Scroll below to view upcoming events in order
To learn more about all the options and all the various ways to access support and events to meet your writing goals, please visit this page. Feel free to email me with any questions.
STAY-Treat #26 April 26-27
Topic: Tips and Techniques for Author Websites"Beyond the Book: Optimizing Your Author Page for Readers & Leads""Is your author page just an online brochure? Discover how to transform it into a powerful tool for connecting with readers beyond the book sale and building a loyal fan base. In this session, you'll learn actionable strategies to optimize your author page for engagement, collect valuable leads, and cultivate lasting relationships with your audience. Walk away with practical tips to make your author page work harder for you."
Three Takeaways for Participants:
Your author page is a connection hub, not just a static bio: Learn how to make it interactive and engaging for readers, fostering a deeper connection with your work.
Collecting leads is key to long-term success: Understand the importance of building your email list directly from your author page and discover effective strategies to do so.
Small optimizations can lead to big results: Gain practical, easy-to-implement tips that will significantly improve your author page's ability to attract and retain readers.
Join us to learn more about how to create the optimal website for your author page.
Click here to register for the STAY-Treat in Cdn funds.To attend just the speaker portion for free for any STAY-Treat, click here.
Rusti L Lehay is your host for the weekend of writing.
STAY-Treat #26 April 26-27
Three Takeaways for Participants:
Your author page is a connection hub, not just a static bio: Learn how to make it interactive and engaging for readers, fostering a deeper connection with your work.
Collecting leads is key to long-term success: Understand the importance of building your email list directly from your author page and discover effective strategies to do so.
Small optimizations can lead to big results: Gain practical, easy-to-implement tips that will significantly improve your author page's ability to attract and retain readers.
Rusti L Lehay is your host for the weekend of writing.
May 10th, 2025
will be the next
Writers' Lounge
We gather, write to prompts, share, receive verbal feedback from me and from the group in the chat. Join us and register for the next Writers' Lounge and write!
Sign up here for the Friday Inspiration Boost missive. One way to be in-the-know for regular event updates and receive prompts for writing along with a video link for additional inspiration.
Check out the other regular events on this page.
Rusti L Lehay (creative writing instructor and workshop leader for over a decade) will be your guide.
May 10th, 2025
will be the next
Writers' Lounge
We gather, write to prompts, share, receive verbal feedback from me and from the group in the chat. Join us and register for the next Writers' Lounge and write!
Sign up here for the Friday Inspiration Boost missive. One way to be in-the-know for regular event updates and receive prompts for writing along with a video link for additional inspiration.
Rusti L Lehay (creative writing instructor and workshop leader for over a decade) will be your guide.
May 29th, 2025 Confirmed Pomodoro Retreat Day
Just this one month, the fifth Thursday!
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.
It uses a kitchen timer to break work into 20-minute intervals, followed by short five-minute breaks and then repeats.
Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, from the Italian word for tomato. Cirillo used a tomato-shaped timer in his university studies.
Become a member and gain access to every event or check in with me about attending a Pomodoro Day to try it out.
Check out the other regular events on this page.
Rusti L Lehay (creative writing instructor and workshop leader for nearly two decades) will be your host.
May 29th, 2025 Confirmed Pomodoro Retreat Day
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.
It uses a kitchen timer to break work into 20-minute intervals, followed by short five-minute breaks and then repeats.
Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, from the Italian word for tomato. Cirillo used a tomato-shaped timer in his university studies.
Become a member and gain access to every event or check in with me about attending a Pomodoro Day to try it out.
Rusti L Lehay (creative writing instructor and workshop leader for nearly two decades) will be your host.
Summer, 2025 Date TBA
Open Mic
Click here to register for this open mic or to be alerted when the next date is set.
Check out the other regular events on this page.
Rusti L Lehay (creative writing instructor and workshop leader for nearly two decades) will be your host.
Summer, 2025 Date TBA
Open Mic
Click here to register for this open mic or to be alerted when the next date is set.
Rusti L Lehay (creative writing instructor and workshop leader for nearly two decades) will be your host.
STAY-Treat #25 was a blast!
What makes a character unforgettable? Their flaws, motivations, conflicts and the way they grow - or resist change.In this talk, attendees explored how the Enneagram’s nine personality types can craft richer character dynamics, create organic tension and shape transformation arcs. Whether you’re writing fiction or memoir, learn how to use this tool to develop unforgettable protagonists, antagonists, and more compelling true-to-life stories. Carol also covered dialogue techniques to bring characters to life on the page.
Click here to view our speaker's video replay.Click here to view Rusti and Virginia having fun bantering about how the enneagram enhanced and challenged their life and sister relationships.Rusti L Lehay is your host for a myriad of writing events.
STAY-Treat #25 was a blast!
Rusti L Lehay is your host for a myriad of writing events.
Next Memoir Masterclass.
May 30th
Current Memoir Group is Underway.
We'll discuss - some of the brain science of writers' block, how to conquer it thru practical steps, habit creation for writing regularly, follow-up on your establishing a writing routine, how to begin, organize, structure your work, how to self-edit, how to write as a pantser AND a plotter, start your marketing, how to hire an editor and more.
