workshops and manuscript development
Testimonials
"Working with Lara Tupper for private manuscript guidance on my novel felt like a dream-come-true. Not only was it a joy to connect with her, but she was able to home in on exactly what my manuscript needed. Even though I have experience as an editor, showing someone else my work for the first time is extremely difficult for me. My sensitive-artist soul appreciated Lara's perfect blend of compassionate encouragement and insightful, critical feedback.
Almost every single one of Lara's comments resonated with me ‒ they gave me the direction and the confidence I needed to springboard me into this revision process. Now, after completing the rewrite, I can see how she helped tighten the manuscript to bring out the best it could be.
I highly recommend Lara Tupper's manuscript guidance service and look forward to using it again on my next book!"
- Ali Keehn, Former Assistant Editor at Philomel Books, (div. of Penguin Putnam, Inc.), and Former U.S. Editor at Barefoot Books
"Lara is a dedicated, talented teacher and writer. She brings her heart, creativity and professionalism to her work, helping people to learn, grow and explore in a wonderful way." - Robert Mulhall, CEO, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
"Lara Tupper is one of a kind. Her gift is her poise-- her calm, nurturing presence. She helps us slow down, breathe and focus. And she's a whiz on virtual platforms [for online options]. That's worth its weight in gold." - Amanda Merk, Library Director, Chatham Library, Chatham, NY
"Lara's writing workshops are both inspiring and practical, filled with wonderful tips and prompts that really sparked my creativity. Her passion and expertise allow her to facilitate the session with such ease and grace, making everyone feel comfortable and engaged. I left feeling not only motivated but also with a clearer sense of how to build out a practice to improve my writing. " - Allison Schmitt, Executive Director, E for All (Entrepreneurship for All), Berkshire County, MA
"You offered us a contained, deep and rich space in which to explore [Mary Oliver]. I so appreciate your capacity to set the structure in place with such forethought and ease, while opening to what might show up in the room. It was a lovely class—I wanted more." - Aruni Nan Futuronsky, author, teacher, Legacy Faculty, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
Fall Workshop Series (online)
DEADLINE EXTENDED! Drafts considered through September 15.
Next Workshop Series: October 1-29, 2024. Five Tuesdays, 6:00 -8:00 pm ET. Please send a message to inquire.
What it is: The workshop series is for writers looking for accountability, camaraderie and support. (And fun!) The series runs for five weeks; each weekly session is two hours. Participants learn from each other in this intimate, productive and FRIENDLY series. Space is limited.
Workshop format: We'll meet on Zoom. You'll read participants' drafts ahead of time and come prepared with reflective feedback. I'll provide brief lessons on elements of craft (point of view, dialogue, structure, scene-building, etc.) and give you prompts to work on between our sessions. Attendance at all five sessions is required. Class size will be capped at 10.
2024 Fall Workshop dates: Five Tuesdays- October 1,8, 15, 22 and 29 from 6-8 pm ET
Workshop fee: The cost for this five-week series is $500 per participant, due upon acceptance/enrollment. If this fee is a financial challenge for you, please reach out.
Submission guidelines: Writers may send their workshop drafts for consideration at any time before September 15, 2024. Early submissions are strongly encouraged. Feel free to submit fiction (novel/short story excerpts) or nonfiction (essays, book chapters, memoir).
Draft formatting: Workshop drafts may be up to 2,500 words (@ 10 pages, double-spaced, 12-point Times Roman font). Shorter drafts are fine as well.
Please reach out via the contact page for any questions and details.
I look forward to reading your work!
TESTIMONIALS from previous participants:
"Lara's guidance is gentle yet thorough. She's an experienced writing mentor who will inspire you."
"I so appreciate the work on my specific piece, but I enjoyed learning and thinking about the craft of writing and ways to explore even more."
