CLEAR A CHANNEL FOR YOUR CRAFT.
The thrill of finishing a writing project is hard to beat. What’s even better? The deep satisfaction of a well-maintained writing practice that carries your craft forward from one project to the next.
Maintaining momentum can feel like a monumental task
but here’s a secret all successful writers know:
“Connection with the creative process is a perpetual act of drift and return.”
~Summer Brennan
Blocks can lead to breakthroughs.
Even detours inspire new routes.
Sometimes darkness opens paths steered by the stars.
There’s always a way back in
and the Inlet can help you find it.
That “in” may be applying a craft tip from master class or trying one some writing practice advice from a course video. It may be hitting a beta read deadline, showing up to a group writing challenge, or attending a breakout session to troubleshoot with your peers.
Or your inlet may simply be the attitude you take into your work–kindness towards the editor within. Determination. The curiosity and focus you imagine a writer you admire takes to see their work clearly and wisely.
When carrying your craft weighs you down, you can reach out to your fellow writers–and an experienced writing coach–to lighten the load.
Signing up for the Inlet Salon is like enrolling in a navigation course for your craft, an accountability program to keep you moving forward, and a beta readers club to gut-check your work when you need it—all in one offering.
Join the Inlet Salon to…
Balance the isolation of writing with the uplift of community.
Discover multiple techniques for breaking through blocks and building momentum.
Renew your faith in your own unique voice.
Gain confidence–and strength–carrying your craft forward day in and day out.
Make the process of writing itself more meaningful and rewarding.
Delight in reading with more scrutiny, curiosity, and pure pleasure.
Each month you’ll study high-level craft techniques to deepen the meaning of a story, poem, or work of nonfiction (our craft inlet is metaphor), and share the ebb and flow of the process with likeminded writers doing the same. Sharpen your vision, clarify your voice, and deepen trust in your own choices in drafting and revision.
Spots are open for the fall/winter 2024 season and the winter/spring 2025 season. Contact Angela for details at angelarydell@gmail.com.
If you are looking for a supportive, compassionate mentor to help you unleash your creative potential, I highly recommend working with Angela Rydell. I’ve had the pleasure of participating in Angela’s Flash Fiction Salon not just once, but twice. Several of the pieces I’ve gone on to publish found their genesis in this wonderful workshop. Angela’s continual friendship and support has been a true gift. ~Kristin Tenor, former CRAFT editor-in-chief/flash fiction section editor
What kind of writers will benefit most from the Inlet Salon Program?
The Inlet Salon is welcomes…
Craft-curious writers who love deep dives into language and the making of a piece from the inside out.
Active writers who want to connect with peers for a beta read to receive a new perspective on their work.
Writers returning to the page after time away.
Writers who benefit from community connection–thinking through craft out loud, working through creative problems and letting a hive mind help with creative solutions.
Writers who want light accountability through frequent bi-weekly sessions, from craft conversations to live write-along challenges and more.
The salon helps you ponder out loud, discover what you didn’t know you knew, adapt to new phases in drafting, and keep writing forward with craft strategies and mindset resets. Get support along the way.
You’ll be among writers both published and unpublished–drafting and finishing short work and long. First books. Series. Newest collections of poems. Writers returning to publish again after time away. Beginning their writing journey. All working to write their best work yet.
Angela is a dedicated pedagogue who respects the craft / art of teaching as much as she does the craft / art of writing. She treats both arts with great care, and her students are the better for it. With her support, I was able to complete my first full short story draft! ~Melissa Reiser, Madison, WI
Catalyze your creativity.
Find a new perspective on perseverance.
Develop discernment as you level-up your craft and better edit your own work.
Sharpen your craft tools every month.
Attain more agency over your writing practice.
Introducing the “Metaphor in the Making” series: Fall/Winter Season (Sept 12-Dec 10) and Winter/Spring Season (Jan 23 – April 15)
I’ve worked with over 1,000 writers, taught creative writing for twenty years, and though I often get questions like “How do I plot,” “Is my imagery any good?” or “How do I create a character readers care about?” the most important question writers need to ask is this:
“What is my (poem, story, essay) REALLY about?”
Mastering craft techniques like description, character development, or showing rather than telling alone can’t make your writing matter. They’re important! But not enough.
Our craft focus is on metaphor’s ripple effect on our writing, from the words we use to the themes they deliver.
METAPHOR IN THE MAKING
We want to make work that matters—inventive work that says “I made this,” relatable work that speaks to our audience deeply and meaningfully. Work we feel good about.
