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Perhaps your writing dream looks like one (or several) of these:

• Finally finishing that novel … the one you’ve been writing  for years
• Growing your blog and getting guest posts onto big sites
• Getting your articles published in magazines
• Making a full-time living through the magic of taking words from your head and putting them onto paper
• Joining the self-publishing revolution … once you’ve written your book

It might even be something deceptively simple (but hard) like:

• Having enough confidence to put your writing out there
• Finding the time to write regularly, instead of struggling to stick with it
• Feeling able to call yourself a “writer”

Maybe no-one, no-one, seems to understand. Your friends don’t get it. Your family say, “That’s nice, dear.” You keep wishing someone would take your dreams seriously.

I do.

I believe that writing is powerful and vital to our world.

I believe you have a unique story to tell, a unique message to share.

I believe that your writing matters.

And that’s why I created Writers’ Huddle.

When you become a member, you:

• Join a supportive community of like-minded people – so you can share your struggles and your triumphs
• Learn new tips and techniques that you can put into practice right away – you can go at your own pace through three introductory self-study courses
• Get a regular dose of new writing knowledge and inspiration – through in-depth monthly seminars and weekly emails
• Have the opportunity to ask anything you want – and get answers straight from me
• Share your work with other writers – receive honest feedback in a safe, supportive environment

Membership of Writers’ Huddle is just $19.99/month (paid via PayPal).

There’s no minimum commitment: you can even join for a month, take advantage of all the existing content, and leave.

In fact, if you decide that Writers’ Huddle isn’t for you, just let me know within 30 days and I’ll be happy to refund your first month’s membership fee.

I’m a freelance writer in Fayetteville, Arkansas. My forte is non-fiction writing, mostly web content, e-book creation and web copy in technical areas, such as computers, software and other related subjects. I’m not a newbie by any means; however, joining the Huddle has shown that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Many of the members are fiction writers and have a different point of view than non-fiction authors. As a result, I’ve been exposed to techniques and ideas that were new to me. The camaraderie and willingness to share have been beneficial to my growth as a writer. Ali and the gang are great supporters and will spur you on to do more, do better, to succeed!

– Steve Maurer (Maurer Content and Copywriting)

About Ali

I’m Ali Luke, and I’m a full-time writer, making a living through my words. I’ve been blogging professionally for four years, and you’ll find my work on lots of large sites like ProBlogger, Copyblogger and Write to Done.

I’ve got an English Literature degree from Cambridge University (2006) and a Creative & Life Writing Masters from Goldsmiths College, University of London (2010).

I’m the author of the recently-released Publishing E-Books For Dummies, in Wiley’s popular For Dummies series.

Oh, and I worked in IT for two years (2006 – 2008) doing software testing, user support and documentation, so I’m good at explaining technical things in plain English.

Full Contents of Writers’ Huddle

Here’s what you’ll get as soon as you join:

Your Welcome Pack

You’ll receive this straight to your inbox, as a .pdf, so that you can download it and read it at your convenience. You can even print it out, if you want.

Your Welcome Pack will help you get off to a great start with Writers’ Huddle.

Seven Pillars of Great Writing (ebook)

Seven Pillars of Great Writing is a 41-page ebook covering the following:

1. Structure: Why it matters, and how to get it right
2. Flow: How to get transitions and pacing right
3. Clarity: Making your ideas, argument and sentences clear
4. Tone: Writing in a consistent and appropriate way
5. Grammar: Myths busted — and the basics explained clearly
6. Economy: Making your piece concise and engaging
7. Heart: How to make your writing powerful

Each chapter gives you real-life examples so you can see how other writers put these seven pillars into practice.

Access to The Writers’ Huddle Forums

You can chat with me, and all the other Writers’ Huddle members, on the forums. If you want, you can post pieces of work-in-progress for other members to comment on. The Writing Chat forum always has interesting topics to join in with, and we run the monthly Book Group through the forums too.

The Writers’ Huddle forums. (Names have been blanked out to protect members’ privacy.)

Although the Writers’ Huddle is a new community there are lots of incredibly useful resources and wonderfully helpful members. The Q&A section is great too allowing you to get your questions answered. I’ve been a lurker too long but my new writing projects mean that the Huddle is one resource I’ll be using regularly as I complete them. Not least because I can get input and feedback from my fellow Huddlers.

– Amanda Davey

It’s wonderful, and I’ve gotten so much support, even though I’m really young and don’t have much experience (only a few years.) The forums have very cool people, and the newsletters have tidbits that’re useful. I spend most of my time on the forums, since there’s so many sections to explore, add to, and absorb.

