Learn to Write With Me
I have been teaching students worldwide how to write life story, books and articles for over 20 years now. In classrooms and at conferences I have been privileged to meet and inspire thousands. As a publisher, I was able to convert many of my workshops to the page and several are available for on Amazon. When Covid hit, like many of us, I moved over to Zoom. Today, you can experience my teaching one-to-one and in small groups, by email and Zoom.
If you are lucky enough to go to The Watermill at Posara, in Tuscany, you can also attend one of my Writing Your Life Stories residential retreats.
Writing Retreats
Write Your Life Stories
The ultimate workshop on how to write your life story with journalist, teacher, editor and publisher. Learn the secrets of writing your life’s stories in Tuscany: brilliant teaching and exquisite Italy in one fantastic week.
*Book before 1 January 2025 and receive £75 discount.
Saturday 5 July to Saturday 12 July 2025
Find Out MoreMonthly Group Workshops
Writer’s Circle
I have been teaching this class for 30 years, all over the world, both live and online. Writers at all levels can come, be inspired by the topic and each other, practise writing and learn and implement something new. Subjects may include elements of SPICE, how to improve your writing, memoir, fiction, poetry and articles.
Each class begins with warm-up exercise and continues with a lesson, exercise and feedback.
£180 for 6 x 2-hour classes.
Next class begins Thursday 3rd October 2024.
Contact Me to EnquireYour Life in Review
Join a small group of wannabe essayists/ bloggers/ columnists/ podcasters who want to write reflective, insightful pieces of up to 1500 words that build into a collection. This is memoir with a difference. Rather than writing a full-length autobiography with plot, story arc and character, you will write authentic, fulfilling essays that resonate with readers and make them think.
These personal essays will help you make sense of your experiences and what you have learned along the way. Write to show others who you are and what matters.
Homework is required between classes.
£235 for 6 x 2-hour classes.
Contact Me to EnquireLearn With Me by Email and Zoom
How to Write a How-to Book
Work 1-1 with me to brainstorm, write, edit and receive my review on at least 10,000 words of your book. Receive 7 x Zoom calls with me and six lessons to study at home, with homework set and submitted for critique one week prior to a Zoom call. Program must be completed within a year. Most people complete the course within six months. Additional review is available beyond the program for a fee.
The objective of the program is to plan your book and have written and polished 3-6 chapters.
£950 1-to-1 or £850 with a group of 4 writers
Click here to download the info pack for Book Writing Circle starting Feb/March 2024.
Contact Me to EnquireHow to Write a Memoir
Work 1-1 with me to brainstorm, write, edit and receive my review on at least 10,000 words of your book. Receive 7 x Zoom calls with me and six lessons to study at home, with homework set and submitted for critique one week prior to a Zoom call. Program must be completed within a year. Most people complete the course within six months. Additional review is available beyond the program for a fee.
The objective of the program is to plan your book and have written and polished 3-6 chapters.
£950
Contact Me to EnquireLearn With Me by Email and Home Study
Definite Articles
Practical, down to earth and crammed with information, tips and secrets gleaned from Jo’s 35 years as an international journalist, writer and author, this program is perfect for anyone who wants to write articles based on their own experience and get paid for it. Follow along with eight lessons, read the examples, do the exercises and submit to Jo for critique. Audio version of the course will be supplied.
£250
Contact Me to EnquireWrite Your Life Stories
Learn how to use the SPICE Tool Jo invented to provide writers of memoir, fiction, blogs and columns a surefire method for writing compelling stories that resonate with the reader. Follow eight lessons explaining how to write with Specifics, Place, Incident, Character and Emotion as you learn from examples and complete set exercises. Receive a video and audio versions of the lessons. Send homework to Jo for critique.
£250
Contact Me to EnquireRelease the Book Within
After writing over 30 of her own non-fiction (how-to) books, Jo has created a course that teaches others how to employ her methods too. After writing over 30 of her own non-fiction (how-to) books, Jo has created a course that teaches others how to employ her methods too. Beginning with brainstorming, moving on to plan, create an outline and start on the first chapter. Book divided into eight lessons with homework sent to Jo for critique.
£250
Contact Me to EnquireTestimonials
See what writers say about working with me.
Robin Pascoe
Author of Homeward Bound
“I would like to thank you for the time, effort and commitment you have given to Homeward Bound over the last year. Your vision as an editor has taken a fledgling idea into its current, highly regarded form.”
Mariam Ottomofiore
Author of This Messy Mobile Life
“Thank you once again for being so amazing to work with. In the middle of all the end of year craziness, I paused to look at my book and feel very proud of how it has been written. Truly feel that thanks to your help and advice, I’ll be putting the best version out there.”
Matthew Smith
Author of The Millennial Money Masterplan
“Mentoring with you is perfect for anyone, like me, who wants to write a book and has no idea where to start. Without you I would still be sitting in the garden thinking about it. I could not have done it without you.”
Tanya Crossman
Author of Misunderstood and Thongs or Flipflops
“That’s why you’re worth the money. You just make a book better.”
Ruth Rusby
Author of A Celebration of Breastfeeding
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the How to Write a How-to book course. It has been particularly great to be in a small group, writing about different subjects but doing everything we can to support each other. We have all come a long way in the last few months and I don’t want this journey to end. The whole is so much greater than the sum of the parts.”
Andrea Anstiss
Author of Juicy Life
“Still totally buzzed, thrilled, over the moon. I honestly can’t thank you, Jack and Paddy enough. One client and one friend have already received their copies and it looks GORGEOUS!”
Dave Scarlett
Author of The Soul Millionaire and The Flight of the Soul Millionaire
“A magical week being coached by Jo in this sublime place, Posara, is just such an experience. I’ve created such beauty with my pen, speaking more lyrically, powerfully and piercingly, than I ever thought possible.“