But often our vision gets blurred, our ideas scatter, and we struggle to figure out what we want to say. Ironically, our best ideas frequently come into focus amidst this disarray—when we bring together disparate thoughts or images.
In this state, we question. We test. We ponder: “On the one hand…on the other…” “As___ is to___, so to…” It’s like this. It reminds me of.
Metaphor is one of the most natural ways to integrate and make connections—seeing one thing in terms of another, even (often especially!) things seemingly disconnected. That’s where the sweet spot of originality lies.
Find the heart of your poem, story, essay, memory, or novel.
Dig deep into underlying meanings that speak to what matters most to you.
Discover how to make your writing clearer and more imaginative simultaneously.
Turn surprise into the norm—so sense of the unexpected keeps growing.
When we happen upon the perfect metaphor for our ideas, it’s not uncommon to burst out cheering—but the quest to get there can cause headaches. How and when do metaphors clarify, expand, or just mystify?
We’ll come together in the Inlet’s virtual salon community for light accountability along with craft discussions that explore metaphor’s clarity and mystery, and work to strike the right balance in our work.
My half-done novel sat in a messy pile. Then I found Angela. She guided me step-by-step in rescuing and renewing my writing practice. We met via phone, or zoom in two-to-three-week intervals for nearly two years. My submission dates were mutually scheduled and provided the motivation to keep my writing on course. Her expertise and insight gave me valuable strategies for improving and completing my novel. Foremost, Angela is kind and wise imparting her guidance. If you are a writer looking for a great coach, writing expert, and a way forward, contact Angela. ~V.L. Stewart, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Here’s how we’ll work together in the Inlet Salon
INLET SALON STRUCTURE
The Inlet Salon features Metaphor Making curriculum content to support the development of your craft and your development as a writer. The salon meets for an orientation in the Salon Foyer, then meets once a month for a Large Salon session and a Metaphor in the Making Challenge, and three times a month for Salon Writing Challenges. Other Salon Spirit features like pop-up soirees and a beta readers club round out the program. The Metaphor Coaching Add-On is for writers who would like focused metaphor coaching while in the salon and includes instructor feedback. The Hybrid Track Add-On includes coaching and/or mixed group critique sessions. Details are below.
Metaphor in the Making Theme
OCT-DEC (Idea, Image & Imagination); FEB-APRIL (Transformational Arcs). All salon writers receive a “Metaphor in the Making” workbook for each season, in which you’ll work through approximately 10+ pages of workbook content, including excerpts or links to select articles for group discussion, excerpts of established writers’ work demonstrating techniques of each season, discussion questions, writing prompts, craft & self-coaching tip sheets. Accompanied by the Inlet Salon’s “Metaphor in the Making” instructional video series (at least three 15-30 minute videos per season).
Inlet Troubleshooting
ONCE A MONTH, 12pm CT, TWO WEEKS BEFORE LARGE SALON. For two of our three months, we’ll meet for an hour and a half to touch base on creative successes and challenges. Troubleshoot the impact and “ripple effect” of your crafting, especially metaphors of your own making, and try out Metaphor in the Making exercises from the workbook. We’ll take an extra step to transform craft and writing practice tips into practical editing skills that help you sharpen your vision, clarify your voice, and deepen trust in your own choices in drafting and revision. You’re invited to bring questions on metaphors you’re developing, metaphors you’ve been reading, and metaphors you’ve encountered in the wild (from TV to dinner parties to the natural world). (Medium priority meeting.)
Salon Writing Challenges
THREE TIMES A MONTH salon members open an inlet into their work and write in shared solitude or an hour and a half. Includes occasional optional writing prompts from the Metaphor in the Making workbook. Schedule varies and may converge with larger community Inlet Write-Alongs once a month. Opt-in as you’re able. Bring your WIP & try out a prompt or just bring your work-in-progress, dig in and write based on your needs “write now.” (Optional meeting.)
Large Salon
TUESDAY EVENING, MID-MONTH, 6-8 PM CT. All Inlet Salon writers come together for a Large Salon masterclass to discuss the Metaphor in the Making course content, and how they’re building metaphor into their own work. May include analysis of metaphors in published writers work, looking at development of image and play of imagination in season one, and transformational arc of character, scene, structure in poetry and prose in season 2. Also features breakout sessions with cohorts, where you’ll either share insights from discussion questions around optional reactions and workbook exercises, or talk through takeaways from your annotations (your analysis of a self-selected craft element in an established writers’ work). (Top priority meeting.)
