Workshops, JWWS Hybrid 2022
JWWS attendees may choose one workshop to attend per workshop set; two workshops total.
You will receive a link via email to choose your workshops after you have registered for the JWWS.
Workshop Set One
Tuesday July 19
The Art of BrevityShoshana Schwartz
Pruning your prose for maximum *WOW!*
Read Shoshana Schwartz' bio
Hook Your Readers, Right from the Start!Yehudis Kormornick
Learn how to hook your readers, create a powerful opening, and write an unforgettable novel that makes a lasting impact; from the author of The Last Slave - the book that everyone's talking about!
Read Yehudis Kormornick's bio
Becoming a Career WriterSara Sumner
The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Writers
How you change your trajectory and actually get there is all in your hands.
Read Sara Sumner's bio
Veracity, Brevity, and ClarityEster Zirkind
The Tripod Upon Which All Good Writing Rests
Culled from studies with award-winning Canadian writers, learn how to express the love of the art, musicality, discipline and passion that drives exceptional writing.
Read Esther Zirkind's bio
The Art of the Interview
Chaya Sara Ben Shachar
- The technical setup (recording, typing, etc.)
- The triangle ( interviewee, editor, author)
- Interview "typing" (4 types of articles that warrant interviews)
- List of questions to ask (and why lists never work)
- Using the information for your article (techniques and examples)
- Wrapping it all up. The aftermath of the interview.
Read Chaya Sara Ben Shachar's bio
New Challenges in Old AgeLeah Abramowitz
Coming to Terms With Aging and How to Present the Topic in Writing
In the Western world people are afraid of aging, they try to look young, act young, keep old age at bay. Despite some of the negative sides of aging this period can be the most productive, satisfying and rewarding stage of life if approached with the right attitude and philosophy. Our Jewish tradition can help as well as self induction.
Read Leah Abramowitz' bio
Finding Your Inner VoiceBatya Ruddell
Recognize Your Unique Voice -- and Keep it!
Do you write from your inner or outer voice? Do you know the difference between the two? Do you often find yourself writing more for an audience and trying "to please?" How authentic can you actually be when publishing your work?
In this workshop you will learn how to become more internally focused and to give yourself permission to trust yourself and simply write what comes THROUGH you. Recognize your unique voice - and keep it!
Read Batya Ruddell's bio
If You Don't Write, They Won't KnowYehudis Rabinovitz
An introduction to the world of news journalism
Harav Elchanan Wasserman Hy"d once said, "A Jew has to find time to read the newspaper, to write in the newspaper ... and to complete Shas every year." What would he say if he were here today?
With the plethora of media sources in print and online, plus "fake news" and "fact-checkers," it's hard to know where to turn for reliable information. How about providing it yourself?
This workshop will introduce you to news writing and give you pointers for writing concisely, effectively, and compellingly. A successful news writer can reach tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of readers. (Please note that I did not mention financial recompense...)
Read Yehudis Rabinovitz' bio
Workshop Set Two
Tuesday July 19
Why Was I Rejected?Ann Goldberg
How to Write What Editors Want to Publish
You wrote a brilliant article/essay but no one is accepting it for publication – why?
In this workshop you’ll discover why writing well isn’t enough to get your work published.
You need to write something that editors want to publish, in the correct format and style for their magazine, and that they know their readers will want to read.
This workshop will Be”H show you how to do this.
Read Ann Goldberg's bio
Let the River RunLeah Kotkes
The Writing Process, Your Writing Progress, and Prospects
Prepare for a polemic helpmate-style workshop on the craft of writing, your creative process
and prospects, all designed to help each participant on their way. Send questions that will be addressed to
leahkotkes
@ gmail.com.
Read Leah Kotkes' bio
Writing Relationships, and Righting RelationshipsMiriam Miller
The Psychological Processes That Impact the Writer, Her Writing, and Publication
Writing is an expression of relationships, and a vehicle for influencing relationships.
The more the writer is aware of where her writing creates or disallows connection the more she is able to manipulate her writing towards her desired goal.
This workshop is an introduction to the concepts of where the writing impacts connection with:
- 1) Herself.