"Thank you so much for this excellent, nurturing, constructive workshop. It sharpened my desire to write, gave me more confidence, and helped me focus on making my writing more compelling. The homework and the feedback from you and the group were tremendously helpful. I'm very much looking forward to the next one!"
"What an amazing opportunity! The group worked so well together. We helped each other as writers and readers."
"It was so interesting and fun to connect with other writers, to hear Lara's feedback, and to see how it ended up shaping my own work."
"Everyone was disarmed. No need to be defensive. I could take in more of the feedback and revise."
"The best part of the workshop series was Lara's gentle, positive guidance and support. Equally important was the opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow writers about each other's work. There was great camaraderie, which made the experience invaluable."
"It was great to have a deadline and to get constructive feedback. Interacting with other writers and their work was enjoyable and surprisingly helpful in improving my ability to edit my own work. It was also comforting to see other writers struggling with the same challenges I face when writing. In addition to being very knowledgeable and organized, Lara is a compassionate teacher and skilled facilitator. It was an added bonus to connect with other people in a meaningful way during the pandemic."
"The workshop with Lara was helpful and fun. Lara's expert melding of the principles of writing with examples from participants' own work provided a basis for lively and non- judgmental conversations. I enjoyed being with a group who are committed to exploring various approaches to their writing. Reading other's work carefully helped me know more about my own."
WHAT to expect from each workshop session:
-Craft discussion on revision, points of view, structure, research and how to sustain helpful writing habits.
-A friendly and supportive group of writers to cheer you on and help you improve.
-Specific feedback on your work from Lara.
-Reading and "homework" suggestions.
-A renewed commitment to your craft.
Free 2024 Workshops (in person, Western Massachusetts)
Thanks to generous grants from Local Cultural Councils in Berkshire and Hampshire Counties and the Mass Cultural Council, I'll present 19 FREE workshops in 2024. Pre-registeration required; space is limited. Please see descriptions below for details.
Saturday, September 28, 12:30 - 2:00 pm at the Bushnell-Sage Library, 48 Main St, Sheffield, MA
(413) 229-7004 - bushnellsage@gmail.com
Please register here: https://bit.ly/maryoliver928
Beloved poet Mary Oliver (1935 - 2019) wrote of self-compassion and the natural world. In this discussion/writing workshop, we'll explore these themes in Oliver's poems and in brief writing exercises. No writing experience or prior knowledge of Oliver necessary, just a willingness to be curious on the page. All adults are welcome to attend but space is limited. Please preregister here. Please bring a notebook, a pen and any writing tools that serve you best.
This program is free for participants and is supported in part by a grant from the Sheffield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Thanks to the Bushnell-Sage Library for support as well.
Sunday, October 6, 10:30 am - noon at the Windsor Town Hall, 1890 MA-9, Windsor, MA.
Please register by sending a message to Lara here: https://www.laratupper.com/contact
Learn practical tips and easy prompts that will allow you to develop a writing routine and complete your writing project. No prior writing experience necessary; all adults are welcome to attend. Please bring a notebook, a pen and any writing tools that serve you best. Please pre-register, as space is limited.
This program is free for participants and is supported in part by a grant from the Windsor Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Saturday, October 26, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm, Meekins Library, Hawks-Hayden Community Room, 2 Williams Street, Williamsburg, MA - Phone: (413) 268-7472
We all have stories to tell. Pick up the pen and get started in this guided workshop with simple writing prompts. Learn practical tips for sustaining a writing habit you can stick with and enjoy. No prior writing experience necessary. Please bring a notebook, a pen and any writing tools that serve you. All adults are welcome to attend but space is limited. Please email meekins@cwmars.org to register.
This program is free to attend and is supported in part by a grant from the Williamsburg Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Part One: Wednesday, November 6, 6 to 7:30pm
Part Two: Wednesday, November 13, 6 to 7:30pm (Attendance is expected at both sessions.)
