Winter Book Proposal Generator and Humor Writing Workshop with Yours Truly
Enrollment now open!
So, you have an idea for a book. Maybe you even already wrote it! Either way, you are ready for the next step. Does the thought of writing a book proposal for your nonfiction project make you want to light no fewer than fourteen lavender-scented candles and lie in the dark for three days straight? You’re not alone! But after having written three book proposals, I promise you it’s not as daunting as it seems.
In order to demystify this seemingly overwhelming task, I’m thrilled to offer the Book Proposal Generator. Beginning with an overview of the anatomy of the book proposal by looking at several different examples, this generator will be broken up into eight weekly sessions. Each week, we will be discussing and going over one element of the book proposal in detail. At the end of each session, students will be assigned to complete a draft of the section discussed, which is to be handed in the following Friday, no later than 8 p.m. Students will receive peer and instructor feedback in class the following day, after which the next section of the book proposal will be discussed and assigned to complete for the following week. By the final session, each student will have a complete book proposal, and will be ready to take the next step on the path to publication.
Click here to learn more and sign up.
What makes something truly funny on the page—and how do you actually conjure LOLs from the void? This two-session workshop is for writers looking to craft short humor pieces for outlets like McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts, and other literary-humor platforms. We’ll break down the anatomy of a successful humor piece—tone, rhythm, pacing, structure, escalation, and surprise—while exploring how humor springs from your unique voice and worldview (and not just caffeine and mental illness). Through close readings, group discussion, and guided exercises, you’ll generate new material, experiment with comedic forms, and refine your ideas into sharp, submission-ready pieces.
In the second session, we’ll workshop participant drafts with a focus on comedic clarity, structure, and punch. You’ll learn how to heighten jokes, tighten prose, and find the emotional or cultural core that makes humor resonate beyond the punchline. Whether you’re new to writing or already a seasoned quipster, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how to bring your comedic voice to the page—and the confidence to face that blinking cursor like it owes you money.
Click here to learn more and sign up.
As a reminder, I also offer one-on-one consultations and private mentorships through The Shipman Agency, all year round! Click here to learn more and, you guessed it, sign up.
You can follow my other unhinged missives by following me on Instagram or Bluesky. Peruse my website for more work and to get in touch!
never even heard of a humor writing workshop. genius!