Writing Workshops

Writing Habits for When Life Gets in the Way: Inspired by Ann Patchett’s The Getaway Car with Martyna Starosta

$345

4 Sessions

In stock

Once a week Wednesdays, 7:00 pm EDT - 9:00 pm EDT September 9 to September 30, 2026

Online via Zoom

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“Between pilfering croutons off salad plates and microwaving fudge sauce for sundaes, I decided I was going to make up a novel, and that the novel was going to get me out of the restaurant. The novel was going to be my getaway car.”
–Ann Patchett

You’re itching to finally pen your manuscript, but your kid catches a fever.
You want to write, but your friend names you Maid of Honor.
You want to write, but the PTA clamors for volunteers.
You want to write, but your cat is acting weird.
You want to write, but Mayor Mamdani invites you to his birthday party.
You want to write, but what about World War III?
You want to write, but you’re hungry.
You want to write, but whenever your pen kisses the blank page, your perfect idea goes poof!

Join us for this four-session workshop as we delve into Ann Patchett’s short, practical memoir, The Getaway Car, to explore simple writing rules that powered her prolific career. Using Patchett’s essay as a starting point, participants will interview other authors about their writing practice, experiment with timed writing prompts, and build their personalized toolboxes to get words on the page, even when life gets in the way.

Course Outline:

Session 1: Set the table
- Articulate goals and challenges
- Writing prompts and commentary
- Homework: Read Patchett’s essay, select your favorite quote, and turn it into a motivational poster.
Session 2: Put your writing first
- Understand your underlying reasons for procrastination
- Create a plan to write yourself out of self-doubt
- Writing prompts and commentary
- Homework: Read an excerpt from Jami Attenberg’s 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. Select three quotes and write your own instruction manual for productivity.
Session 3: Show up again and again
- Read excerpts of The Writer’s Way by Julia Cameron and discuss her central principles—morning pages and artist dates.
- Writing prompts and commentary
- Homework: Interview a writer in your life, asking what worked for them and what didn’t. How did their habits evolve over time?
Session 4: Take a leap of faith
- Review our collective findings
- Commit to one specific writing habit for the next month
- Pair up with one accountability buddy
- Schedule breaks for rest and inspiration

Teaching Style: I combine discipline with whimsical escapades to help you get your project off the ground. (Think Mary Poppins minus the singing.) If you love homework, this class is for you. The more you put in, the more you get out. Or, in Patchett’s words, “time applied equals work completed.”

Level: All Levels

This course is held online via Zoom.

We offer a limited number of need-based scholarships for our Reading Groups and Writing Workshops, covering 50% of tuition. Applicants selected for scholarships will be notified one week prior to the first meeting. To apply for a scholarship, please fill out this form.

Led by

Martyna Starosta

Martyna Starosta

Martyna Starosta is a Brooklyn writer, filmmaker, and parent of three who has filled 175 journals over the past fourteen years. Journaling at the crack of dawn taught her how to show up at her desk, sit still, and keep her hand moving across the page. It was only after penning thousands of pages that she dared to call herself a writer. At first, only in a whisper. Those journals have become the foundation of her current work-in-progress, Returned Goods, a memoir about family estrangement. Martyna is represented by the Trident Media Group.

About this series

Writing Workshops

We strive to make our classes the most inviting and rewarding available, offering an intimate environment to study with award-winning, world-class writers. Each class is specially designed by the instructor, so whether you’re a fledgling writer or an MFA graduate polishing your novel, you’ll find a perfect fit here.

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