Becket Athenaeum, 3367 Main Street, Becket MA - Phone: (413) 623-5483
In this fun, supportive two-part workshop, you'll begin a writing habit you can stick with and enjoy. Learn practical tips and easy prompts that will allow you to develop a writing routine and complete your writing project. Please bring a notebook, a pen and any writing tools that serve you. All adults are welcome to attend but space is limited. Please preregister here through the library.
Refreshments will be served!
This program is free for participants and is supported in part by grants from the Becket and Washington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
"It was amazing! I'm still smiling from the fun I had. Please check out Pick Up the Pen to see how you can cultivate the writer within."
"Join talented author, Lara Tupper! Her teaching style cultivates reflection, self-compassion, and confidence in our ability to write our stories."
"Thank you for your kindness and care. It was exactly what I needed."
"Thank you. Your workshop offered me permission to tell my story."
Private Book Coach/Manuscript Guidance
Need a coach? I'm taking new clients in need of manuscript development and/or editing services (fiction or nonfiction, long or short). I also work with writers to complete their projects by meeting with them monthly. See the CONTACT page and send me an email to chat about this.
Online or in person. After 20 years of teaching in universities and retreat centers, I now bring workshops to companies seeking stress relief for employees. I believe creative expression allows us to bring our best selves to work. As evidenced in studies by Dr. James Pennebaker, expressive writing helps us to clarify ideas and intentions on the page. This practice is particularly valuable in workplace settings with high turnover and high stress levels, where expressive writing boosts employee morale.
This class includes a brief overview of the health benefits of expressive writing/journaling, short writing exercises and tools for sustaining stress reduction through writing. No prior writing experience necessary. Please reach our for further details via the CONTACT page.
Recommendations
"Our organization hired Lara Tupper to guide a group for a Journal Writing for Wellness seminar. Lara was excellent! She led the group in a safe, supportive way, and taught us how to uncover gratitude in our lives. She was professional, easy to understand, and was extremely knowledgeable. I found the seminar incredibly helpful, and I'm looking forward to having her come back for another session in our community. THANK YOU, Lara!" - Joanna Geiger, Marketing Manager at Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association
"The practice of journaling is an important practice at any time, but especially during this time of uncertainty. We engaged Lara to educate our team on journaling for wellness. After the session, I received messages of positive feedback thanking me for arranging the session. I encourage you to have Lara join one your team meetings...happier colleagues makes for a better workplace!"- Bridget McGregor, CPA, Senior Vice President Accounting at GID Investment Advisers LLC
"Lara brings skill, knowledge and humor to her writing classes. She makes participants feel welcome and leads experiences that help people find new perspective. Always quick with a smile, Lara is reliable, experienced and a delight to be around." - Ellen Rose Cunningham, Senior Workshop Programmer, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
Buy them for the writers you know and love or buy them for yourself! Certificates can be used for any Swift Ink offerings: monthly Pick Up the Pen sessions (online), 2024 Workshop Series (online), private coaching (online/in person) or private manuscript guidance (online/in person). Cute paper cards (below) or digital versions available. Please reach out via the contact page.
Past Events (selected)
The view from Herman Melville's study.
Travel Writing from Home with Lara Tupper, Saturday, April 15, 2023, 2:00 - 5:00 pm. When traveling to a new place, near or far, we tend to notice and appreciate the details of our surroundings. The challenge is to apply this outlook to our everyday lives at home. We'll look to Melville and other well-travelled writers of the Berkshires (and beyond) for insights; we'll discuss ways to approach familiar settings with fresh eyes. No writing experience necessary, just a willingness to observe.
Hot Plate Brewery, Pittsfield, MA: Proustian Literary Reading
Sunday, September 19, 6:00 pm: inspired by Maine's Lobster Week. As restaurants around Maine prepare for a week celebrating the state's iconic crustacean, two authors will be dishing up their experiences in a free Zoom presentation Sunday, September 19 at 6 p.m. (ET) around Maine fiction, the lobster industry, and how the sea has shaped their writing. Lara Tupper, a Boothbay native, will discuss her new book, Amphibians. K. Stephens, who has lived in Midcoast Maine for almost 30 years, is the author of The Ghost Trap. Join Lara and K. for a lively chat featuring a brief reading from each author and 12 recommended Maine books to put on your reading list.
