BE PART OF THE WORD RIVER!
What would happen if you were to commit to your art for 6 months? What breakthroughs would you make? What kind of support would you find? How would your creative practice transform?
Join me for the WORD RIVER. Six months of community, support, inspiration, dedication, and magic. Your writing will never be the same.
Enrollment is limited to 12 seats!
Do you have a project you want to finish?
The RIVER will help you stay on track.
Feeling isolated in the writing process?
The RIVER will help you stay connected to a community.
Need some discipline in your writing practice?
The RIVER will help you keep the promises you make to yourself and your creativity.
THIS RIVER IS FOR YOU:
- If you need ongoing support and accountability
- If you want to practice your craft and take risks on the page
- If you want to improve your discipline
- If you need guidance setting goals and claiming your desires
- If you want to protect time for your art and get better at setting (and keeping) boundaries
- If you want to rekindle the joy of writing
- If you want to remember we never write alone
- If you want to write from a place of freedom and permission
What You Get in the WORD RIVER:
- Two 90-minute workshops each month — steady, protected time to write, learn, and grow
- Your own River Guide — reflections, exercises, and gentle structure to help you refine your creative practice
- A dedicated cohort for 6 months — camaraderie, encouragement, and a sense of belonging
- 3–4 personalized generative writing prompts per session — fresh ways into your work every time
- Craft guidance — practical tips, examples, and feedback to help you strengthen your writing
- Support for a sustainable practice — tools for setting goals, tracking progress, and staying on course
- Accountability that feels good — check-ins and encouragement to help you follow through
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Momentum on your project — make real, measurable progress over the year
The Magic of The WORD RIVER:
EXCEPTIONAL FACILITATION
Two decades of teaching and writing have shaped how I facilitate. I am well prepared to hold space and foster transformation, both on and off the page. My approach is rooted in a deep belief that art can help repair the world.
ACCOUNTABILITY & STRUCTURE
The RIVER spans six months, providing structure that fosters consistency in writing habits and goal setting. This accountability helps writers stay on track.
GOAL SETTING
Writers get help setting clear and achievable goals. This process breaks down long-term aspirations into manageable milestones so you can achieve your writing ambitions.
TIME & DEEP THINKING
Writers often struggle to safeguard time for their craft. The RIVER helps you protect time to write. It encourages deep reflection and focus.
COMMUNITY & SUPPORT
Participants draw inspiration from other writers, creating a network that encourages growth, connection, and resilience.
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
The RIVER encourages creative growth, giving you permission to explore and experiment on the page, nurturing your bravest writing self and improving your craft.
How the WORD RIVER works:
The WORD RIVER offers a unique blend of accountability, support, inspiration, and structured guidance tailored for writers of all levels.
- The 6-MONTH RIVER is limited to 12 participants
- We meet twice a month on Wednesdays (that's Thursdays in Australia) for 90-minutes by Zoom
- Meeting replays will be available if you miss a session
- We set goals/intentions/promises that move us toward our biggest creative vision
- We use writing prompts to invigorate our language
August 2026 - January 2027 Workshop Schedule
Meeting replays will be available if you miss a session.
August 5, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PDT (US) / August 6, 2026 from 7-8:30 AM AEST (Australia)
August 19, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PDT (US) / August 20, 2026 from 7-8:30 AM AEST (Australia)
September 2, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PDT (US) / September 3, 2026 from 7-8:30 AM AEST (Australia)
September 16, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PDT (US) / September 17, 2026 from 7-8:30 AM AEST (Australia)
October 7, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PDT (US) / October 8, 2026 from 8-9:30 AM AEDT (Australia)
October 21, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PDT (US) / October 22, 2026 from 8-9:30 AM AEDT (Australia)
November 4, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PST (US) / November 5, 2026 from 9-10:30 AM AEDT (Australia)
November 18, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PST (US) / November 19, 2026 from 9-10:30 AM AEDT (Australia)
December 2, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PST (US) / December 3, 2026 from 9-10:30 AM AEDT (Australia)
December 16, 2026 from 2-3:30 PM PST (US) / December 17, 2026 from 9-10:30 AM AEDT (Australia)
January 6, 2027 from 2-3:30 PM PST (US) / January 7, 2027 from 9-10:30 AM AEDT (Australia)
January 20, 2027 from 2-3:30 PM PST (US) / January 21, 2027 from 9-10:30 AM AEDT (Australia)
Meet Sarah Sentilles
Sarah Sentilles is a writer, teacher, critical theorist, scholar of religion, and author of many books, including Stranger Care: A Memoir of Loving What Isn't Ours, a New York Times Editor's Choice and Idaho Book of the Year. Her book Draw Your Weapons won the 2018 PEN Award for Creative Nonfiction. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Orion, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among other publications. She's been awarded residencies at Yaddo and Hedgebrook. She earned a bachelor's degree at Yale and master's and doctoral degrees at Harvard. She is also the co-founder of The Alliance of Idaho, which protects the human rights of immigrants.
WORD RIVER FAQs
How often do you meet?
We meet twice a month for 90 minutes.
What happens in the sessions?
Each session includes generative writing prompts, discussion of the week’s theme, goal setting, accountability, and community support.
Who is WORD RIVER meant for?
Writers and artists who want long-term support, need structure, or are ready to build a consistent creative practice.
Can beginners join?
Yes. WORD RIVER is open to all levels, whether you’re just beginning or returning to your writing after years away.
Are the sessions recorded?
Yes. If you miss a session, you can catch up with the recording.
What’s the structure of the program?
WORD RIVER runs in a cohort model. You’ll grow with the same small group of writers for either six months or a full year. This consistency builds trust, accountability, and a strong sense of community.
Will you read my work?
No. WORD RIVER is not a critique space. I don’t review participants’ writing in this program. The focus is on process, practice, and showing up for your art.
What are the options for enrollment?
You can choose between a six-month program or a full year, depending on the level of support and commitment you’re looking for.
What’s your refund policy?
Refunds are available if requested within 30 days of purchase. Please note that when you enroll, you take a spot that could have gone to someone else. WORD RIVER is about commitment, but I also know that life happens.