Develop your writing skills to make the world a better place for animals

Writing for Animals is an online writing program designed to help writers become more effective advocates for animals. 

Based on the groundbreaking book Writing for Animals, this class combines theory, craft, writing prompts and publishing insights.

We currently offer both live and on-demand, self-paced versions of the program:

Live program via Zoom

Details

• Fee: $195
• Schedule: One class per week over 4 weeks. This program is run approximately two times each year.
• Included: A PDF copy of Writing for Animals: New perspectives for writers and instructors to educate and inspire. If you already have this book you may select a PDF copy of Animal Writes or an Among Animals title.
• Instructors: Midge Raymond & John Yunker

Self-paced online program

Details

• Fee: $125
• Schedule: Self-paced, online
• Included: A PDF copy of Writing for Animals: New perspectives for writers and instructors to educate and inspire. If you already have this book you may select a PDF copy of Animal Writes or an Among Animals title.
• Instructors: Midge Raymond & John Yunker

What Alumni Are Saying …

“The Writing for Animals course, offered by Ashland Creek Press, was so uplifting, informative and encouraging! As an aspiring novelist, with decades of experience in animal advocacy, I was searching for guidance to help move my projects forward. From creative prompts to real-world advice, Midge Raymond and John Yunker shared their love for storytelling, offered up valuable insights and genuine feedback. If you have a passion for animals and the environment, with a desire to craft inspirational stories, this is the perfect place to begin!” —Rebecca Rodriguez

“John and Midge are knowledgeable, positive, and generous. Their class is one part support group, one part craft lesson, one part animal education, and one part industry talk. Their experience as writers, publishers, and animal lovers translates into a comprehensive class. It is hands-down the best I’ve attended about the publishing industry. I came away with two concrete story ideas and more confidence querying my work.” —Heather Marie Spitzberg

“Writing for Animals, both the online course and excellent accompanying book, changed the course of my novel, raising the profile of my animal character and adding layers of humanity, humor, and emotion to my writing.

“The course explores the history and modern interpretation of animals in many forms of writing. I finished with a fresh view of animals in my environment, a new consideration of my relationship to animals both domestic and wild, and a fresh writing voice to bring their stories and my ideas to the page. 

“I have and will continue to recommend this book and course to my writing colleagues and classes.” —Sharon Wishnow-Ritchey, Vice President Communications Women’s Fiction Writers Association

“John and Midge provide comprehensive insights from their personal work as writers and professional viewpoints as publishers. The information is thoughtfully organized and presented with heart, warmth, and sincerity. It’s hard to find all of that in one place but in Writing for Animals, I did.” —S. Portico Bowman

“An informed, interesting, and inspiring workshop that invites writers of all levels, and those interested in animals in all ways, to sharpen their pencils and create on behalf of all beings.” 

“Midge and John are kind, knowledgeable writers and are making the world better for animals through their art.” 

Participants will learn:

• How animal literature has evolved over the past hundred years and where it is headed
• What anthropomorphism is and how to address it through your writing
• How to give voices to animals while honoring their true voices
• How to create characters that pull readers in and open minds and hearts
• How to navigate the publishing industry, with a focus on animal writing

“Writing for Animals is an excellent online course for anyone, no matter at what level of writing, to benefit from the wisdom and experience of two professional publishers and writers. I learned a lot, had fun, and now have great notes I can refer to when I begin and work through my creative project. While each and every lesson was valuable, the deep-dive sessions were particularly useful, even for more experienced writers. The course was well worth the time and offered at a reasonable cost. I found the pace and organization worked well, and the self-paced version is an option for busy professionals.” —Gregory F. Tague, Ph.D., professor, departments of Literature, Writing and Publishing/Interdisciplinary Studies, St. Francis College, N.Y.

Before the Writing for Animals course, I believed personifying the animal world was the best way to write a relatable animal story. But Midge and John were able to show me through resources and their own thorough research what true animal advocacy can look like. Their encouragement was to seek out the most honest and realistic information through interviews and research. Written pieces about animals should provide insight, encourage respectful curiosity, and advocate for an improved coexistence with the animal world. I am grateful to Midge and John for thinking outside the literary box and bringing animal advocacy to the forefront of future animal stories. —Brandi Kanawyer

“Ashland Creek Press classes taught by John Yunker and Midge Raymond have been instrumental in helping me write about animals, in addition to helping me learn more about my craft and writing process. The original Writing for Animals class helped me feel confident when writing about animals in my novels. Even though I taught English for twenty-six years and published my first novel before learning about Ashland Creek Press, I have gained confidence in my ability as a nature writer through this W4A experience and the additional classes I’ve taken through Ashland Creek Press. More importantly, I continue to meet more animal and nature writers in these classes.” — Nona Schrader