Introducing In Flow Writing Center with 3 great workshops
Drama Writing For Comedians, Grow Your Newsletter, and Pitch Group are all available now.
I’m so excited to introduce In Flow Writing Center, a slight rebranding of my retreat company, Write & Flow Retreats.
This means that beyond hosting international retreats in places like Costa Rica, Italy, and Greece, I’m also launching more accessible online options.
While I’ve dabbled in Zoom courses before — like the creative reset one some of you joined — this expansion will include regular writing workshops in between retreats.
To kick this off, I’m offering three awesome workshops starting next week! These initial ones are already discounted, but paying subscribers also get a *free* workshop. (The discount code is at the bottom of this email. You still must register with Eventbrite to get the link).
✨Workshop 1: DRAMA WRITING FOR COMEDIANS!✨
Tuesday, October 10th, 5-7:30ish PST$75 $30 — just this once!
I am SO excited about this one! This is a camera-optional, lecture-style workshop (plus a Q&A), and it’s perfect for comedians and comedy writers/performers who want to expand into drama. You will learn how I made the leap from a Late Night Comedy Central show to The Morning Show writer’s room, and how you can do the same.
Drama and dramedies are more popular than ever. Mastering the structure of an hour-long pilot will prove invaluable to your career. The good news is that the best dramas are funny, from The Sopranos to Grey's Anatomy to Bad Sisters. In this workshop, you will learn:
Basic hour-long structure
The basics of building dramatic drive, stakes, emotion, conflict & theme
We’ll discuss joke writing for drama & how to set the right tone
Includes a Q&A, and lots more!
This event is held Tuesday, October 10th, at 5 pm PST, but feel free to register even if you can't make the time: The recording will be sent out to all participants.
✨Workshop 2: CREATE AND/OR GROW A THRIVING NEWSLETTER!✨
Tuesday, October 17th, 5-6:30ish PST$40 $20 — just this once!
This is another camera-optional, lecture-style (plus a Q&A) about the elusive, ever-growing newsletter.
In 2022, I started this newsletter on a whim. I didn't announce it on social media or post it on my Instagram for nearly 6 months. But despite that, a year after launching it, I had over 2,000 readers and was featured by Substack. While there are plenty of more popular Substacks, what makes my experience unique is that my newsletter is not my creative priority — and I work to maintain that, so I can focus on other projects. If you want to start or grow a newsletter without it taking over your life, this is for you.
In this workshop, I will teach you everything I know, including:
How I built my newsletter from zero subscribers to a Substack Featured Publication with thousands of readers
How to create a newsletter people WANT to read
Picking the best subject for you specifically
Best ways to build & maintain an audience *and* audience engagement
Promoting your newsletter without social media
Balancing your newsletter with the rest of your life and dealing with newsletter fatigue and burnout
Includes a Q&A, and more!
This is for anybody who is struggling to find an audience, experiencing burn-out, or is constantly thinking: who am I even writing this for, and why can't I get more people to sign up? What is my long-term goal here? How much longer can I really do this?
This event is held Tuesday, October 17th, at 5 pm PST, but feel free to register even if you can't make the time: The recording will be sent out to all participants.
✨Workshop 3: PITCH GROUP!!✨
Tuesday, October 24th, 5-7:30ish PST$50 $25 — just this once!
Due to limited space, October’s session is reserved for former students. (A former student is anybody who’s ever taken an online class or retreat with me). I plan on hosting a Pitch Group once a month, so if it interests you, join in the future!
Show up with a story problem, logline, or premise for a TV, film, or book project. Leave with brand new ideas to implement. Here’s how it works:
We review writer’s room pitching guidelines
Each writer takes turns explaining their problem/idea, after which they get 20-30 minutes to hear pitches on it from me and the rest of the group
The ideal environment to improve your pitching, which is a crucial skill in every writer’s room or creative collaboration
I LOVE this workshop, and so has everybody who’s taken it with me IRL. People always leave feeling creatively reinvigorated, with tons of new actionable ideas. I cannot stress how useful and inspiring it is!
4-6 students only, no exceptions
Why take a class with me over all the other ones?
Not only have I written for Emmy-winning TV shows and sat in writer’s rooms with people like Reese Witherspoon, but I also have years of experience actually teaching and building my own curriculums. That is important! Time and time again, people leave my classes telling me they feel creatively rejuvenated, excited to write, and surprised by how much they've learned. That’s because I’m a compassionate, thoughtful teacher doing this because I genuinely love it. I go the extra mile to make sure your needs are taken care of, and that every dollar you spend is worth it.
A few things that make my classes unique:
NO notes from other students ever, unless it’s specifically requested or the conceit of the class (ie., pitch group)
I take a holistic approach to teaching. I prioritize each student’s individual needs and encourage your unique voice, I don’t mold you to my writing style or take a one-size-fits-all approach. Writing is subjective!
Unlike a lot of teachers out there, I’m an Award-nominated writer with credits on prestige, Emmy-winning shows, AND I have experience in both comedy and drama rooms.
Prices will always stay affordable. We should all be compensated for our work, but this is about a love of teaching and building a supportive community at In Flow, not exploiting writers.
Here’s what people say about my teaching:
“Ali flawlessly created an ambiance that nourished both our souls and our voices as writers.” - Mindy
“I've recently been in a rut writing-wise while trying to finish edits on a pilot, so I decided to take Ali's Zoom workshop. I left with excellent notes and a possible young adult pilot idea for the future. This is the perfect reboot if you feel stuck in your creativity.” - Katy
“Ali was there for everyone no matter where they were on their creative journey. I arrived with a vague idea of what I wanted to write about and left with clarity and a great start to a pilot I am now finishing a second draft of.” - Sharilyn