Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“Many writers will find themselves at home here because Centered is more than a school—it’s an ethos. ”
Stephen Forman
Contemplative writing practice and discussion on the first Wednesday of every month, throughout the creative cycle of the year. (Calls are recorded, if you can’t join live.)
Write with your creative curiosity, and see what appears for you. You might use the themed reflection questions to create a contemplative essay or poem, or learn something that's key to your current work in progress.
Or you might simply enjoy your own writing practice, drawing on the settled energy we create together.
Generate work that feels genuinely yours. Whether you’re beginning your first journal entry or completing your next book, enjoy the peace that comes from understanding your creative process.
Learn techniques from Story Is a State of Mind that integrate intellect and intuition. Build rhythms and rituals that make your creative practice a source of energy rather than depletion.
Move beyond external validation to discover what you genuinely want to create. Through daily prompts and mindful practices, reconnect with your curiosity and joy.
Connect with a thoughtful community that sees writing as both craft and contemplative practice. Share the journey with people who celebrate your growth and honour the mystery of creativity and curiosity.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
11:30am - 1:00pm ET
(timezone converter)
Free for members
Wednesday, November 11th, 2026
11:30am - 1:00pm ET
(timezone converter)
How do we look after ourselves, when the very subjects we’re writing about can bring on stress, fear, and sadness? As writers, we are often compelled to explore topics deeply personal to ourselves – even ones which are emotionally challenging. Our own lived experiences can inform our writing with unmistakable authenticity and insight. But at the same time, the act of writing itself can threaten to reignite our own trauma or expose us to new pain. In this workshop we’ll consider how to undertake our writing journeys in a way which feel safe and reassuring.
Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, you’ll learn tips and strategies to practice self-care and exercise your artistic authority over the material, as you move forward in the writing process, and onwards to publication. We’ll also reflect on the ethical dilemmas involved in writing about certain subjects and tackle our fears which might be holding us back. The workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Winnie M Li, whose three novels were informed by her experience of sexual violence and subsequent activism and research on the topic. There will be time for questions afterwards, and the workshop should leave you feeling positive and reassured about the possibilities of writing.
Winnie M Li is the author of three novels and Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham in the UK. A former film producer, her debut Dark Chapter won The Guardian’s Not The Booker Prize, was nominated for an Edgar Award, and translated into ten languages. She has since adapted it for the screen. Her follow-up Complicit was a New York Times Editors’ Choice and shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award. Her most recent novel What We Left Unsaid has been called ‘heartbreaking, beautiful, and confronting’ by Sarah Winman. A Harvard graduate and survivor of sexual violence, Winnie’s writing often explores gender and racial inequality, trauma, and displacement. Her social media posts on survivorhood and recovery often go viral, with over 30 million views in total. Winnie holds a PhD from the London School of Economics in Media and Communications and an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland.
Free for members
Recordings are always available to Centered members.
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“The intention and care that you all put into Centered, and the writing school as a whole, is truly inspiring. I’ve never been in a community offering quite like what you, Sarah, and the team have created. I’m having a ball in it and love that it is a dip-in-and-out-with-no-pressure vibe.”
Woz Flint
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“Today everything came together and I’m seeing the fruits of my labour/practice pay off. I can see it working. Thank you for your community, monthly calls, guest lecturers, kind words and expertise. Loving it.”
Jesse McQuay
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“As a part of Centred, I feel that there is support if I’d like to reach out for and this sense of being supported, seeing and been seen has made all the difference to my writing practice.”
Reshmy Kurian
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“[Centered is] a timeless magical place where people who love writing and the writing process, gather to share, learn and support one another through wherever they are in their own writing journey. It is a place that encourages, supports and helps move you along the path of writing that is meant for you. Its space is timeless because also the sessions are recorded, and this allows you the benefit of going back through materials when it suits your schedule. Wisdom and Community to carry you through a wild writing life.”
Vitra Kalsi
“What you all do to create the warmth of community online is nothing short of magic. I’ve been involved with lots of online writer communities. Nothing beats Sarah Selecky Writing School.”
Sidura Ludwig
Author of You Are Not What We Expected
Inspiring Warm-Ups to Generate Ideas
Our daily prompts are deliberately random and unique, designed to set off sparks in your mind. 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 and feedback from your peers gives you momentum, so you look forward to your writing practice.
Write to a prompt every day, and turn a fun exercise into a valuable habit.
You may also choose to receive your Daily Prompts by email, every day at 6:00am ET, so you can get writing first thing.
Your writing mastermind
These are consistent, brief, and actionable meetings for writers who want to get focused quickly, hold each other accountable, keep each other motivated, help each other find resources, and otherwise get amazing work done every week. This is the writing group you've been wishing for.
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 friends, teachers, and colleagues, exchange meaningful feedback, and join stimulating discussions.
Our spheres are on a private site, to keep distraction at a minimum. We don’t use social media, so you can stay focused 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.
