Welcome. Start Here. Introduce yourself. Explore upcoming events and our workshop library.
Sweat, Tears, or the Sea, navigating the vulnerabilities and magic of being a woman, mother, and writer.
As a free subscriber, you’ll receive:
Occasional essays, poetry, and prompts
Sea, Tears or the Sea also hosts an online writing community that uses creativity, craft, & curiosity to help you get closer to who you are and what you want to say.
As a paid subscriber, you’ll also receive:
Monthly workshops where you get concrete tools and templates to help you master one aspect of craft at a time
Life & Writing prompts to keep you feeling creative in your own life
Personal essays to show you how I’m pushing myself to a deeper creative level
Discounts on 1-to-1 editing and writing coaching opportunities with me
As an exclusive subscriber, you’ll also receive:
Access to paid subscriber benefits
A free 30-minute 1-to-1 writing coaching session where we look deeply at your work to examine your strengths, patterns, and unmet potential
Discounts on a 4-pack sessions
Every month, I will also offer a craft challenge to help you do some deep feeling, thinking, and writing.
UPCOMING EVENTS
JANUARYÂ
REPLAY: How to Write a Poem: Introductory Workshops (Sunday, 1/14// 10:00-12:00)
REPLAY: Leaps, Turns, and Transitions (Sunday, 1/21 // 10:00-12:00)
REPLAY: Book Club: Atomic Habits (Sunday, 1/28 // 10:00-12:00)
FEBRUARYÂ
REPLAY: Begin with the Image: Generative Writing Session (Sunday, 2/4 // 10:00-12:00)
REPLAY: The Art of the Unexpected Image (Sunday, 2/25 // 10:00-12:00)
MARCHÂ
REPLAY: Feedback Hour with Kelly ( Sunday, 3/10 // 10:00-12:00)
REPLAY: Train Your Titles: Essays and Poems (Sunday, 3/31 // 10:00-12:00)
APRILÂ
REPLAY: Begin with a List: Generative Writing Session (Sunday, 4/14 // 10:00-12:00)
REPLAY: List and Litanies: Writing Powerful Poems (Sunday, 4/28 //10:00-12:00)
MAY
REPLAY: Begin with a Deep Question: Generative Writing Session (Tuesday, 5/7 // 10:00-12:00pm PT)
JUNE
REPLAY: Begin with Syntax: Generative Writing Session (Tuesday, 6/4 // 4:00-6:00pm PT)
REPLAY: Syntax and Surprise (Saturday, 6/15 // 10:00-12:00pm PT)
JULY
REPLAY: Narrative Poetry (Sunday, 7/28 //10:00-12:00pm PT)
AUGUST
How to Begin with Lyric (Tuesday, 8/13 // 4:00-6:00pm PT)
How to Write Lyric Essays (Recording posted by 8/30)
SEPTEMBER
The Art of Creating Tension (Sunday, 9/15 // 10:00-12:00pm PT)
HOW TO RSVP FOR WORKSHOPSÂ
To RSVP for each event, please click on the post link. Once in the post, scroll to the bottom and select the blue RSVP button. (Only paid subscribers can see the button.) From there, you will be asked to register for the Zoom meeting. You will get an immediate confirmation email and then another confirmation 24 hours before the event.Â
ABOUT ME
Hi! I’m Kelly. Feral writer. Deep feeler. Relentless Momma. I’m an ocean-obsessed Aries from Jersey living in California, writing hard to become a deeper, more inspired thinker and feeler.Â
I’m the author of five books: Future Tense (forthcoming from Alice James 2026) Boat Burned (YesYes Books); Words Ignite: Explore, Perform, Write Classic and Spoken Word Poetry; Voices in Verse: Poetry, Identity and Ethnic Studies; Stanzas of America: Celebrating BIPOC Poetry. I’m also the winner of the Jane Underwood Poetry Prize and the Neil Postman Award for Metaphor. My poems have appeared in The Adroit Journal, Best New Poets, 32 Poems, Los Angeles Review, Sixth Finch, and elsewhere. I’ve received fellowships from Randolph College, the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing, and Kenyon Review Young Writers’ Workshop. I’m the former Director of Education for Get Lit-Words Ignite, and the craft books and curricula I’ve written are taught in Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest district in the country.Â
Most importantly, I landed a book deal with my dream publisher before taking a formal workshop. Everything I learned, I learned by teaching myself to read closely and write strategically, by letting my creativity lead, and I can teach you to do the same.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
For those of you working on a collection or chapbook, I offer personalized editing, as well as coaching, to help you prepare for publication.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I hope to write with you soon.Â
Lastly, please take a moment to introduce yourself. Let us know who you are and what brought you to our community by leaving a comment below.
Sending oceans of gratitude.
Shine on,
KellyÂ
Some other places you can find me:Â
Please take
Hi Kelly and community, I’m from Calgary, Alberta. I’m here because I always learn something with Kelly!
Hi Kelly, I'm excited to participate in your workshop.