Awriter is someone who writes.
You become a writer because at some level, you can’t not write. You can’t not read. And yet in this age, the choice to slow down and sink into the writing realm is a controversial one. The pressure of modern adulthood is to get up and go do something, preferably something profitable and productive.
Still, writers must write. We must dream. We must devour all of the books.
We may be so many other things to other people. But we know ourselves best in the flow of a scene, a story, or an emotion.
Lost in our writing is where we belong.
Writers may be lone wolves.
But we always circle back to each other.
In a world that would rather we keep our stories silent, solidarity with other writers is vital.
We need each other to stay grounded, connected, and centered.
It’s through each other that we become strong enough to do this unreasonable thing we must do... no matter what the world says.
Icreated Centered to be the anchor that always brings you back to your writing. It’s here for you to access the peer review and mentorship that all great writing needs.
To meet people you can trust to exchange meaningful, directional feedback, so your stories become stronger.
In this space, the delicate sparks of new ideas are seen. Shielded. Nurtured.
Your creativity is constantly fed by the conversation.
And you are consistently moved to pick up a pen and meet the page.
I send you daily exercises so you become comfortable working your right brain every day. In our monthly calls, I help you develop rhythms and rituals you know you can trust, so you can allow for the mystery in your writing.
Connect with writers who understand your love for the craft. Share knowledge and resources, get book recommendations and help with research, and pose your tricky craft questions to the group. Even introverts need good writing conversation!
It almost sounds dirty. But it’s so much fun to be able to connect over writing. Between our quarterly book club, daily prompts, and active discussion-starters, this is a place for rich discussion and insight about writing and the writing life.
Consistency isn’t necessarily about hours of hard work. When you let it be a playful practice, you’ll unknowingly generate new and compelling story starts, characters, scenes, and ideas on a regular basis.
Access advice, events, and other resources for learning, creative strategy, and skill development. In addition to my monthly calls, we have a quarterly Creative in Residence who hosts office hours where you can ask questions and workshop your writing.
Inspiring Warm-Ups to Generate Ideas
These prompts get you out of your logical mind and trigger your imagination. Every day, we drop a new exercise (and every two weeks, a story prompt). Take 10 minutes and then share your writing with us! Encouragement from the other members gives you momentum, so you look forward to writing every day.
Soon, you’ll have heaps of new characters, scenes, and other surprising raw material in your notebook. You may also choose to receive your Daily Prompts by email, every day at 6:00am ET, so you can get writing first thing.
Free from outside distractions
As graduates of our writing programs know, the magic really happens in the Discussion Spheres. In Centered, you get to experience that magic every day. It’s the place where you can meet allies, colleagues, and friends, exchange meaningful feedback, and join stimulating discussions.
Our spheres are on a private site, to keep distraction at a minimum. You can put your deep focus on writing and not be interrupted by pings. And if posting your words on public sites makes you uneasy (we get it), you can feel safe to do so here.
A monthly hour with Sarah Selecky
Every month we have a theme to guide our programming. Themes like rest, friendship, commitment, resilience, wonder, and shadow. And each month we gather on Zoom* for a group reflection on our theme.
I offer a grounding meditation, a writing exercise, and a guided breakout discussion exploring the month’s theme. It’s our time to meet each other, share our work, and exchange understanding.
* Rotating time zones change every month so everyone has convenience to attend.
Quarterly book club
For two weeks each season, the forum is buzzing. It’s book club time.
I choose each title thoughtfully to create space for deep analysis on how the writer wrote it.
We investigate questions about point of view, genre, mechanics, characters, story arcs, and more. Through observation and discussion, you’ll learn about craft and technique you can use in your own stories forever.
An assessment to guide your focus
As a Centered member, you’ll have access to our Life Cycle of a Writer scale, so you can assess where you are right now and make a good decision about what to try next.
We know you’re a good writer. But are you pushing yourself out of your comfort zone? Is it time to start submitting your work? Or is your writing asking you to go back to the beginner’s mind? Find out using this unique, sensitive, and detailed assessment tool we created for our members.
Read your work out loud
One of the paradoxes about writing is that it's often done in isolation, and yet it takes a reader or a listener to give our work meaning.
Experience the benefit of reading out loud to the generous members of this community, and feel the energy in your new work.
& Office Hours
Connect in the Discussion Spheres with published writers of different genres, agents, publishers, and other creative professionals throughout your membership in Centered.
Creatives join us four times a year for a one-month residency each time.
Carolyn Forde
Literary Agent
June 2021
Caroline Ryder
Ghostwriter, Screenwriter
March 2021
Chelene Knight
Agent, Author, Essayist, Poet
December 2020
Kelly Thompson
Memoirist, Author
June 2020
Co-writing hours coming soon!
Be first in line for new programs offered at Sarah Selecky Writing School
Monthly newsletters
Create your own private writing groups
New offerings as Centered evolves
Subscription fees are subject to change
$240
per year/USD
$20
per month/USD
Terms & Conditions:
Memberships to Centered are non-refundable. You may choose either a monthly or annual payment, with a minimum commitment of one year for both options. If you choose to cancel before your one-year commitment is up, you will continue to have access until the end of your subscription period, after which it will expire.