Thursday, September 9, 2021, 6:00 PM: My hometown! Outdoor event on the library lawn. Lara Tupper reads from her new short story collection, AMPHIBIANS. Free. Books for sale via Sherman's Bookstore. 4 Oak Street
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 Phone: 207-633-3112
Saturday, September 11, 2021: Books in Boothbay, Maine's Largest Book Fair, 9 AM - 4: PM. I'll be there from 9 AM - 12 PM. Please come say hello, Maine friends! Boothbay Railway Village, 586 Wiscasset Road (Route 27), Boothbay, ME 04537. Free entry. Books for sale via Sherman's Books.
Saturday, August 21, 2:00 - 4:00 PM. In store-event: Lara reads from her new story collection, AMPHIBIANS, signs books and sings some tunes with special guest, Bobby Sweet. Masks required inside. 63 State Rd.
Great Barrington, MA 01230 Phone 413-645-3256
Thursday, July 29, 7:00 - 8:00 pm: Lara Tupper reads from her new short story collection, AMPHIBIANS. With novelist Alexis Schaitkin, author of SAINT X. Dewey Hall, 91 Main Street, Sheffield, MA.
Thursday, March 25, 2021: 7:00 -8:00 pm ET - FREE VIRTUAL EVENT- Lara Tupper in Conversation with Joan Silber, her mentor and teacher.
Saturday, March 20, 2021: 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET- FREE VIRTUAL EVENT- Lara Tupper in conversation with Matt Tannenbaum, proprietor of The Bookstore in Lenox, MA. Recording archived HERE.
Saturday, November 14, 2020: 1:00 pm ET: Thank you Boston Book Festival and Massachusetts Center for the Book for featuring OFF ISLAND in #MassBookBites! Snippets of new books from across Massachusetts. My short video, with accompaniment from Bobby Sweet, is available to view HERE @47:10. I'm proud to represent the #Berkshires.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020: 7:00 pm- 8:00 pm: Author Talk with Lara Tupper, who'll discuss her new novel, OFF ISLAND. Hosted by the New Lebanon Library. The link to join the event will be available on July 15 on the NLL website: www.newlebanonlibrary.org
Friday, June 19, 2020, 7:30 pm: Hosted by Mia Boynton of Monhegan Memorial Library on Monhegan Island, ME, where Lara's new novel, OFF ISLAND, is set. Christina brought art history to life in her latest novel, A PIECE OF THE WORLD. We'll discuss Paul Gauguin, Andrew Wyeth and our mutual love for Monhegan. Zoom link HERE (or click above): https://monheganlibrary.com/events/
Thursday, March 26, 6:30 EST via ZOOM: Lara Tupper and other authors from Encircle Publications read from their work.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 7:00 pm: Lara Tupper in conversation with Bill Roorbach about her new novel, OFF ISLAND. 273 Congress Street, Portland, ME
Saturday, March 7, 2020, 1:00 pm: Book party and reading from OFF ISLAND. 3367 Main Street, Becket, MA. My local library! With special guest Bobby Sweet. Plus, paint by numbers, mystery prizes and treats.
Why and How I Teach
As a creative writing adjunct professor at Rutgers University (2002-2010), I taught fiction and nonfiction courses to students with rich stories to tell. For the past eleven years, I've served as writing faculty for Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers.
In addition to traditional writing workshops in fiction and non-fiction (in which members read one another's writing over the course of several meetings), I offer non-traditional classes (day, weekend or week-long), both online and in person. Please see "Past Events" for details. I believe in creating a safe, supportive environment in which writers can feel free to be messy and bold. I believe in honest kindness and kind honesty. I like to make jokes. I can't promise they'll be funny. I'll never force you to share words that need to remain private. I consider it my privilege to hold space for your creative efforts.