More details will be shared. (Like the 5 Key Factors of Telling a Compelling Story.)
Click here to note your interest in registering for the next Memoir MasterClass!
Check out the other regular events above and below.
Rusti L Lehay (creative writing instructor and workshop leader for over a decade) will be your guide.
We'll discuss - some of the brain science of writers' block, how to conquer it thru practical steps, habit creation for writing regularly, follow-up on your establishing a writing routine, how to begin, organize, structure your work, how to self-edit, how to write as a pantser AND a plotter, start your marketing, how to hire an editor and more.
Click here to note your interest in registering for the next Memoir MasterClass!
Rusti L Lehay (creative writing instructor and workshop leader for over a decade) will be your guide.
This group is now full for the year!
Writers Workout Wednesdays!
Perfect for authors looking for encouragement and accountability to complete their books, or meet deadlines for other writing projects. Great for writers who are fatigued going it alone. Receive valuable feedback and encouragement during their editing/revision process before sending it off to agents, before testing the market with your virgin copy, or hiring an editor to do a complete overhaul.
In this structured group, every writer will learn from each other's equally allotted time of sharing and feedback. Writing techniques and skills will be reviewed, resources will be shared, and most importantly, writing can be a group thing, instead of solitary drudgery.
Just like weightlifters need a spot in the gym to lift beyond their capacity to grow their muscles and push past plateaus, writers need friendly listeners to spot gaps, the need for transitions, and to confirm where the writing captivates, intrigues and draws readers to the content.
Ask me more or click here to fill out a multiple choice form sharing your interest and questions.
Three-month commitment is Cdn $70/month, Monthly Cdn $75, Drop-in one session CDN $35 (Participants limited to 8. Drop-in option is dependent on availability . Membership option for the year is $570. See Membership Perks.
Writers Workout Wednesday
Participants Share
"If I could add and I'm not casting aspersions. on you, Rusti, but no one in this room has a vested interest that something be done. We're not getting paid for the feedback, or the feed forward, just here's the conversation. We don't care if you take it and do it and it doesn't matter but Rusti, you get paid for that. So of course, you've got a much deeper, broader sense of how to do that. And you bring us to a new game. There's no question about it, but the rest of us. There's nothing for us to win or lose. We're just engaged in a lovely exchange of data and information. It's called public discourse and it's gotten completely lost and you provide that for us. It's awesome. We hang out in this exquisite, delightful clarifying soup like who wouldn't want to do that?" Bill C
If you missed STAY-Treat #24 Speaker Bonnie Zink on
Amplifying Diverse Writing Voices
For over 20 years, Bonnie Zink has served as the ultimate knowledge matchmaker—connecting people with the information they need to create real change. Whether it's helping communities thrive or navigating social challenges, she ensures knowledge gets into the right hands, at the right time.
Bonnie will also address the fears of AI that exist among writers. So many folks are under the misconception that they have no place anymore now that everyone can create with AI.
Click here to see her session on YouTube.
To attend the speaker portion of any STAY-Treat for free, click here.Rusti L Lehay is your host for the weekend of writing.
If you missed STAY-Treat #24 Speaker Bonnie Zink on
Amplifying Diverse Writing Voices
Rusti L Lehay is your host for the weekend of writing.
Finding More Wonder in Your Words
Book a Stay-Treat weekend for you and your writing projects!
Attend the Monday Writing Room to keep you in a groove for writing.
Schedule for the STAY-Treats
Saturday - Sunday 9:00-3:00 MST
We dive into solid writing time on the Saturday and Sunday. Attendees always say the longer time blocks zip by. We start with a quick check-in and then it's all about writing and sharing.
We hope you'll join us for this fun and productive time together. In previous retreats, our attendees hailed from Germany, Australia, London, U.K, Florida, New Orleans, Alberta, British Columbia and Mexico. Click here to find out more.
Writers' Lounges are from 11-2 PST and 2-5 New York EST.
Resources Available:
From planning your title to Amazon best seller strategies and guerilla marketing, we have the resource you need or can refer you.
What are you needing? Chances are I have a template for that!
I have created over 60 articles and templates to help you on your writing journey!
DND Poster
Click on the image to download your poster.
Article
Steps To Write
your
How-to Book!
Ask me for a copy!
Your words can free others!
Article How-To Write Your Memoir
Several tips and helpful methods and ideas to help you plot out your memoir. Click here for a copy!
Words hold the power to design your future. What are you designing?
Resources Available:
From planning your title to Amazon best-seller strategies and guerrilla marketing, we have the resource you need
or can refer you.
Resources Available:
From planning your title to Amazon best-seller strategies and guerrilla marketing, we have the resource you need
or can refer you.
Bye for now.
Go write!
It's time to...
write.
It'a always a good time to write!
Find Your Story, Write Your Story with Word Quest
I have a team of editors, ghostwriters, proofreaders, and individualized coaching for writers here when you are ready. We even help you feel ready! Remember, "Done is better than perfect and waiting for better is the enemy of accomplishing your goals."
