One-of-a-Kind Workshops
Sponsored by Woodstock Bookfest-to-Go
“I can’t imagine a more skilled, experienced, and brilliant writing coach than Susan Brown. She is intuitive! She climbed inside my project and saw exactly what it needed, picking up nuances that had passed me by. I learned more in her intensive workshop than by reading several “how to” books on writing.”
Susan Page, Founder and Director of San Miguel Writers’ Conference, the largest and most prestigious co-cultural, bi-lingual literary gathering in the Americas where Susan will be teaching in 2025.
Secrets of the Greatest Writers Workshop I
Five-Week Intensive Masterclass on Zoom​
Monday Evenings
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Sept. 8 to Oct. 6, 2025
6:00 to 9:30 PM EST
Class is limited to 14
$450 (registration information below)
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With James Joyce scholar, editor, and writing coach, Susan Brown, PhD., study the subliminal, often undiscernable devices used by the great writers, and bring your fiction and memoir writing to the next level.
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Class from 6:00 to 8:00 PM EST
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Reading Session on zoom (optional) from 8:00 to 9:30 PM
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Optional individual introductory meeting with Susan (before workshop)
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Optional one-hour individual consultation with Susan (during workshop)
In this market, your memoir and novel have to read like the classics. In a five-day intensive workshop with master teacher Susan Brown, PhD, take your writing project to the next level by applying the literary secrets of Western culture’s greatest authors. Dr. Brown brings decades as a college creative writing professor, writing coach, and book editor to her workshops.
What will we study?
Workshop participants will be encouraged to raise the bar on their own writing by studying the techniques of the masters for: composing and drafting; creating a compelling narrative voice using internal monologue; building unity with narrative threads, literary allusion, and leitmotif; creating magical and symbolic imagery; constructing a viable literary two-plot structure; achieving a seamless sophisticated style (that reads like butter); and accessing the most meaningful, complex, and original themes beating at the heart of your project.
Who are our Models?
We’ll be learning the secret handshakes from, among others, James Joyce, William Faulkner, Virginia Woolf, Daniel Woodrell, Ernest Hemingway, Gustave Flaubert, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Toni Morrison, Mark Twain, Colum McCann, Hunter S. Thompson, Dennis Lehane, Louise Erdrich, and Jeanette Walls.
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Registration
Please contact me at susansutliffbrown@gmail.com with your name and email address, or call me to confirm there’s a space and schedule an introductory meeting so I can learn about your goals and your project. The price for the workshop is $450. To reserve a space there is a non-refundable deposit of $75. Balance for class is due 30 days prior to first class.
Secrets of the Greatest Writers Workshop II
Five-Week Intensive Masterclass on Zoom​
For writers from Workshop I ready to progress
Monday Evenings
June 2 to 30, 2025
6:00 to 9:00 PM EST on Zoom
Limit 15
$450 (registration information below)
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With James Joyce scholar, editor, and writing coach, Susan Brown, PhD., study the subliminal, often undiscernable devices used by the great writers, and bring your fiction and memoir writing to the next level.
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Class and feedback session from 6:00 to 9:00 PM EST
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Introductory strategy meeting with Susan before the workshop
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Individual consultations with Susan during the workshop
What will we study?
Workshop participants will continue to raise the bar on their own writing by studying new “secrets” and devices: applying the literary allusion; using archetypes; creating a leitmotif; creating narrative voice with James Joyce’s Uncle Charles principle; tastefully dramatizing sex and violence; using the energy of the villain; and modeling plots and characterization from myth, fairy tales and legend—for starters. We will continue improving composing and drafting; creating a compelling narrative voice; building unity with narrative threads; creating symbolic imagery; constructing a literary two-plot structure; and editing to achieve a seamless sophisticated style (that reads like butter); choosing titles and names, and accessing the most meaningful, complex, and original themes beating at the heart of your project.
Who are our Models?
We’ll continue learning advanced techniques from authors such as James Joyce, William Faulkner, Virginia Woolf, Daniel Woodrell, Ernest Hemingway, Gustave Flaubert, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Toni Morrison, Mark Twain, Colum McCann, Hunter S. Thompson, Dennis Lehane, Louise Erdrich, and Jeanette Walls.
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Registration
Please contact me at susansutliffbrown@gmail.com with your name and email address, or call me to confirm space. The price for the workshop is $450. To reserve a space there is a non-refundable deposit of $75. Balance for class is due 30 days prior to first class.
