There’s an essay swirling in your brain, begging to be written. You’ve got the idea, the concept, but for whatever reason, haven’t been able to put pen to paper yet. Maybe you’re nervous to begin, or already worried the story won’t translate to the page as brilliantly as it appears in your head. We’ve all been there: blocked, stuck, paralyzed. If you’re looking for a supportive environment to move through resistance, look no further. Over the course of this three-week workshop with Ashlee Gadd, you will finally write that story you are desperate to write — spurred on by accountability, encouragement, and peer feedback. 

This course runs from February 24-March 15th. 

Course Timeline:

February 24, 2025 — 90-minute brainstorming session over Zoom at 10am PST / 1pm EST. Bring your spark of an idea, the one sentence that won’t quit, a half-baked concept you need help developing. As a group, we’ll conceptualize your story and give you food for thought as you get to work. 

March 1, 2025 — Turn in a terrible first draft. This can be a brain dump, a skeleton, an outline of poorly written sentences. Rest in knowing your work will only get better from here! You’ll receive high level edits (big picture feedback) from the instructor and two peers.

March 8, 2025 — Turn in your second draft. Now we’re cookin’. You’ll receive high level edits from the instructor and two peers.

March 15, 2025 — Turn in your final draft. You’ll receive line edits from the instructor, at which point you can continue to revise and/or develop the piece on your own.  

Expectations: 

Participants will bring one essay to share with the group (from the Internet or a book) that has profoundly impacted them. From these selections, we’ll read two essays each week for inspiration. Participants are expected to offer high level feedback for two peers in Week One and Week Two. This workshop will communicate and turn in work via Slack for the duration of the course. 

Number of spots available: 8 (course will run with a minimum of five).

What past participants are saying:

”I had an essay idea ruminating in my head for about a year, but I froze every time I sat down to write. The idea felt too huge and I was putting too much pressure on myself. Enter Ashlee's workshop! After our initial Zoom call, I sat down and filled my formerly blank google document with two pages worth of brainstorming. Over the three weeks, that messy brain dump turned into an essay I am really proud of. Ashlee provides valuable, insightful feedback and is an amazing cheerleader. I would definitely sign up for this workshop again if it is offered in the future!”

”This workshop got the story that had been swirling in my brain *finally* out on paper. Feedback and edits from Ashlee and other group members provided direct guidance and improvement on my work. This was my first time collaborating in the writing process with other writers and hopefully it won’t be my last!”

”This workshop transformed my writing process. Ashlee helped me take my piece from a fledgling idea to an essay that helped me process and grieve pieces of my own story. If you want to bring one of your stories to life and learn a tremendous amount about good storytelling in the process, this is the class for you!”

Ashlee Gadd is a wife, mother of three, and the founder of Coffee + Crumbs. When she's not working or vacuuming Cheerios out of the carpet, she loves making friends on the Internet, eating cereal for dinner, and rearranging bookshelves. Her book, Create Anyway is now available wherever books are sold. You can read most of her personal essays on Substack or C+C.