The Writer's Reset: A Four-Week Creative Reboot with Renee Emerson

Begins Friday, January 1, 2027

This 4-week online writing class meets asynchronously via Wet Ink, Writing Workshops' dedicated online classroom.

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Instructor Renee Emerson is the author of the poetry collections Keeping Me Still, Threshing Floor, and Church Ladies. She is also the author of the chapbook The Commonplace Misfortunes of Everyday Plants and the middle-grade novel Why Silas Miller Must Learn to Ride a Bike. She holds an MFA in poetry from Boston University, where she was also awarded the Academy of American Poets Prize. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and children.

Who is this class for?

This online writing workshop is for writers of every genre, at every skill level, who want a fresh start for the new year. Whether you're returning to the page after a long break or simply craving renewed momentum, this class meets you exactly where you are. Open to All Levels.

What to expect:

Whether you're returning to writing after a long break, feeling stuck in the middle of a project, or simply craving a fresh start, this four-week workshop will help you reset your writing life with intention. Expanding on Renee Emerson's popular Poets & Writers article "The Three-Day Writing Detox," this creative writing workshop offers a more in-depth experience: a guided examination of your writing and submission practices designed to get you organized and inspired for the year ahead.

Together, we'll look back at where you've been as a writer, evaluate your current habits and creative practice, discover what excites you most, and create a sustainable plan for the months ahead. Through reflection, discussion, practical exercises, and weekly writing assignments, you'll leave this online writing class with greater clarity, renewed confidence, and a personalized roadmap for your writing life.

Each week, you'll receive written feedback from the instructor on every writing project within 72 hours, focused on developing your strategies and recognizing your strengths as a writer. You'll also have the option to share your assignments with classmates in a discussion forum format. At the end of the course, each student receives a personal "Writer's Letter" from Renee, offering feedback on their Writer's Plan and Goals.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will produce a list of their recurring themes and creative strengths; an organized writing archive and inventory of unfinished projects; a catalog of which ideas to pursue and which to release; a personalized writing routine based on their own habits and season of life; a project proposal and opening pages for their next writing project; a year's worth of realistic writing, reading, and submission goals; a personal writing manifesto; and a comprehensive Writer's Reset Plan that includes a mission statement, weekly writing schedule, action plan, and practical strategies for maintaining a sustainable, fulfilling writing life long after the course ends. Students receive written instructor feedback on every assignment within 72 hours, plus a culminating "Writer's Letter" from the instructor.

Readings:

This course will include excerpts from Bird by Bird (Lamott), The Artist's Way (Cameron), and Keep Going (Kleon).

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1: Looking Back: Discovering the Writer You Already Are

Reflect on your writing journey, identify your recurring themes and strengths, and take inventory of the projects that still deserve your attention.

Week 2: Rebuilding Your Creative Practice

Evaluate your writing habits, routines, and creative environment to develop a sustainable practice that supports your goals.

Week 3: Finding Your Next Project

Explore new and existing ideas, uncover the stories or poems you feel most compelled to write, and begin shaping your next project.

Week 4: Creating a Sustainable Writing Life

Develop a personalized plan for the coming year with realistic goals, writing routines, and strategies to maintain long-term creative momentum.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• A comprehensive Writer's Reset Plan with a mission statement, weekly writing schedule, and action plan for the year ahead
• An organized writing archive, inventory of unfinished projects, and a catalog of which ideas to pursue and which to release
• A personalized writing routine built around your own habits and season of life
• A project proposal and opening pages for your next writing project
• A year's worth of realistic writing, reading, and submission goals, plus a personal writing manifesto
• Written instructor feedback on every assignment within 72 hours, and a personal "Writer's Letter" at the course's end

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This class is asynchronous, meaning you complete the weekly assignments on your own schedule. There are no set meeting times to allow for greater participation; your cohort will consist of writers from different time zones, which allows for a wonderful diversity of voices.

Along with your weekly deadlines, there is plenty of interaction with the instructor and your peers within Wet Ink, our dedicated online classroom. Craft materials, lectures, reading assignments, and writing prompts are all available through the online classroom. Students also post work and provide and receive feedback in the online classroom.

You can finish the work as you see fit, week to week, which is perfect for any schedule. There are discussion questions each week inspired by the assigned readings and topics in the lecture notes. Students are encouraged to take these wherever they find most compelling and/or useful. The instructor engages with these discussions throughout the week, and you will receive feedback on all assigned writing activities.

HOW DOES WET INK WORK?

Wet Ink was built and designed specifically for online writing classes. Wet Ink is private, easy to use, and very interactive.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Tuition is $330 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.