Workshops and Courses

Writing workshops and courses can invigorate your writing practice and offer new tips, tools and strategies, as well as inspiration and support.

Laurel Cohn smiling

Growing as a writer

Laurel Cohn designs writing workshops and courses in response to the common issues she sees writers grapple with. She is a popular presenter for writing organisations in Australia and Europe.

Laurel’s goal is to deepen authors’ understanding of the writing, editing and publishing processes. Topics include structural editing, synopsis writing, story structure, revising a draft, backstory and critical reading.

If you are interested in inviting Laurel Cohn to your centre, organisation or group, please get in touch. Presentations can be tailor-made for your audience.

In addition to running her own workshops and courses, Laurel Cohn is a regular presenter for:

  • Writing NSW
  • Queensland Writers Centre
  • Writers Victoria
  • Art of Writing retreats (Italy/Australia)
  • Byron Writers Festival
  • Society of Women Writers (NSW)

Laurel has also presented workshops and seminars for:

  • Australian Society of Authors
  • Writers SA
  • Australian Writers Marketplace
  • Bellingen Writers’ Festival
  • Coffs Harbour Writers Association
  • Gold Coast Writers’ Festival
  • Hunter Writers Centre

Proud to work with...

Queensland Writers Centre logo
The Art of Writing logo
Writers Victoria logo
Byron Writers Festival Logo
Writing NSW logo

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What others say

‘I took Laurel’s The Next Draft course through Byron Writers Festival. She is a thorough and thoughtful teacher and helped me to look at my story structure from big picture to chapter structure, down to the minutia of sentence structure. I left her course with a sense of how to bring the disparate pieces of my story together so that it was cohesive and drove my story forward. It was a real turning point for me in understanding how to bring my manuscript alive. Thank you Laurel!’

Maggie Walters
‘Just wanted to let you know how helpful I found your course on structural editing. It enabled me to step back and view my work  with a level of objectivity. There is still a lot I need to work on and am trying to find the time. Thanks for being so positive and encouraging, it helps balance self-doubts. It was also wonderful to meet others who are on the same creative journey.’
Bronwyn Rogers

‘I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for your direction throughout The Next Draft course.  Your insight has been both invaluable and engaging.  I started somewhat unsure of what to expect, but have come away feeling more confident and reassured.  Now it’s just a matter of plugging away at my work and getting the revising done!’

Tiina Horn

‘Laurel has taught for Writing NSW for a number of years. Her courses are always popular and receive enthusiastic feedback from participants who note her expertise, clarity, and engaging teaching style. Laurel’s professionalism makes her a pleasure to work with.’

Ashley Kalagian Blunt
Program Officer, Writing NSW

‘Thanks for a fantastic day. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to something that has been so well run, thought-provoking and transformative. I got more out of it than perhaps you can possibly imagine. For me, it was less a lightbulb and more akin to walking down the Las Vegas Strip at sunset.’

Simon Bennett

‘I wanted to say thank you for your input to eventually getting a publisher and the crucial part your course on Nailing Your Pitch was to that. It was in that course that I realised I needed to hone my theme and the focus of the book to childhood memories of a pool and was when I came up with the title The Memory Pool. So thank you very much, Laurel!’

Therese Spruhan
The Memory Pool (NewSouth Publishing)

‘Laurel Cohn’s Understanding Story Structure was a truly exceptional workshop. For me, it was the way that she presented the theory – all of which I was thoroughly familiar with, as theory – and the exercises that she gave us to do that made today’s workshop so invaluable. I have been struggling for some time with seeing my story structure clearly. And reading and reflecting on theory on my own has just not been enough.  My expectations were exceeded.’

Anonymous feedback via the organiser

‘I thought your workshop was one of the most valuable I have been to so far. It was well structured and from the perspective of theory and scope there was a high correlation of relevance to where I am in my writer’s journey.  I particularly appreciate the tools and strategies you provided to allow us to critique our own work and that of others.  Thanks to YOU – I feel empowered to take more focused steps, look back and see what impression they made rather than furtively tip toeing  around my creative efforts.’

Melody Braithwaite

‘I wanted to drop you a quick note to say how much I enjoyed your recent workshop on Writing a Synopsis. I have made dozens of attempts at nailing a good synopsis over a long period of time, and while my own efforts usually evolved things a little here and there, your expertise helped me take what is a very tricky document to an entirely new level literally overnight.’

Stephen Greenall

‘OMG, what a great session today. I LOVED it and learned soooo much. You are an excellent, knowledgeable, warm, and engaging presenter and I will be on the lookout for more sessions from you. The part I particularly enjoyed was the section about structural editing. You were very generous with your advice.’ 

Elise Wackett
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