We will send notice one week before your membership expires. If you do not cancel your membership, it will be automatically renewed.
I’m a writer, novelist, and creative writing mentor. I’ve been teaching in my living room since 2001, and leading courses online since 2011.
Since then, I’ve taught thousands of writers from more than 20 countries around the world how to heal and centre their relationship with writing so they can do the creative work they long to do.
I believe writing is both an art and a contemplative practice. I’ve learned how to partner with my creativity as I’d partner with an intimate friend: with respect, curiosity, and love.
I’ve made it my work to teach writers how to do the same.
With Centered, I wanted to offer a sparkling forum that wasn’t exclusive to my writing courses. Centered is an easy way to meet other writers, inspire each other, and evolve together.
I want this space to feel like coming home to your writing: a place where showing up for your work feels exciting, freeing, grounded, and challenging in just the right ways.
May you feel centered in your writing life.
xo,
My collection This Cake Is for the Party was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book, and longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.
My novel, Radiant Shimmering Light, was published in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the U.K., the U.S., and Poland. I’m thrilled to announce it has been optioned for television and will be a premium one-hour series.
“Centered is the community I've been waiting for. An opportunity to connect with thoughtful, kind, brilliant writers from all over the world. It is an unparalleled opportunity for daily practice and sharing — truly a supportive, inspiring place to nurture my writing.”
Julie Gabrielli
“Using Centered to enrich my writing practice has done wonders for my state of mind and my writing. It keeps me connected to my creativity, even when I am struggling to produce work in my own practice. It reminds me to write for pleasure.”
Diana Dinerman
“Thank you so much for creating Centered ... This is the first time I have had the chance to really share my everyday writing and I love it!”
Rebecca Kingston
We believe that what you pay attention to grows. We want writers to grow creatively without making themselves feel like they’re wrong all the time. That’s why, in our programs, we focus on what works. We find writers’ strengths and magnify them.
Stories are our witnesses, healers, protectors, and guides. We believe that writers empowered with craft can weave new worlds and propose new norms. And that writers who know how to accept the mystery of the creative process can find insight, surprise, and joy in their work.
Centered is a space for collective growth. Our members help each other cultivate a satisfying writing life. We bring together writers in different phases of our writing life, from around the globe. You’ll find thoughtful individuals here; people who will encourage you, challenge you, assist you, and meet you where you are.
We believe that a non-competitive environment builds creative, confident, curious, and psychologically healthy writers. We try to meet writers where they are, and help them evolve on their own terms. We endeavour to support the entire writer, and the entire process of writing, from beginning phases to advanced.
As a collective, we’re paying attention to writing in a particular way: from a generous, generative, and imaginative place. We appreciate the power of technique, and are always open to learning more.
“I absolutely loved participating in Centered’s first Reading event. You’d think it might be frightening to read brand new work to strangers, ... but it was the exact opposite ... [T]his event was a celebration of writing and reading amongst friends. I’ve had the opportunity to read at the Banff Centre as well as UBC during my MFA, but neither offered quite this experience of intimacy and connection. I highly recommend Centered’s Reading Series (and everything about Centered!).”
Cheryl Archer
“Thank you SO much for creating Centered. I was on the fence, about joining because I just wasn’t sure how intentional I would be about engaging. It’s hard to admit, but I was a little worried this was something I would pay for but not do. Something about the space, the structure, the gentleness of it all is so inviting. I’ve really been surprised how much I am enjoying sharing my pieces as well as reading and engaging with others’ work. I’ve been writing more in the last two weeks than I have in the entire first half of the year. ”
Diane Douiyssi
“I really love the feel and atmosphere of Centered. I also love the platform and how intuitive and easy it is to use. It’s a beautiful space! ... I am really happy to be a part of the community! Thank you for creating it!”
Nancy Sulaiman
“There is something about Sarah’s approach, the insightful and encouraging method and teachers that she puts together, and the writers that collect around her that I appreciate. It’s good to be here”
Ivy
I help writers centre their relationship with writing so they can do the creative work they long to do. My debut collection, This Cake Is for the Party, was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book, and was longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. My novel, Radiant Shimmering Light, was published in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the U.K., the U.S., and Poland. It has been optioned for television and will be a premium one-hour series.
Photo: Our 2017 teacher retreat.
W
e’ve been offering vibrant online creative writing programs since 2010. Our holistic approach teaches writers how to cultivate a trust in mystery as they learn their craft, so they can have a healthy and happy professional writing life.
We believe that skill comes from study and practice, that magic happens when we create, and that our writing thrives when we are part of a supportive community.
Our school welcomes people of all identities, races, abilities, and interests. We share an inclusive, generous, and heart-centered point of view, and are committed to cultivating a culture of empathy and insight.
Our headquarters are on the traditional territory of the Wendat, Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples, adjacent to Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) territory.
www.sarahseleckywritingschool.com