– Allison

Four Self-Study Mini-Courses

These are self-paced courses that you can go through as quickly or slowly as you want. Each one is broken down into short lessons with exercises to help you put what you learn into practice.

All of these are suitable for beginners, but I’ll also be adding more advanced mini-courses. As a member of Writers’ Huddle, you’ll be able to tell me exactly what you’d like to learn.

Your mini-courses are:

Getting Started with Fiction (text)

If you’re new to fiction writing – or if you just want to brush up on the basics – then this mini-course is for you. It’s suitable for short story writers and for novelists. The six lessons cover:

Microsoft Word for Writers (text and video)

Many writers use Microsoft Word – but most of them don’t know how to use it effectively. This mini-course has six lessons covering:

Setting Up Your First Blog (text and video)

If you’re interested in blogging but aren’t sure how to get started, then this mini-course will help. You’ll learn how to set up your first blog, with seven lessons covering:

Twitter for Writers (text and video)

A lot of people struggle to “get” Twitter initially … but it’s one of the best social networks for us writers. This mini-course helps you get started.

I am enjoying Writers’ Huddle a lot. It has quickly become a vital part of my ongoing learning as a writer. In such a short time (of its existence) I have already received some very helpful critiques of chapters of my nonfiction book and my blog posts and guest posts. A few days back a spot-on interview of Seth Leonard on blog sidebars enabled me to make changes to my blog in minutes that improved it considerably.

The people in this community are warm and friendly and supportive. It’s a safe place to share your work and get feedback. And they are not afraid to tell you what they think, honestly and constructively. I value that. Ali Luke is endlessly inventive and has an uncanny way of targeting and providing the very information we all need in order to improve our writing skills. I highly recommend this community.

– Bill Polm (Keys to Writing)

Archive of Seminars and Q&As

Writers’ Huddle has been running for nine months. When you join, you’ll have access to all the existing seminars and Q&As, including:

February: Controlling Your Love/Hate Relationship with Writing (seminar, 25 mins audio)

If you’re struggling to write, or feel ambivalent towards your writing, this seminar will help. It covers:

• Why it’s totally normal to hate your writing, some of the time
• How to get through three critical stages in the writing process
• Seven ways to get your writing done (even if it’s hard)

March: Freelancing 101 (seminar, 47 mins audio)

Whether you want a bit of extra cash or a full-time income, freelance writing is a great way to make money doing something you love. This seminar covers:

• How to know if freelancing is right for you
• Why you need a website – and what pages you should put on it
• How to set your rates and give project quotes
• What to do if you’re thinking about full-time freelancing

March: How to Turn Your WordPress Sidebar from Boring to Soaring (webinar)

This guest webinar (video recording) with website expert Seth Leonard covers:

• How to highlight your best performing posts in your sidebar
• The best way to include your social media accounts
• How to add an email list signup form to your sidebar (MailChimp and Aweber)
• The easiest way to design “free form” content in your sidebar

April: Making Money from Your Writing (seminar, 25 mins audio)

Freelancing is just one way to generate income through your words. This seminar gives you an overview of how writers make money:

• Why it’s a lot easier to make money from non-fiction than fiction
• The three core ways to make writing pay
• Understanding which method(s) are right for you and how to combine them
• How to start (or go further with) making money writing

May: Short Stories and Fiction Writing, with E.J. Newman (seminar, 59 mins audio)

This guest seminar with author E.J. Newman covers:

• How a short story got Em into Oxford
• Getting from an initial idea to a full short story
• Creating twist short stories that work
• The importance of writing community (online and offline)

June: Writing Your First Novel (seminar, 37 mins audio)

July: Publishing an Ebook (seminar, 35 mins audio)

August: Building Your Author Platform Online (seminar, 42 mins audio)

All seminars and Q&As have edited transcripts for easy reading, if you prefer to read rather than listen.

I have learnt a lot in the few months that I’ve been a memeber of the Huddle, both through the seminars and Q&As as well as on the forum, gleaning advice from other members. Being in a community of writers has also given me the confidence to write my first guest post (which was accepted) after three years of blogging!

– Melissa Goodwin

On Track: Full E-Course

My On Track e-course is now exclusively available to Writers’ Huddle members, and it’s included in your Huddle membership. You can go through the course at any time, at your own pace.

