcoming Writing Hive may include:

• Assess all the materials that you have and get clear about your project
• Refine your subject and find your themes
• Build a sustainable writing routine
• Setting realistic goals
• Clarify who your audience is
• Structure
• Show don't Tell
• Outlines and other ways to stay organized
• Researching: how, when, and when enough is enough!
• Stay powerfully connected to your work
• Better understanding revision and how to make the most of this crucial phase
• Manage your Inner Critics
• Proceeding when you don’t know the end
• How to balance research and writing
• Learn how to read like a writer - and use comparable texts to teach yourself craft issues
• The fun and many many ways to research your subject
• Making time to write
• Breaking large projects into smaller chunks
• Advice on sharing your work and receiving peer feedback
• How to stay motivated
• Managing overwhelm
• Juggling your work life, your family life, and your writing life

BONUS! Participants have the option to buy discounted blocks of 1-1 time with me for manuscript review or personal coaching to support their writing goals. 

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Praise

- “Thank you for sharing your considerable expertise. This has been an excellent Hive."

- “It's just what I needed to move along with my writing!"

- “This program is different from other writing classes and provides the sort of mentoring that writers at all levels need."

- “The Writing Hive is helping tremendously. Hearing multiple strategies from different people encourages me to try new approaches. I'm giving myself permission to try something new in my creative world."
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- “During the time I've worked with Melanie, I've transformed my creative process. I've learned how to bring the skills I already possess to bear in new ways and developed new tactics to approach creativity and day-to-day work with more objectivity, openness, and confidence.” 

​- “I didn't think I needed this, but I needed this! Thank you!"

- “It was great to meet a new group of people interested in writing, and also to make a connection to a new artistic community."

- “Thank you once again for your thoughtful and inspiring coaching session. You always lead me to a place of hope and new ideas."
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​- “In the past, finishing something was something I struggled with. But now, by talking about it with you, and doing these exercises - it's really opened up the process.”

- “Melanie's style is encouraging and motivating, as well as no-nonsense and straightforward, which I greatly appreciated."

- “You played a BIG part in the progress I made with my writing last year and as I sit here preparing my draft for my editor, I want to say than you again for guiding me, growing me capably. I'm excited to be pulling together an actual document!”

- “Thank you for shepherding us along with skill and kindness."