A Workshop for Writers Over 50
Six weeks of live instruction and meaningful feedback in a small, supportive community of writers. By application only.
Go here to apply for the workshop.
Not long after I turned forty, it occurred to me that I would never make one of those 20 Under 40 lists for writers. And I definitely wouldn’t make my publisher’s list of “15 Authors Under 35 to Watch.”
I was fortunate to get my first book contract, a tiny advance from a university press, just on the cusp of my thirties. I would go on to publish three more books before I hit forty. Yet I believe I was a better writer at forty-five than I had been at thirty-five. And I’m probably a better writer in my fifties than I was in my forties, when I felt constantly pulled in myriad directions, my focus diluted by too many competing obligations. While I brought more raw energy to the page in my twenties and thirties, I bring more depth to the page in my fifties. The heartbreaks of youth have been tempered by time, and the challenges of midlife bring insight I didn’t have twenty years ago, or even ten.
As a reader, I often find myself gravitating toward older voices: Susan Minot writing about an unexpected later-in-life affair, Deborah Levy assessing the cost of living, Richard Flanagan tracing his father’s origins as a slave laborer near Hiroshima, Roger Rosenblatt on grief, Ann Patchett on marriage.
Again and again, I hear from my older students that they have felt a lifelong pull toward writing, but have never had the time to pursue it. Only in midlife and beyond do they feel they can finally pursue their dream of writing.
Although the years may be narrowing, the days are often expanding. This is a happy coincidence, because many writers get better with age. Raw ambition has often been replaced with deep experience. Whether we’ve become empty nesters, or retired from a long career, or simply found a better balance in our daily lives, we may have more time to focus on writing. Even when our schedules are full, we may be better at managing the time we have.
With all of that in mind, I thought it would be a good time to celebrate and support writers with more decades under our belts. That’s why I’m launching 15 Over 50, an intensive 6-week workshop for writers over 50.
If you are writing fiction, memoir, or personal essays, and you want to work on your writing in a supportive, encouraging space, apply now to be considered for the workshop, which begins August 27th.
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants.
The free application takes about three minutes to complete. After submitting it, you will receive an email within 3-5 business days requesting a brief, informal writing sample. The writing sample does not need to be published. Please note that, due to the limited space, an application does not guarantee a space in the workshop.
Dates: August 27 - October 1, 2025. We'll meet by Zoom for two hours each week on Wednesdays.
What you get:
12 hours of live instruction from a New York Times bestselling author and veteran writing teacher
Honest feedback from me on 5,000 words of writing
Thoughtful feedback from your peers
Weekly writing suggestions to inspire and motivate you
A private Substack group and discussion forum
A supportive community of writers over 50
Workshop fee: $597
Whether you’ve been writing for years or are returning to the page after a long break, this workshop is designed to help you carve out time for your writing, rekindle your creativity, and make progress toward your writing goals in a supportive community of writers over 50. I look forward to reading your application!
Please note: I am accepting applications on a rolling basis. The application will close when I have accepted twelve writers.