It covers:

Module 1: Make a Great Start

• An introduction to the course, so you’re confident about what’s coming up week by week
• Four ways to get past the first hurdle of getting started – so that you can get going with your project straight away
• A quick, simple (but important) assignment to get you writing – this only takes fifteen minutes

Module 2: Setting Milestones That Work

• Step-by-step guidance on how to split your work-in-progress into sensible milestones that’ll keep you motivated
• Specific advice on what to do if your project doesn’t seem to fit (for instance, if you’re writing a blog that has no specific end point)
• Why deadlines matter – and how to set sane ones

Module 3: Your Perfect Writing Routine

• How to find your best writing time of day – this alone can double or triple how much you write in an hour
• The difference between setting time targets and word targets – there’s no “right” way, so this lesson helps you figure out what works for you
• The advantages of short writing sessions – and of long ones. Again, this is all about finding the right pace for you

Module 4: Planning Your Project

• Specific advice on planning different types of project – novels, blogs and ebooks – so that you can make sure you don’t waste time scratching your head or running off on a tangent
• Different ways to plan (like mind-mapping and using index cards) so that you can figure out what you find easiest
• How to plan if you’re already part-way through your project

Module 5: Getting from First Draft to Final Piece

• The difference between first drafts and final drafts, so that you don’t get bogged down trying to achieve perfection on day one
• How to avoid distractions like doing too much research, or trying to edit too soon
• Step by step advice for each stage of the drafting process

Module 6: Sharing Your Love of Writing

• Four places to find writing support – including a couple of easy ones for when you don’t have much time or energy
• Tips on sharing your work with a friend or a group – I know how daunting this can be, but also how rewarding it is, and how much it can help you grow
• How to critique other writers’ work: if you’re asking for feedback from fellow writers, there’s a good chance that you’ll end up returning the favour

Module 7: All the Resources You Need

• Why you have more resources than you think – a fresh look at your own skills and experiences
• The four crucial qualities which every writer needs, with specific tips on how to build them
• The three big external resources that matter, and how to gather and create these

50% Discount on All My Ebooks

As a Writers’ Huddle member, you get a 50% discount on all my ebooks. That means that you can pick up one of my Blogger’s Guides for $14.50 instead of $29, or all three Blogger’s Guides for just $28.50.

You’ll also get a 50% discount on any future ebooks too.

Monthly Seminars

Every month, you’ll get an exclusive seminar.

The seminars each take an in-depth look at a particular writing topic: they are audio recordings, usually around 30 – 40 minutes long, with a transcript and worksheet in .pdf format.

Sometimes, the seminar is from me. Other times, I bring on board an expert in a particular area and I’ll get them to share all their tips. If there’s a particular topic that you’d like to see covered in a seminar, you can propose it in the forums.

Upcoming topics include:

• Getting started with writing poetry
• Getting started with writing articles for magazines
• Writing great dialogue
• Creating compelling characters

Monthly Book Group

Each month, we choose one book to read and discuss. This is completely optional, and you can join in as often or as infrequently as you want.

So far, we’ve looked at a wide range of books, covering everything from short story writing to online platform-building. Any Huddler can propose a book for discussion, so if there’s something you want to get round to reading (or have read and would like to discuss), you’re welcome to suggest it.

Q&A Forum

I read all the forum posts, but I often step back a little from discussion to let fellow Huddlers share their ideas, knowledge and expertise.

If you have specific questions for me, though, I’m more than happy to answer them. I’ve created a Q&A forum especially for those.

Anything goes here: no question is too big or too small, too complex or too basic. If you do ask a question with a very broad scope, I may also use it as the basis for a seminar.

Weekly Emails

Every week, I email you with a summing-up of what’s been happening in Writers’ Huddle. You’ll typically hear about:

• Any recent new teaching content (e.g. seminars, mini-courses, Q&A recordings)
• Great forum threads, which you’ll want to check out
• Any important news or announcements, like a new Book Group discussion

You get all of this for just $19.99/month:

I remember getting the notification that Ali had started the Huddle and instantly thinking: if there ever was a place to connect with other writers and learn how this online niche works, this is it! And I was right. I’ve learned so much here from other members – and of course from Ali – as we all have different backgrounds and experiences with writing, you have no idea

– Vala Faye

Plus … Blog On, Starting in October

On October 15th, we’ll be beginning a new full (eight week) ecourse in the Huddle, Blog On.

All the Blog On materials will remain available in the Huddle after the course is over, so you can go through them at any time. In the past, though, I’ve found that writers get the most from Blog On when they work through it as part of a group.

