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Meetings Agenda
For the upcoming programming year, we have workshops planned for September, October, January, March, April, and June. Meetings will held on the second Sunday of each month, unless otherwise noted. We may meet on a different date, either to avoid a holiday weekend or to accommodate a speaker's availability.
Meetings are held either on Zoom or in-person at the Freeport or Brunswick Library.
September 14, 2025
Hacking Your Creative Brain
Apply the scientific method and brain science research to help you make the most of your creative brain and your time by learning how to build a personalized habit plan that supports them both. Using the scientific method—and leaving self-judgement at the door—we discuss the hallmarks of the creative brain, successful habit building, and how to find our own most productive creative process. In my presentation, we work to answer the questions:
What are the hallmarks of creativity?
Why is my creative process different from other writers?
How can I discover my most efficient and satisfying creative process?
What habits can I build to support and maximize my creative writing process?
A Vermont dairy farmer’s daughter and former Wyoming cowgirl, Jaime has been a science writer for nearly twenty years, translating the complicated scientific research by geneticists, engineers, and animal scientists into results understood by the average rancher, farmer, and ag-related business owner. When she isn’t indulging her nerd-love for all things science, she spends her time crafting steamy real-world romance novels as Jaime P. Bradley, wrangling four-kids and numerous farm animals alongside her former U.S. Marine husband, and adding an impossible number of tasks to her to-do list.
Schedule
1:00 pm - Come early & write!
1:30 pm - Member check-in & chat
2:15 pm - Business meeting
3pm - Workshop
On Zoom, Members check your email for the link
October 12, 2025
Workshop TBD
Workshop Description
Workshop Speaker TBD
Worshop Speaker Bio
Schedule
1:30 pm - Member check-in & chat
2:15 pm - Business meeting
3pm - Workshop
On Zoom
January 11, 2026
Workshop TBD
Workshop Description
Shirley Jump is an award-winning, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and USA Today bestselling author who has published more than 80 books in 24 countries, that have sold more than 8 million copies. She has spoken all over the world about the power of narrative and how to create compelling books.
She knows the path to publication isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, so to help writers write their best possible book, she hosts the Write Better Fiction with Shirley Jump YouTube channel, where Shirley unlocks the secrets behind compelling novels and delves into the psychological aspect of overcoming creativity-stoppers like doubt and perfectionism.
Schedule
1:30 pm - Member check-in & chat
2:15 pm - Business meeting
3pm - Workshop
On Zoom
February 8, 2026
Pinterest for Authors: Grow Your Platform Without Social Media Overwhelm
Tired of chasing algorithms and posting daily just to stay visible? You’re not alone—and good news! You’re not out of options. In this eye-opening (and totally doable!) 1-hour session, bestselling author and writing educator Melissa Bourbon introduces authors to the long game of Pinterest—a powerful and underutilized tool for author visibility. With Pinterest, your content keeps working for you long after you hit publish. With more than 465 million monthly active users (98 million in the U.S. alone), Pinterest offers massive opportunity for discoverability—and yet, most authors aren’t using it at all.
In this session, you’ll learn:
Why Pinterest isn’t just “another platform” (hint: it’s not social—it’s searchable)
What authors can pin—even if you don’t have a blog
The basics of Pinterest SEO (and why keywords matter more than followers)
How to use pins, boards, and lead magnets to build long-term visibility
Whether you’re traditionally published, indie, or just starting out, Pinterest can help you attract new readers, grow your email list, and build a platform that works quietly behind the scenes—while you write.
Come curious. Leave inspired and with a clear understanding of how and why Pinterest should be part of every author’s marketing strategy.
Melissa Bourbon
Melissa Bourbon is a national bestselling author of more than thirty-five novels, including the Book Magic Mysteries, the Magical Dressmaking series, and the Bread Shop Mysteries (written as Winnie Archer), and The House of Spells and Secrets, written Ivy Cassidy. A former secondary English/Language Arts teacher and seasoned creative writing instructor, Melissa brings her passion for storytelling and education to every workshop she leads. She is the founder of WriterSpark Academy, an online school dedicated to helping writers strengthen their craft, find their voice, and build sustainable writing lives. Through in-person and virtual workshops, presentations, and online courses, Melissa inspires writers at all levels with engaging instruction rooted in real-world experience.
Schedule
1:30 pm - Member check-in & chat
2:15 pm - Business meeting
3pm - Workshop
On Zoom
Previous Meetings
June 21, 2025
Page Turner Pacing
Traditional episodic television writers are skilled in keeping viewers in their seats during commercial breaks. They’re also adept at keeping viewers talking and guessing in the seven days between each episode. Learn the tips and tricks show runners use to hold tension and attention so that you can keep readers in their seats as you serialize your prose! Let veteran television writer, Ines Johnson teach you her twelve-point method to structure each episode of your serial, as well as techniques to tease, lead, and hook readers from episode to episode.
Ines Johnson
Lover of fairytales, folklore, and mythology, Ines Johnson spends her days reimagining the stories of old in a modern world. She writes books where damsels cause the distress, princesses wield swords, and moms save the world. Ines writes books for strong women who suck at love. If you rocked out to the twisted triangle of Jem, Jericha, and Rio as a girl; if you were slayed by vampires with souls alongside Buffy; if you need your scandalous fix from Olivia Pope each week, then you’ll love her books!
Schedule
12 pm - Member check-in & chat
1 pm - Annual meeting
2 pm - Workshop
On Zoom
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