For more information, please get in touch via the CONTACT page.
Kind endorsements from class participants:
"Lara is tough but tender."
"This instructor is kick-a$$. Love her!"
"Lara is a very focused and compassionate teacher."
"She rocked the house! It was perfect. I just want to see her sing!"
"I like that you're in the world, Lara Tupper."
"Lara is a world class writer and teacher."
"
[Lara] is an inspirational presenter."
"I recently took your class, The Traveling Mindset, which was terrific! Your workshop offered me permission to write. Thank you for your kind guidance." -Amy, Kripalu Center
"Your workshop has helped me stay connected to myself—I’m now writing every day. I think I can speak for all of us [in class] when I say you are a great mentor. Thank you for your kindness and care." –Elaine, Kripalu Center
"I had a breakthrough, thanks to you-- I truly enjoyed your weekend workshop. It was calming, centering, inspiring and affirming. It was exactly what I needed." - Kathleen, Genesis Center
"Thank you again for your wonderful and evocative workshop on Gratitude Journaling. The freedom and trust with which people wrote and shared their work is a testament to the safe atmosphere that you created." -Gloria, Kripalu Center
"Thanks for a great class - it was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. What made it nice was the gentle community building, the short and easy 'go-around-the- room' at the start, and brief, meditative centering." -David, Kripalu Center
"Thank you for the workshops you offered today. I appreciate you bringing your gift to others and I resonate with the energy you share in your teaching. Best to you!" - Janel, Kripalu Center
"Everyone was singing your praises! You had a great crowd. You have such a lovely down to earth sincere presence and open manner, it was a pleasure to meet you in person and to be a part of your workshop."
"We loved the collage workshop - in fact, [my wife] has done it a number of times since then with close friends and her sister. Breakthrough stuff. Thanks for opening that door for her!" - Ned Leavitt, founder, The Ned Leavitt Literary Agency
"See what R and R at Kripalu and one hour with you can do? Thanks, Lara, for initiating this first of many writing journeys that will find their way to the world of readers." - Bill, Kripalu Center
“Lara Tupper is a teacher with the ability to bring forth the very best in her students. In only a two hour session at Kripalu, Lara turned a room full of people (about 72) into confident writers – pros and novices alike. We wrote from the heart, soul and depth of past and present feelings. The sharing of our stories made all of us believe in our own creativity, abilities and in ourselves.” - Berkshire Festival of Women Writers representative Lorrin Krouss
"The writing class was my favorite. She is amazing!"
"Ms. Tupper, who presented the writing workshop on New Year's Eve, ran a fantastic session and stimulated an urge to write fiction that I'm very excited about."
More Past Workshops (some favorites)
Kripalu's Best of the Berkshires Week: The Berkshire region has long been an enticing place for writers. Learn about four prominent authors who lived and wrote nearby: W.E.B. Du Bois (of Great Barrington), Nathaniel Hawthorne (of Stockbridge), Herman Melville (of Pittsfield), and Edith Wharton (of Lenox). In this informal writing workshop, we'll read brief excerpts from the authors, consider their ties to the area, and try some brief writing exercises of our own. No prior writing experience necessary.
Four-day retreat with presenters Jeff Zimmerman, Lauren Behrman, Ken Nelson and Bobby Sweet. Find resilience and rewrite your story through open discussion, yoga and creative practices (journaling and song). Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Stockbridge, MA.
IS183 Art School, Stockbridge, MA: Less is more, as they say. Perhaps this is why Ernest Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words and called it his best work. In this light-hearted workshop we’ll look at tales from the popular Six-Word Memoirs series and compose our own. Warning: this writing practice is highly addictive! More artful than a tweet; less complicated than a sonnet. In honor of St. Valentine.
