#Gather
Free Online Sessions
#Gathers are free online webinars for children’s writers, illustrators, and storytellers at any level. We’d love for you to join us in community. All are welcome. We also hold occasional online Ask Me Anything sessions, where you can ask questions about upcoming workshops.
To get topics and dates as they become available, sign up for email notifications.
Recordings of Past Sessions
When the COVID pandemic required everyone to stay home, we began #Gather, a series of free online sessions to help us stay connected during that time. What we discovered is that we don’t need to be on campus to feel our community. As our #Gather host Sarah Aronson says: “We know how to make community even when we can’t be together.”
Below are recordings from past sessions that you can browse and watch at your convenience.
Disruption is Good for Art: a #Gather Chat with Sarah Aronson & Jennifer Jacobson
Writer & teacher Jennifer Jacobson joined host Sarah Aronson at today's Writer Chat. They are both on the faculty for our Whole Novel Workshop, and they shared many insights about writing and revising: Disruption is good for art Allowing yourself to follow trails...
#Gather Illustrator Chat: The Legacy of Tomie dePaola
Pat Cummings hosted our #Gather chat today, talking with art directors Laurent Linn and Cecilia Yung about the legacy of Tomie dePaola: Style: don't worry about style. Just keep working and it will come Accessing your 5-year-old self like Tomie did, with joy,...
Making ALL Your Characters Real: a #Gather Writer Chat with Sarah Aronson & Debbi Michiko Florence
#Gather host Sarah Aronson had a rich, interesting chat with guest Debbi Michiko Florence about character, representation and journaling: Doing the extra work to include diverse characters without stereotyping Using your journal to flesh out emotion Writing middle...
#Gather: Sarah Aronson and Susan Campbell Bartoletti: Story is the Boss
On this week's #Gather, host Sarah Aronson talked with Susan Campbell Bartoletti and surprise guest editor Jill Davis! Susan and Jill talked about creating their new book, How Women Won the Vote: Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Their Big Idea. Many nonfiction gems were...
A New Way to Meet Your Character: a #Gather Meditation
This morning's #MondayMeditation with Laurie Calkhoven introduced a different way to meet your character, and touched on how important a character's name is. As always, she started with a meditation, then gave a writing prompt followed by a Q&A. Thanks, Laurie! If...
#Gather: Mitali Perkins and Sarah Aronson on Art, Creativity and Vulnerability
We were thrilled to have Mitali Perkins join host Sarah Aronson for a writer chat today! They began by talking about process vs. product, and went on to do a Q&A and to share some inspiring thoughts: Art can really serve people who are suffering Art matters even...
#Gather: Sarah Aronson and Erin Entrada Kelly Talk Character and Process
Host Sarah Aronson and Erin Entrada Kelly had a lively conversation on today's #Gather, talking about process and character: The importance of having just the right notebook Questions you can ask your characters to get to know them better Creating your own safe space...
#Gather: Sarah Aronson and Agent Linda Epstein Talk Feedback & Process
On today's #Gather, host Sarah Aronson chatted with writer, poet and agent Linda Epstein about: Receiving and giving feedback The value of being accountable to a critique buddy or group Telling yourself "I am a writer" even if you haven't been published Watching...
#Gather: Working Writers Chat with Sarah Aronson and Chris Tebbetts
On today's #Gather, host Sarah Aronson and Chris Tebbetts dug deep into process, sharing the tools they use as they write and revise. Some bullet points: From Sarah: "Story begets story, and writing begets writing. Techniques for getting into the "flow" state. A...