2) Her target audience
3) Her writng content or subject.
4) Her private relationships; spouse, family, extended family
5) Her professional relationships; such as editor, publisher, boss, accountant, test-readers and so on.
Read Miriam Miller's bio
Character Building Through Drama PlayFayge Goldstein
Create Interesting, Real, and Emotional Characters
I think that a big part of being successful as a writer includes being able to touch your readers. Having believable and emotional characters can change the face of any story, play or essay. By using drama games and techniques it can open the writer up to a new depth.
My goal would be to teach how this can be done by each writer in her own style. This would be done by using drama games and some writing techniques I have learned throughout the years.
Read Fayge Goldstein's bio
"Why" Do We Have a Goal?
Leora Gruen
Chances are you've set yourself some goals and have begun working towards them. But have you ever stopped to consider why you want to achieve those goals?
Finding your "Why" can be hard.
In this inspirational and practical workshop, we will explore our core values
and how to use them to keep ourselves motivated and moving forward with a clear sense of purpose.
Read Leora Gruen's bio
Being a Cornflake Author - Serial WritingMenucha Chana Levin
What You Need to Know When Writing a Serial
So you want to write a serial? Why should you? What do you need to know? Having learned the art of serial writing by trial and error during the past nine years, I will share this experience & knowledge with aspiring serial writers.
Read Menucha Chana Levin's bio
Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing for a Frum AudienceShanie Cooper
Self-publishing is an exploding industry that allows authors to finance and publish their own books without having to wait to get accepted by a publisher, followed by the months or even years it can take a traditional publisher to finish their book. On the other hand, the frum community is insular, and publishers serve as a hechsher of sorts for their books. So how can an author self-publish books in the frum world…and still get them to sell?
Read Shanie Cooper's bio
Workshops (virtual), Wed. July 20
- Israel 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- UK 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
- EDT 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm
- PDT 10:00 am - 12 noon
The Making of a Picture Book
Dena Ackerman
An Author-Illustrator Collaboration
When it comes to picture books, your story will only be as good as its illustrations. How can you ensure the best possible results? How does the illustration process work? How can you write text that leaves room (literally and figuratively) for the illustrations? What is it that we love so much about our favorite picture books, and how can we incorporate these elements into our own work? Join us as a professional illustrator answers all these questions and more!
Read Dena Ackerman's bio
Writing for Secular Readers
Rebecca Klempner
How to Connect Rather than Persuade
Many writers in the Torah world aspire to publishing personal essays or fictional narratives about the frum world for secular readers. Yet many of us employ writing strategies which hamper our success in this realm. How can we avoid those errors? Workshop participants should bring (in rough draft form) a one-to-three paragraph reflection about a recent Shabbos, yom tov, or lifecycle experience, and we will work on this, in real time.
Read Rebecca Klempner's bio
"Why" Do We Have a Goal?
Leora Gruen
Chances are you've set yourself some goals and have begun working towards them. But have you ever stopped to consider why you want to achieve those goals?
Finding your "Why" can be hard.
In this inspirational and practical workshop, we will explore our core values
and how to use them to keep ourselves motivated and moving forward with a clear sense of purpose.
Read Leora Gruen's bio
Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing for a Frum AudienceShanie Cooper
Self-publishing is an exploding industry that allows authors to finance and publish their own books without having to wait to get accepted by a publisher, followed by the months or even years it can take a traditional publisher to finish their book. On the other hand, the frum community is insular, and publishers serve as a hechsher of sorts for their books. So how can an author self-publish books in the frum world…and still get them to sell?
Read Shanie Cooper's bio
Embrace Your Inner ThiefSara Sumner
Little Ideas – Big Fiction
Learn the foolproof, three-step process that will bring any writer from stolen ideas to sensational stories.
Read Sara Sumner's bio
Write Your Way Within
Yocheved Rottenberg
Discover how to use your writing to explore your inner self
You already know that writing is powerful and can change the life of others. Now
learn how to use writing to change your own life. Using simple and enjoyable
exercises, surprise yourself as you discover a tool you never knew existed. You'll
be writing your way to great places!