Dr. Brown’s Online Writers Group
Weekly Feedback Sessions as You Draft and Revise
For writers who have completed a “Secrets of Great Writer’s Workshop”
Thursdays beginning July 9, 2025
6:00 to 9:00 PM EST
Limit 8
$300 a month (registration information below)
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After a workshop, students often ask me, “Where do I go from here without the group’s input?” and, after watching writers launch books and make real progress in the “Secrets” workshop, I always feel the same lack of closure.​​
The Answer:
Rather than formal instruction, I’m offering a weekly three-hour meeting where you’ll have deadlines, a small writing community of serious colleagues (limit 8 at one time), and weekly constructive on-screen editing sessions for your revisions and/or new work. Those of you who’ve benefited from my literary knowledge, experience, and editorial guidance know how much you’ll learn each week from watching me—in real time—edit your work and the work of others.
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Enrollment is limited to writers who have completed the “Secrets of Great Writer’s Workshop.”
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I’ll introduce at least one new “secret” from the great writers each week and offer at least one in-class writing exercise.
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I’m committed to leading the weekly writing group for a minimum of six months (no matter the enrollment) and will continue on if there’s interest.​
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Remember, the minimum for finishing a literary novel or memoir is typically two years. If you’re committed to completing your project – I’d be thrilled to continue working with you.
The Format
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Via zoom every Thursday 6-9pm EST
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First group meeting, Thursday, July 9, 2025
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Each writer submits up to 5 pages of a revision or new draft prior to class
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Writers will receive 20 minutes of live on-screen feedback each week
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Other than a eight-minute presentation of a new secret each week, there will be no formal lessons. All instruction will be relevant and derive from that night’s work.
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Writers will have the option of a weekly one-hour private consultation.
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How It Works
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Limited to 8 writers per month
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Enrollment is $300 per month due on the 1st
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Current members have first rights to each new monthly writers’ group
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Empty slots will be filled from a waiting list
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Contact me by phone or email to register. First come, first serve.
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Email susansutliffbrown@gmail.com with your name and email address, or call (845) 855-0444 to confirm space.
Preparing Your Book Project for Submission
Writing Effective Query Letters and Book Proposals
One-day intensive workshop with
Literary Agent, Andy Ross and Book Doctor, Susan Brown
June 14, 2025
2 Sessions: 11 AM to 2 PM / 3 to 6 PM EST on Zoom​
Limit 20
$250
​What are agents and acquisition editors looking for? What are the secret ingredients for attracting an agent and/or publisher? Join Andy and Susan for a six-hour intensive workshop for fiction and creative non-fiction writers who hope to eventually submit their novel or non-fiction project for publication. Please send your potential query letter and/or the first two pages of the overview of you book proposal, and, as time permits, we will workshop your drafts. Throughout the day, we’ll address how to research agents; the importance of a "platform"; how to develop a killer high concept premise (i.e. elevator pitch); making the decision to seek a publisher or to self-publish; the elements of a book deal (other than the contract); and all the crucial elements that can save your project from the slush pile.
Andy Ross opened his literary agency in 2008. Prior to that, he was the owner of the legendary Cody’s Books in Berkeley for 30 years. His agency represents books in a wide range of non-fiction genres including: narrative non-fiction, science, journalism, history, popular culture, memoir, and current events. He also represents literary, commercial, historical, and upmarket women’s fiction, and YA and middle grade fiction and non-fiction. Andy has participated and taught classes in numerous writers’ conferences including San Francisco Writers Conference, Kauai Writers Conference, San Miguel de Allende Writers’ Conference, Nebraska Writers Conference, and organized and conducted writing intensive workshops with Linda Watanabe McFerrin in Santa Fe, Provence, Kauai and in Scotland. Andy is also the author of The Literary Agent’s Guide to Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal and the popular blog, “Ask the Agent: Night Thoughts About Books and Publishing,” which has received over 600,000 unique views.
The authors Andy represents include: Daniel Ellsberg, Fritjof Capra, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Susan Griffin, Leonard Shlain, Gwen Strauss, Linda Watanabe McFerrin, Anjanette Delgado, Mark Goldblatt, Tawni Waters, Randall Platt, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Mary Jo McConahay, Gerald Nachman, Michael Parenti, Paul Krassner, Milton Viorst, Senator Jeff Bingaman, Michele Anna Jordan, and Scott Ostler.
Check out Andy's website or read his blog.
Contact him at andyrossagency@hotmail.com or call 510-238-8965
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Susan Brown began her career preparing successful non-fiction book proposals for authors represented by two New York City literary agencies. She has also developed an intensive master class entitled, Begin Your Memoir by Drafting a Book Proposal. Based on Susan's 35 years as a sought-after teacher, book editor, and writing coach, she will now guide writers to produce their own proposals, including writing a winning overview (pitch), well-constructed chapter outline, and mesmerizing sample chapter. All of Susan’s clients and students are quick to note her warmth, honesty, and sense of humor as well as her ability to help writers clearly “see” their book.
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Registration
Please contact Susan at susansutliffbrown@gmail.com with your name and email address or call her (941-855-0444) to confirm there’s a space. The price for the workshop is $250.
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