THE WRITER’S PORTAL:
A Program of Writing + Healing
Writing. Healing. Community.
The Writer’s Portal is a program of writing for women and female-identifying creatives.
Welcome to the Writer’s Portal! This course offers guidance in writing craft, space and tools for healing/ self-support and a powerful community with other women.
The Writer’s Portal combines one-on-one writing coaching, writing workshops where you get feedback on your work, epic guest teachers in both writing + healing worlds, discussion of publishing and community write-ins.
Past participants have published work in the New York Times, Vogue, started new projects, explored totally new genres and found fresh approaches to their creativity.
This is an open-genre and open-level course (come a you are—-we are enriched by our diversity).
WHAT: Change, expand or grow your relationship with your writing. The goal is to complete a significant chunk of a current writing project OR create a packet of new work by the end of our session and establish a personal writing practice. You’ll be exposed to new forms of writing/ ways to play and build through words. Write from the inside-out.
HOW: This program combines writing workshops with visits from award-winning master teachers in both creative writing and healing modalities to expand your toolbox. You’ll receive a 1:1 coaching along the way and consistent community.
note: this year The Writer’s Portal is being hosted by WritingWorkshops.com.
WHO: You! The Portal is open to brand new writers and experienced ones. The Portal is a MAGICAL SPACE where we get to commune with our inner muse, inject poetry/prose into our lives, and get real work done.
〰 You do not have to figure it all out on your own. 〰
Sustain yourself as a creative ✹ in community.
Enter the Portal
⋆
Enter the Portal ⋆
⚡What People Are Saying⚡
“I experienced Sarah's Writing Portal during a summer when I was going deep into my writing work. The focus on community and presence was exactly what I needed. The weekly classes were inspiring and thoughtful and the always available portal provided a home base for discussions and ideas. Sarah is a fabulous guide and has a talent for nurturing and creating bonds between writers.”
— Jennifer Cloer
“Sarah has a way of curating and holding space for writers in such a unique and magical way. The Writer’s Portal offered a nice balance of community, writing workshop with valuable feedback, and learning. It definitely expended my knowledge and challenged me in a good way when it came to my personal writing. Between the online community space, writing buddies, Sarah's 1:1 meetings, I felt very supported.”
-Amy Zambrano
“The Writer’s Portal was the perfect balance of writing, workshop, instruction and mindfulness. It helped me bring myself into the present and focus on my writing as a practice. It also connected me to others with a shared interest, which made me feel less alone.”
— Former Student, Portal ‘24
“The Writer’s Portal is a page-producing, confidence-boosting, community-building celebration. The guest offerings sparkle and surprise, and Sarah’s warmth and expertise as a writer and teacher create a seasonal space for creatives to gather, grow, and generate. I left with feedback on my pages, precious writing friends, and a belief in my story and self that has enhanced my literary goals. Sarah is the real deal.”
— Paige Lalain
PORTAL GUIDES
(Guides changes each season. Here’s the Summer 2026 crew! Stay tuned for the Fall 2026 roster)
-
Sarah Herrington
FOUNDER + WORKSHOP LEADER
-
Robert Bahedry
BREATHWORK FOR CREATIVITY
-
Jessica Berg
LITERARY AGENT: Q&A ON PUBLISHING
-
Caroline Shannon
PITCHING AND PUBLISHING
ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE:
~~~
Weekly Tuesday night Zoom meeting, 7-9:15 PM EST
(contents: a writing workshop or guest teacher workshop, alternating)
One one-on-one office hour on your work and creative process (coaching ❤️—with the option to layer in/ book more)
Private Substack space for 24/7 community shares, videos and conversation in between classes
An accountability partner, someone also in the course to partner up with and write together.
Publishing + pitching protocol advice
Award-winning authors as guest teachers and workshops led by Sarah Herrington
Room to explore new types of writing + healing modalities AND the discipline to stay ON TRACK with your personal writing goal
Why Writing in Community?
Writing can be a lonely art. While we need that solitude, so much growth happens in community, too.
In that spirit, we are bringing together favorite writing teachers, friends and guides for a journey unlike any other! This is the course we wish we’d had once-upon-a-time.
Through writing we can take what feels to be the chaos of life, and make some order, some art. Or, as Joan Didion said: “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.”
By the end of the program you will…
Have a completed portfolio as per your own goals (for example: a publishable-essay with a cover letter and plan for submission, an outline of your larger project, or two polished chapters.)
Have a deeper relationship to yourself and your own creativity
Have a new, supportive community of creatives
Know how to move a piece from spark to publication
Have new tools of mindfulness, mysticism, magic and self-care to keep yourself open and fueled as a creative
Feel rebalanced in your self and your expression
Have new writing!
📓 SUMMER 2026 IS OPEN!📓
(and Fall 2026 is taking registrations here)
***
The Summer Writer’s Portal Begins: July 7, 2026
The SummerWriter’s Portal Ends: September 8, 2026
*1:1 meeting will be set up individually. This is a chance for us to set up goals and check in on them with personal coaching. Each meeting is 60 min. and can be held either on Zoom or by phone
*stay tuned for more info on the teachers and schedule as teachers are finalized
⚡Summer Schedule⚡
⚡July 7th: INTRO NIGHT! The Portal Opens
⚡July 14: Writing Workshop #1
⚡July 21: Writing Workshop #2
⚡July 28: Guest Teacher: Caroline Shannon—- Become a Pitching Pro
⚡August 4: Guest Teacher: Robert Bahedry—-Breathwork to Aid Creativity
⚡August 11: Writing Workshop #3
⚡August 18: Writing Workshop #4
⚡August 25: Guest Teacher: Jessica Berg— Industry Tips from a Literary Agent
⚡August 31: Writing Workshop #5
⚡September 8: Closing Circle. Setting personal plans for life post-Portal.
FAQs
-
Come one, come all. The Portal is open to brand new writers as well as experienced, published folks and everyone in between. Craft talks, one-on-one meetings, workshops will all meet you were you’re at. You’ll be challenged but also be in a safe space.
-
The Portal offers a beautiful mix of craft talks, experiences, and writing workshop (where you get feedback on your work, in the group!) You’ll be “workshopped” three times in the Portal. You will also get two one-on-one sessions with Sarah Herrington where you can further work and get feedback.
-
Not at all. Some writers attend with a project in mind, in hand, or just following interest and their creativity! You can be in exploring mode or have some work already. No matter what, come with an open mind and heart because with so many great teachers things could change/ open up. :)
ENERGY EXCHANGE
$1119 with Payment Plans available
HOSTED BY WRITINGWORKSHOPS.COM
THE FINE PRINT!
Scope of Practice: The Portal is an educational program, a course bringing together creative writing and healing modalities. It is not a substitute for mental health or physical health practices. Contact us with any questions.
Payment Plan and All $$ Questions: WritingWorkshops.com is hosting us this year! and handling all payment and policies. Visit their site (linked here) for info.
** pink/ rainbow portal images on this page from DeltaVenus