Read Yocheved Rottenberg's bio
Writing Picture Books for Frum Kids
Bracha Goetz
Ask Bracha Goetz everything you've ever wanted to know about writing picture books and board books for the youngest Torah-observant book lovers.
Read Bracha Goetz' bio
Workshop Presenter Bios
Shanie Cooper is a book designer with over 18 years of experience in the publishing industry.
Her specialty is children’s books, and clients have included Menucha, Flashlight Press, Judaica Press, Israel Bookshop, Feldheim, Jewish Self-Publishing, Ktav, Urim, and many self-publishing authors.
Her picture book, How Oma Says I Love You, is due to come out on June 1, 2021. She lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, with her family.
Sara Sumner’s short fiction has been published in Binah Magazine, Inyan Magazine and Endurance Magazine.
Her first novel, Wherever You Are, was published by Menucha Publishers in 2020. Her second, a middle-grade novel, will be published by Menucha Publishers this summer.
Since November, Sara has been assisting writers with idea-generation through Sara’s Daily Writing Prompts.
Shoshana
Schwartz is an acclaimed author. Her most recent release, Grab the Reins (Tfutza Publications), follows six women through their gripping journeys toward hope, recovery, and inner peace. Her four previous books are best-selling Jewish novels (Feldheim/Sapir press).
Shoshana is an addiction and codependency specialist. She gives in-person and online addiction prevention lectures and workshops to education and mental health professionals, community leaders, and parent groups, and 12-step workshops for non-addicts.
She also offers one-on-one sessions, utilizing a variety of proven methods to help people get unstuck from the feelings and behaviors that seem unmanageable.
Yehudis Rabinovitz graduated from the University of Cambridge a very long time ago with an extremely useful degree in History.
Since then, she’s been busy writing about all kinds of things that lots of people don’t want you to know about. Compliments include: “I don’t think what you’re writing tallies with what the mainstream is saying, so I’m not going to be reading anymore.”
She currently writes for Israel National News (better known as Arutz Sheva) and Frontline News (which is happy if you know about it at all). The rest of her time is spent digesting clinical studies and regurgitating them into bite-size pieces, doing the laundry, and occasionally interacting with her children.
Ester Zirkind‘s memoir – “Where Is The Daughter I Raised?” – is an emotive account of her struggle to maintain her faith through sickness and loss, and how, against overwhelming odds, she ultimately emerged stronger. She is due to release her first novel – “The Thirteenth Gate” – in Elul, 5782.
Ester studied writing with award winning Canadian authors and was mentored for both manuscripts by David Adams Richards – one of only three writers to win the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction and non-fiction.
She is excited to bring what she has learned to the Frum world of writing, to help cultivate even more seasoned, nuanced and honest literature.
Chaya Sara Ben Shachar has been writing and translationg books and magazine articles for nearly two decades.
She has worked closely with top names in the Jewish publishing world to fulfill her goal of producing pieces of writing that resonate deeply with her readers. She has written fifteen books for children aged 10-14.
Leah Abramowitz, Bio coming soon.
Batya Ruddell is a multi-genre creative writer who works exclusively for Hamodia and Binah publications.
She is the author of seven books, probably most noted for The View From Ninveh and On Their Derech, a groundbreaking work that provides support and understanding for parents of children with struggling teens.
Batya is also a certified Narrative Therapist, mentor and creative writing teacher, and she facilitates support groups for mothers of children On Their Derech.
batya36 @ gmail.com
Ann Goldberg Ann Goldberg has been writing and publishing her work for almost half a century. She has an email course on Writing Essays for Publication, and she mentors individuals and gives workshops in person and on zoom.
She has also published her own memoir, “PATIENT – Taking Tefillah, Emunah and Humor on a Journey to Healing.”
Leah Kotkes British-born, Leah Kotkes is a published writer, editor and mentor.
In Eretz Yisroel, between 2002 and 2010 she held positions as a columnist and features writer at Hamodia, Mispacha and Binah Magazine, respectively; and was a founding member of English Mishpacha and Binah Magazine.
