I have not posted my blog online for quite a while, at least not on Facebook, and I have a good reason. I have been busy, intensely busy, for the past nine months in a program called the GCLS Writing Academy. Let me back up a moment and say that the GCLS is the Golden Crown Literary Society, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is education and the promotion and recognition of lesbian literature.

One of their educational offerings is a one year, distance learning program in which I’ve been enrolled with the 2015-2016 class. I will graduate on July 7, 2016, in Alexandria, Virginia, USA at the annual GCLS Convention. There are seven women enrolled this year, five from the USA, one from Canada and one from New Zealand. We meet weekly via internet and phone call for nine months, then have a ten-week mentorship with an award winning author. Many of our first class of graduates (2014-15) already have publishing contracts. Maybe that’s a fluke, and maybe that’s Writing Academy Magic!

I know that the women I’m in class with this year are exceptionally talented, and I enjoy the peer group we have formed. Their companionship on this writing journey is tremendously supportive. I wish all emerging writers has this sort of supportive environment in which to experiment, stretch and grow: Not to mention classes in foundations and craft of writing, and preparation for publishing.

The good news is…it’s not expensive, you don’t have to live in the USA, you don’t have to be a member of the GCLS and it has quality instruction. Check out the website at  goldencrown.org.  and under the Education drop-down menu, see Writing Academy.