Live & Recorded Classes
Find community and grow your craft in our online workshops. We host both synchronous and asynchronous courses using Zoom and Canvas, an easily accessible, private online platform. Whether you’re a new writer or a well-published pro, you’ll find motivation, structure, constructive criticism, and a dedicated cohort.
90-Minute Sessions, hosted by Cleaver, on Zoom.
- Sunday. December 8, 2024, 2-3:30 pm ET
- Sunday, January 12, 2025, 2-3:30 pm ET
- Sunday, February 9, 2025, 2-3:30 pm ET
- Sunday, March 9, 2025, 2-3:30 pm ET
Cost: $5
Open to: All Writers
Are you struggling to find writing time? Showing up for your writing practice is the hardest part—life knocks you off track.
Cleaver Magazine to the rescue! You don’t have to go it alone. Join us for our monthly Ass in Chair Sessions, a once-a-month, 90-minute commitment to your writing practice. With the communal energy that comes from writing together, you will make progress towards your writing goals, one word, one paragraph, one page at a time—by getting your Ass in Chair time. We’ll offer an optional prompt at the beginning—who knows where it will take you?
Each session costs $5 (because you’re more likely to show up for yourself if you have some skin in the game), and happens on the second Sunday of every month. Make the commitment to yourself. Register here. These sessions are not recorded.
This class will focus on how writers create unique and believable characters in very short stories. Our in-class discussion will revolve around published work with an eye toward how each author employs aspects of craft – including dialogue, action, thought and physical description — to build effective, unforgettable characters. xOur discussion will also include dynamic versus static characters, the inextricable union of character development and story arc, and guided exercises –in-class and take-home – designed to inspire new characters as well as revise/revive tired old characters from drafts. Students will leave the session with an understanding of character development and the aspects of craft involved in creating characters on a very small canvas.
Instructor: Karen Rile, Cleaver Editor-in-Chief
- Sunday, December 22, 2024, 2-3:30 pm ET on Zoom
- Sunday, January 19, 2024, 2-3:30 pm ET on Zoom
- Sunday, February 16, 2024, 2-3:30 pm ET on Zoom
- Sunday, March 16, 2024, 2-3:30 pm ET on Zoom
Cost: $5
Open to: All writers, all genres, all humans
Embodied Resistance. It’s a metaphor; it’s a concrete concept. Resistance training is the key to longevity and long-term mobility. Join us for a Sunday afternoon functional yoga class to reconnect your body to your mind. We’ll practice a combination of movement, bodyweight resistance, brain mapping, and breathing for a fun, low-impact, anatomy-based workout. This class is based on the LYT Method (pronounced as in “litmag”), which combines the mindfulness of yoga with the intelligence of physical therapy to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance for humans of every age. You don’t need to be a writer, and you don’t need yoga experience to attend.
Our brains were designed to move; the better you move, the better you think.
This class will be conducted on Zoom. You’ll need a yoga mat and two yoga blocks. If you have knee pain, have a blanket or towel nearby. If your wrists bother you, you can use a pair of dumbells (any weight) for support. You don’t need to turn on your camera, but if you set up your mat and camera so I can see you, I may be able to give you live feedback. Questions? Email me. Each session costs $5 and happens on the third Sunday of every month. If cost is a barrier, email me directly and you’ll be added to the list, no questions asked. Make the commitment to yourself. Register here.
Instructor: Jackson Tatge
Date: Sunday, January 26th, 2025, 2-4 pm ET on Zoom
Can’t make it on January 26th? No problem. A recording will be sent to all registrants.
Cost: $60
Open to writers of: All Genres
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to create a professional website tailored to your unique voice and brand as a writer. You’ll be guided through each step of website development. We’ll cover essential elements such as choosing the right platform, designing an engaging layout, and integrating features that showcase your work effectively and engage your audience. You’ll also delve into optimizing your site for search engines and ensuring it’s mobile-friendly. By the end of the course, you’ll have a fully functional, personalized website that serves as a powerful tool for building your online presence. Whether you’re an emerging author or a seasoned writer, this class will provide you with the skills and confidence to create a professional digital space that highlights your work and attracts potential readers. Join us to transform your ideas into a dynamic online platform and enhance your visibility in the literary world.
Learn more about Jackson Tatge here.
Instructor: Beth Kephart
Date: Sunday, February 23rd, 2025, 2-4 pm ET on Zoom
Can’t make it on February 23rd? No problem. A recording will be sent to all registrants.
Cost: $60
Open to writers of: Creative Nonfiction, Memoir
Are we ever really objective when we write ourselves onto the page? Are we in complete control of our image? What happens when we approach ourselves with ironic distance or guilt or self-forgiveness? When we announce ourselves to be a liar? When we own up to having more questions than answers? When we change perspectives? Jenn Shapland, David Carr, Emilie Pine, Sonja Livingston, Bella Pollen, Alexandra Fuller, and Mark Doty will help illuminate the topic. Exercises will advance the art of self-portraiture on the page.
Learn more about Beth Kephart here.
Instructor: Chris Callison-Burch
Date:Sunday, March 30 2024, 2-4 pm ET on Zoom
Can’t make it on March 30th? No problem. A recording will be sent to all registrants.
Cost: $60
Open to writers of: All Genres
This two-hour masterclass explores the impact of AI on the writing profession, from creative possibilities to practical concerns. Drawing on his expertise in AI research, Prof. Chris Callison-Burch will demonstrate key AI writing tools and discuss how writers might begin incorporating AI into their creative process. The session includes hands-on examples using popular tools like ChatGPT and Claude, strategies for using AI as a creative partner, and a frank discussion of AI’s limitations and ethical considerations.
Topics include:
- The state of AI writing technology
- Hands-on demonstrations with popular AI tools
- Creative applications (brainstorming, editing, research)
- Maintaining creative control and authenticity
- Future trends and preparing for change
Chris Callison-Burch is an expert in artificial intelligence who has been in the field for 20 years and has been using language models in his research for much of that time. His more than 100 publications have been cited over 25,000 times. Language models are at the heart of generative AI, which had its breakthrough moment in November 2022 with the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. In 2023, Prof. Callison-Burch testified before Congress about generative AI. At the University of Pennsylvania, his course on artificial intelligence has one of the highest enrollments at the university, with over 500 students taking the class each Fall. He also teaches a computer science graduate seminar, “Interactive Fiction and Text Generation.“
Recorded Classes
Missed it? No problem. Buy the recording.
CLEAVER CLINICS
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CLEAVER WORKSHOP FACULTY