Setting Intention Through Journaling and Creative Expression, a four-day retreat: While the new year provides a fresh opportunity to initiate change in our lives, many of us could use support and a new way to manifest our desires. Join Kripalu faculty members Lara Tupper and Izzy Lenihan as they open up the creative passion that exists in all of us to better understand—and better act upon—the wishes you have for your life, both large and small. This program explores the catalyzing effect that journaling and other creative exercises can have in moving change and aspirations forward. Discover fun and engaging techniques designed to clear the clutter of the right brain, opening a path to skillful and intuitive action to achieve your goals. Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Stockbridge, MA
Tuesday, November 7, 2017: On Election Day 2017 (ie: the one year anniversary of Election Day 2016), join me for for a short and painless journaling exercise, completed at your leisure, wherever you happen to be. No writing experience necessary, just a willingness to consider positive intentions on this day. Part of the #ConciousnessAndCoffee movement, I invite you to spread the word and and prepare your favorite hot beverage. I'll post the specific writing prompt on the Facebook event page on November 7.
Bard College at Simon's Rock, Great Barrington, MA: Child's Play--“Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days,” said Flannery O’Connor. In this informal writing workshop, we’ll mine childhood details and draft sketches of past feats and foibles. We’ll look at published examples of writing about childhood (both from a child’s perspective and an adult’s perspective) and share our work in a supportive, friendly space. Please bring your writing tools (journal and pen or laptop) and a willingness to reminisce. berkshirewomenwriters.org.
Complete a series of writing exercises, hear recollections from others and learn tips for sustaining a writing practice at home. No prior writing experience necessary, just a willingness to recall past and present details in a supportive, friendly space. Genesis Center, Westfield, MA
A writing workshop for travelers near and far. Sheffield, MA
Yoga and writing, a four-day retreat co-taught with yoga teacher extraordinaire Cristie Newhart.
What are your true stories? And which stories can you let go of? Write and reflect on the beautiful Genesis Center grounds in Westfield, MA
Lenox Library, Lenox, MA, Welles Gallery: a memoir- writing workshop about mining childhood details.
Spectrum Playhouse, Lee MA - Write and share new work each week in this intimate and supportive writing circle.
Soak in fresh air and new writing ideas in the scenic Berkshire hills. Henry David Thoreau did his best thinking while sauntering through the Massachusetts woods; this workshop offers guided walks on Kripalu's trails, discussion of naturalist poems and essays and creative writing exercises designed to cultivate awareness. Thoreau, who walked with little regard for speed or purpose, provides an apt lesson in being present with what is. Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Stockbridge, MA
From the archive: writing stuff
Thank you, Rob Caldwell!
Hosted by Amanda Stern.
With Jim Shepard.
McSweeney's, Tin House, Smith Mag, and the Rumpus present a night of comedy, music and readings. Amy Tan, Jonathan Ames, Ricky Moody and Six-Word Memoirists read their work. (Mine is about inapproriate internet time.)
With fellow Six-Word Memoirists (on Love and Heartbreak).
With fellow Writers Room readers.
A celebration of the "Who's Still Alive" issue at Piano's, Lower East Side.
The Rutgers University Libraries' exhibition will shine a spotlight on the superlative scholarship at Rutgers by highlighting the recent publications of university faculty. Publications will be added to the Rutgers University Libraries' collections when the exhibition closes.
Moderator for panel discussion with authors Varley O'Connor, Vyvyane Loh and James Reed.
My Nana made sure the house was filled.
The Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance hosts Maine writers for an afternoon of book signings and cool plants.
My hometown bookstore.
Lenox Library, Lenox, MA: Celebrate the power of women's words in honor of International Women's Day. Readers will share short excerpts from Writing Fire: An Anthology of Women's Words (Green Fire Press) and new work.
Becket Arts Center, Becket, MA: Excerpts and songs from Lara Tupper's novel, A Thousand and One Nights, with Bobby Sweet on guitar