Inlet Salon Spirit
The concept of a “salon” is founded upon conversations–in small rooms or narrow hallways–where creatives gather to share insights, talk taste, disagree, question, deepen their knowledge and expand connections. We’ll have various gatherings each month to reinforce essential techniques, troubleshoot your writing, challenge assumptions, test theories, reinforce rules, break them–and have fun along the way.
Salon Spirit Features:
- Salon Foyer Session: At the beginning of each season we’ll meet for a group orientation to look ahead to the season and get to know each other.
- Salon Annotations: Opt into sharing an annotation with salon peers. Identify a craft issue you’d like to explore in another writer’s work, make annotated notes in the margins, and share your key takeaways in a salon session.
- Salon (& Inlet) Soirees: We’ll meet periodically for pop-up Soirees, which may include author interviews, writing practice exercises, mixing & mingling, war stories & success stories of the writer’s life, & more.
- Inlet Beta Readers Club Membership: Once per season, you’ll have the chance to opt into the Inlet Beta Readers Club to get a beta-read of either your complete manuscript (novel, memoir, or collection of short stories, flash fiction, poetry) or partial manuscript with other salon novelists and/or Inlet writers or readers.
PREQUEL OPTION: Writers new to the salon can opt into an independent study of previous season’s content at a negotiated fee before a new season begins. Contact Angela for options.
INLET SALON FEES
Receive three and a half months of salon community support per season.
Fall/Winter Season (Sept 12-Dec 10); Winter/Spring Season (Jan 23 – April 15.
FEE: Single Season $475, Double Season $875.
$100 deposit due upon acceptance. Balance due before the end of your single or double season.
Contact Angela for registration details: angelarydell@gmail.com
INLET SALON ADD-ONS
METAPHOR IN THE MAKING COACHING ADD-ON
Receive all Inlet Salon content plus Metaphor in the Making Coaching, which includes one-to-one coaching and feedback on select exercises from the Metaphor in the Making workbook (revision exercises for works-in-progress and/or prompts for generating new work). Spots are limited.
Contact Angela for details: angelarydell@gmail.com
HYBRID TRACK ADD-ON
Receive all Inlet Salon content plus a tailored mix of Metaphor in the Making coaching, facilitated group critique with others in the salon, and/or Novel Salon sessions (slots are limited).
Contact Angela for details: angelarydell@gmail.com
I’m happy to talk about whether the program is a good fit for your development as a writer Email me at angelarydell@gmail.com and we can set up a time to chat and go over what option is best for you.
As a former member of Angela’s novel salon group as well as her flash fiction course, I can heartily attest to her ability to tap into each student’s potential as an individual with their goals and sensitivities in mind. She offered me feedback that was on point and practical, focusing on both what worked and what didn’t. I was looking to advance my skills as a writer and to complete a novel for publication; I didn’t want any sugar-coating, just honest feedback from an expert, and I got that. Her capacity as a group facilitator is skilled. My group consisted of writers from several genres and Angela deftly guided us as we critiqued our colleagues’ work and received their critiques of our own (which sometimes can be tough to receive!) Many of her students became traditionally published authors, including myself, and I attribute my success in part to Angela’s guidance. Her interest and encouragement of me as a writer continued even after I completed my courses as she checked in via email with kind words and wise insights, and even referred me to others in her network with whom she thought I might connect. To me, Angela goes above and beyond the role of teacher. Her caring, insightful nature will put anyone at ease and most importantly, allow them to experience the joy of writing. ~ Kimberly Behre Kenna, Branford, CT, author of Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade 2/2/23
Even when you’re passionate about your work, you know wind is fickle. Passion isn’t enough to keep you moving forward when conditions aren’t ideal. You just need to get out the oars and do the hard work of rowing. You may be surprised how much distance you cover.
Want to check to see if the Inlet Salon is a good fit?
Fill out the Salon Interest Survey:
All writers want to know how far their craft can go, and how to get there. Can you master all the techniques you need to not only find your voice but raise it so all can hear? How long until you follow through with your idea, finish a draft, get it published? Then what’s next?
Before you get any of those answers–and even after!–you need more than just a map with an x marking the spot. You need to know how to navigate your craft no matter the weather.
The Inlet gives you a map and compass, teaches you how to use them–even set them aside when you need to wander towards whatever comes up next on the horizon. And you’ll move forward along with others as you go.