Join Sarah Selecky on the first Wednesday of each month for contemplative writing, hot seat coaching, and focused co-writing time.
Use these sessions to gradually create your own Creative Almanac throughout the year, apply insights to your current work in progress, or simply deepen your relationship with writing in community.
Sessions are at 11:30am ET on the first Wednesday of every month and are recorded for replay.
Learn from bestselling authors of different genres, creativity coaches, agents, publishers, and more experts throughout your membership in Centered.
Guest mentors join us every month for live workshops and active learning. These workshops are recorded, so you can watch the replays whenever you like.
Every month, we explore books about the art and craft of writing. We discuss technique, experiment with new approaches, and geek out on what we’re learning together.
This is your chance to learn, practice, and discover how much easier it is to try new techniques when you’re not doing it alone. You don’t need to have read the whole book—each gathering is self-contained, so you can drop in whenever you like.
Make an impact, get published
On the 3rd Sunday of the month, we submit our work! Send your writing to the contests, agents and journals with whom you want to publish. When we submit together, it’s more fun, and we feel empowered, motivated, and encouraged.
Don’t have anything to submit yet? Come anyway, and tap into our combined energy to create or polish your story to get it ready for submission at a later date.
Powerful writing time every week
These are fun and energizing 45-minute sessions that bring focus to your day! We’ll meet in the Field to say hello and write together using the Daily Prompt for ten minutes. After, you may choose to read your writing to the group for extra accountability and that sweet little rush that comes from reading aloud.
Sessions are Thursday at 8:00pm ET and Fridays at 11:30am ET.
Read like a writer, with other writers
Twice a year, we get a chance to speak on behalf of the books we choose to recommend to each other. We look at books from both sides—as writers and as readers. We discuss the whys and hows of the writing itself, and find new ways to solve our craft problems.
Our book club is about reading widely, layering our influences, and benefitting from the shared intellect, passion and wonder that is alive in our community.
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. Our reading series happens twice a year.
Our gathering space
The Field is our private gathering and writing space. It feels kind of like Zoom meets Narnia. We’ve designed it for you to have easy and fun spontaneous co-writing dates with each other. The Field is always open to members, 24 hours a day, in any timezone. Whenever you need motivation and companionship, reach out to meet a member for a writing date in our virtual meadow.
An assessment to guide your focus
As a Centered member, you’ll get 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.
You 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 it time to go back to the beginner’s mind? Find out using this unique, sensitive, and detailed assessment tool we created for our members.
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“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
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“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 ... This 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
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“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
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“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
“What you’ve built for writers is something hard to find: a safe, supportive, non-competitive space where people can really build each other up and cheer each other on, while growing their skills and finding their heart stories. I love being a part of it.”
Sidura Ludwig
Author of You Are Not What We Expected
I
’m a writer, novelist, and the founder of this program. I started teaching creative writing in my living room in 2001. Since then, I’ve taught thousands of writers from more than 20 countries around the world how to write what they want to read.
I believe writing is both an art and a contemplative practice.
Centered is a sparkling collective that exists alongside our creative writing programs. Most members are our graduates, but all writers are invited to join us.
Imagine how it would feel to have a genuine connection with your writing every day — and to belong to a group of writers on a similar journey.
If you’re at a stage where a generous and supportive community of writers would benefit your creative career, I invite you to try a month in Centered.
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“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
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“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
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“Many writers will find themselves at home here because Centered is more than a school—it’s an ethos. ”
Stephen Forman
Ready for authentic connection with writers like you? Log in for support and conversation in a writing community you’ll love. Find a writing partner and enjoy daily writing prompts, feedback, and monthly workshops that help you grow as a writer. Be more productive! Join co-writing sessions, work with guest mentors, discover what other writers are reading, share your work in our live readings, and more.
Find your writing community.
*
“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
Writing is intellectual work and soul work. We create space for both your analytical mind and your intuitive wisdom, knowing that the best writing emerges when these aspects work together.
Like the dandelion that grows through concrete and transforms overnight from gold to silver, creativity is powerful and mysterious. Every part of the creative process nourishes us, from root to flower. We support each other through uncertainty, celebrate breakthroughs, and remember that every phase of the writing life has its gifts.
We create a global ecosystem where writers contribute their authentic gifts, whether they're emerging or established, exploring new territory or seeking renewed connection. Your stories and wisdom enrich our collective growth, just as the community nourishes your individual flourishing.
What you pay attention to grows. We amplify strengths, celebrate progress, and help each other see the light in our work. This approach builds confidence and sustainable creative practices.
Whether you’re optimistic or nervous, confident or confused, focused or searching, you belong here. We understand that growth happens in cycles, and every phase offers its own opportunities for learning and connection.
Memberships to Centered are non-refundable. Your membership will automatically renew monthly. You may cancel at any time.
(Subscription fees are subject to change)
For more details, please review our complete terms and conditions.
Photo credits of dandelion images:
Wolfgang Hasselmann + Alexa T, Viridi Green on Unsplash.