On sabbatical, since 2010 Leah has focused on raising her four sons and a formal literary education at university. The latter, as a means of investment in her writer’s life.
Currently, Leah is in the process of writing her second memoir and preparing new material for publication.
She now lives between Israel and America.
leahkotkes @ gmail.com
Miriam Miller Msc., practicing family therapist, date coach, Kallah teacher and author, uses the medium of writing and language to enable her clients to work on relationships and connection.
Although Miriam grew up in Chicago, most of her ‘growing up’ has been in Jerusalem, where she endeavors to utilize her own life experience towards enabling others to connect within their various contexts. To that end, her training in disciplines of emotional therapy (Master of clinical sociology), pre-maritial training (Rebbitzens Tehilla Abramov, Ruth Shemesh and Rosie Einhorm), Toras Ha’Nefesh (Rav Moshe Bauer, shlita) and education (Michlalah Jerusalem College for Women) have filled her toolbox with a variety of resources.
Miriam is currently practicing at The Place – the Jerusalem Centre for Emotional Wellbeing, and at her private practice in Har Nof. She is the author of A Boy Named 68818, and is bs”D working on two more books.
Fayge Goldstein, mother of six beautiful neshamas and Bubby to many adorable grandkids, is a lover of people. She has worked as a nurseת a counselor for teens, singles, and couples. She has also written and directed many plays. Writing has always been a part of her life. She started at a young age and wrote her first play at age 12.
Today she is the author of essays, plays and now her first co-written book is due to be published. She is grateful for every opportunity to reach out and touch others hearts.
Leora Gruen Leora Gruen, Certified Career and Life Direction Coach and NLP Practitioner, is an experienced facilitator of Temech business networking groups. She has led groups in Beitar, Ramat Beit Shemesh, Kiryat Sefer and Jerusalem, Israel.
She guides women in discovering their unique personal and business values — and how to use them to move forward!
Menucha Chana Levin, Menucha Chana Levin has connections with three continents: born in South Africa, raised in Canada and now living in Israel (Asia). Her first novel The Youngest Bride, based on her own family history, was first published in 2008 by Israel Bookshop Publications, remained popular over the years and was recently reissued in softcover.
Yehudis Kormornick is a writer, playwright, and songwriter. She is the author of the acclaimed exodus novel, The Last Slave, and is currently working on the novel’s musical adaptation.
To sign up for the monthly scoop taking you behind the scenes in the making of The Last Slave, email yehudis @ adirpress.com.
Dena Ackerman, is a fine artist, illustrator, writer, editor, and teacher. She creates portraits and custom artwork, as well as illustrations for picture books, chapter books, magazines, book covers and more. In between that and mothering five kids, she teaches drawing and painting at Start in Beit Shemesh, and online.
Yocheved Rottenberg is a certified international therapeutic writing teacher who has helped thousands of women transform their lives using the power of writing.Her best-selling book, her workshops, and her website are all entitled “Write Your Way Home.”
www.writeyourwayhome.com
Bracha Goetz is the author of 40 books that help children’s souls shine and a candid memoir for adults about her journey in Judaism.
Rebecca Klempner In addition to appearances in many frum magazines, Rebecca Klempner’s divrei Torah and personal essays on aspects of religious life have appeared on websites with a broader audience, including Tablet Magazine, The Wisdom Daily, Jew in the City, and The Accidental Talmudist’s Table for Five.
Mrs. Klempner is the author of five books, most recently Adina at Her Best, which was included in the PJ Our Way program in November 2021. She recently sold a Jewish sci-fi picture book to Kalaniot Books.
Yehudis Rabinovitz graduated from the University of Cambridge a very long time ago with an extremely useful degree in History.
Since then, she’s been busy writing about all kinds of things that lots of people don’t want you to know about. Compliments include: “I don’t think what you’re writing tallies with what the mainstream is saying, so I’m not going to be reading anymore.”
She currently writes for Israel National News (better known as Arutz Sheva) and Frontline News (which is happy if you know about it at all). The rest of her time is spent digesting clinical studies and regurgitating them into bite-size pieces, doing the laundry, and occasionally interacting with her children.