Module 1: Coming Up with Ideas – Monday 15th October

• Knowing what you’re aiming for – understanding what blogging can do for you, and setting yourself goals for your blog
• Choosing (or refining) your blog’s topic – what should you write about in order to achieve your goals?
• How to generate ideas for your blog – different tips and techniques to get your mind into gear

Module 2: How to Write a How to Post – Monday 22nd October

• What makes a good how-to post – so you don’t waste your time writing something that your audience doesn’t care about
• The importance of the three-part post structure: introduction, main body, conclusion – by getting this right, you draw readers in, keep them reading, and make sure they stick around at the end
• How to come up with the steps of your post – you’ll learn three different methods for this, so that you can find out what suits you best
• How to format each step of your post – because this makes it easier to write, and easier to read

Module 3: Your Contact Page – Monday 29th October

• Understand why a contact page is important – and learn what to call it and where to place it in your blog’s navigation
• Learn what to include on your contact page – so that it’s easy for your readers to connect to you in their preferred way
• Write and structure your page – with a contact form to encourage readers to engage with you

Module 4: How to Write a List Post – Monday 5th November

Module 5: Your About Page – Monday 12th November

• Get to grips with your About page – the most-read page on your blog, and the hardest one for most bloggers to write!
• Develop a clear mission statement – this will help you to get readers’ attention, and it’ll give you some guidance for future posts
• Learn what to include on your About page – so you deliver the information that readers are looking for, and you establish a personal connection with them

Module 6: How to Write a Link Post – Monday 19th November

• How to come up with a focused and manageable idea – so you can deliver value to your readers without spending the next four weeks hunting down links…
• Several great ways of opening your link post – it’s important to add a bit of “you” to your post when you’re mainly linking to other people
• How to deliver real value to your readers – a collection of links on its own isn’t very useful, so we’ll look at different methods for fleshing it out
• Techniques for using link posts as a regular feature on your blog – this can boost your standing in your niche

Module 7: Your Services Page – Monday 26th November

• Brainstorm some ideas about writing-related services you could offer – so that you can make money directly from your blog
• Learn how to market your services on your blog – with a page that’s designed to draw prospective customers in
• Add testimonials and step-by-step explanations – to help your customers make up their minds to buy!

Module 8: Advanced Blog Post Structures – Monday 3rd December

• Taking basic post types further – learn ways to develop the “how to”, “list” and “link” post structures
• Developing consistent structures – save time by re-using basic structures, such as for book or product reviews
• Breaking down other writers’ posts – find and use great structures, based on posts that you’ve enjoyed yourself

Throughout Blog On, we’ll have a dedicated forum area where you can talk to other Writers’ Huddle members who are taking part in the ecourse. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this forum and answering any questions that crop up.

Your Writers’ Huddle Questions Answered

If you’ve got a question about Writers’ Huddle which I haven’t addressed here, just drop me an email (ali@aliventures.com) and I’ll get back to you.

$19.99/month Seems Low for All This – What’s the Catch?

There’s no catch! I’ve kept the price low because I want Writers’ Huddle to be affordable for as many writers as possible, from hobbyists to new freelancers to fiction-writers.

Whenever I add new materials to Writers’ Huddle, even full ecourses, these are included in your membership fee.

How Do I Pay?

All payments are through PayPal. The $19.99 is automatically taken every 31 days (meaning that you get an extra few days free every year). If you’re not in the US, PayPal will automatically convert your own currency into dollars, so you don’t need to worry about that.

If you don’t already have a PayPal account, you’ll be given the option to create one when you click the “Join Now” button.

You can cancel your membership at any time, of course.

What if I Don’t Have Time for Everything?

There are no mandatory elements of Writers’ Huddle: you can do as much (or as little) as you want. The weekly emails are designed to give you a quick summary of what’s been happening in the Huddle, to help save you time.

All the content will be available to you for as long as you remain a member: you don’t need to worry if you can’t listen to a seminar straight away, for instance, or if you want extra time on an ecourse.

How Will I Get All the Content?

There are several types of content to suit different topics and different learning styles:

• Written lessons that you can read online, in On Track and all the mini-courses
• Short videos to help you understand technical concepts, in the Microsoft Word for Writers, Starting Your First Blog and Twitter for Writers mini-courses
• Audio recordings for the monthly seminars, with written transcripts for people who don’t like listening to audio, plus worksheets to help you put what you learn into practice
• Online forums where you can interact with me and other members by writing messages
• Weekly emails to help point you towards new content and interesting forum discussions

As soon as you join, you’ll get a welcome pack that helps you get oriented.

What if I Want to Leave?

You can leave Writers’ Huddle at any time by cancelling your membership.

If you cancel within the first 30 days, I’ll give you a full refund on your initial month’s fee. I want you to be able to try out Writers’ Huddle without worrying that you’ll end up wasting money.

Joining the Huddle has been a great step for me. It’s given me an opportunity to chat with fellow writers on a daily basis. I’ve received constructive feedback from other Huddlers on pieces offered for critique that immediately improved my own writing. I’ve swapped links on writing tips and greatly enjoyed discussing books on the craft that we’ve read together. I look forward to being part of this community as I continue on my path to being a published writer, because I know I’ll be the better for it when I get there.

– Sean Cunningham