NOTE: Registration requires a $60 deposit (which can be waived by Porch members using the member discount code). You will receive a payment link in your registration receipt, and the remaining $1200 payment can be paid in full immediately or in monthly installments.
This six-month fiction cohort is designed for writers seeking a flexible yet focused environment to make meaningful progress on their manuscript—whether you’re working on short stories or a novel. You’ll join a small, dedicated group of fellow writers who share your passion for storytelling, providing feedback and camaraderie. Together, we’ll set personalized goals, holding each other accountable and ensuring you maintain motivation.
With a maximum of 10 participants, this cohort offers personalized feedback, goal-setting, and accountability, all from the convenience of an online setting. It’s an ideal option for both local and remote writers looking to work closely with peers and an experienced instructor.
Monthly Meetings (Online via Zoom):
Once a month, we’ll gather over Zoom for a focused two-hour class where we will take turns workshopping sections from your manuscripts. In these meetings, we will respond to specific feedback requests from the author’s workshopped, allowing for tailored, constructive feedback to propel your project forward.
Between Meetings (Asynchronous):
In between sessions, you’ll stay connected through a shared Padlet, where you can share weekly snippets of your writing, read fiction and craft selections on topics drawn from class needs and requests—such as structure, dialogue, character agency, techniques for handling time, and more. There will also be weekly, optional exercises to weave into your projects (or not). We will discuss process, help each other stay motivated, and know we are not alone.
You’ll also have the option to engage in additional one-on-one check-ins, whether through email or one-on-one meetings via zoom or phone. This flexible structure ensures continuous progress on your manuscript, while still providing opportunities for personalized guidance and accountability.
By the end of the six months, you’ll not only have made substantial progress on your manuscript but also have a deeper understanding of your writing process and the tools needed to persevere.
Expectations:
What you can expect from the instructor:
What you can expect from yourself:
What you can expect from your peers:
Clemintine Guirado is a creativity consultant and an award-winning author who has taught writing for over twenty years at the university level. She specializes in unblocking advanced writers and teaching craft to beginners and late bloomers. Inspired by her own humbling creative path, she developed a keen interest in the creative process and has researched, practiced, and distilled powerful techniques and innovative hacks for writers. She has published short stories in Masters Review, StoryQuarterly, Best New American Voices, Rainbow Curve, Comet Magazine, and 580 Split among others. She was a Wallace Stegner Fiction Fellow at Stanford University, a Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow at the University of Wisconsin, a Sacatar Foundation Fellow in Bahia, Brazil, and an Oregon Literary Fellow. She has been listed as an honorable mention in the Pushcart Prize anthology, and she just moved to Austin, Texas.
"I am so thankful for everything Clemintine has done for me this past year. I learned so much from her. She made writing accessible and achievable, while still challenging me and inspiring me. She is an exceptional teacher - talented, wise, insightful, and intuitive. When I look back on my goals for the six months, I've made so much progress - in the amount I've written, my writing process, and how I feel about and experience my writing. Going back to the home of writing has made me the most fulfilled I've felt in years, [particularly when my life is crowded with the needs of others]. I so appreciate all of her thoughtful feedback, exercises, and reading suggestions. And to top it all off, she's a really cool human. Grateful to know her and learn from her."
"I enjoyed every minute of Clemintine's writing class! Each session was full of inspirational techniques and engaging material, and I feel motivated to take my creative writing in a new, better direction. Our class discussions always left me thinking about about exciting ideas for my novel, and I can't wait to take another of Clemintine's classes."
"Clementine was a fantastic instructor and offered great advice! The exercises were very helpful. It was a great mix of discussing readings, exercises, and getting feedback on our own pages."
