You have the chance to write a book in 2020. Will you take it?
There are 3 parts to the learning process in this community:
Drip by drip, bit by bit, posted work turns into chapters which turn into a book.
Comment on other students' responses and ask questions in the 24/7 discussion board . It's called a community because this is where the real work happens. You'll soon discover just how much you have in common with others on this journey, even if they live in a different country, serve a different audience and have access to different resources. This diversity is hard to find anywhere else. Coaches are available daily to support your progress.
No giant promises. No rigorous timeline. No tests. No grades.
It’s impossible to fall behind, but you do need to show up. Show up and write. Show up and connect. You will be seen and heard, and your work will improve. The commitment is to finish a book by December. We'll provide a pathway to get there, but you set the pace. There are always people in the discussion board for each prompt—challenging each other, asking questions and sharing examples. It’s not unusual for there to be a new post every three minutes. You don’t (you can’t) read them all, just as you can’t hear every conversation in every classroom on Yale’s campus. That’s okay. Take what you need and be in the conversations that interest you.
This is learning?
Yes, because it works.
Most learning experiences are defined by a set schedule with exact deadlines, correct answers and a certificate at the end.
We’re offering something different. We want you to commit to this community and to fit it into your already jam-packed life. We offer you guidance and peer accountability, and ask you to respond with effort and contribution. If you know that publishing a book is something you want to do and if you're committed to building a habit of writing every day, this is the place for you.
This community is a safe space with support from people just like you to help you do the work that matters to you. We celebrate discovery, possibility, curiosity, generosity and the asynchronous nature of today's world.
In this community, you decide how much time you have to contribute and the effort you’ll put in and the ways you'll apply it to your life.
The truth is that the more you put in, the more you’ll get out. The real magic happens when you become a contributor, a teacher, and a partner. The real magic happens in our communities when you do the work—taking your best shot each day and then joining in discussions with other writers. This work will stretch you and it will feel uncomfortable at first.
During the six months of the community, we provide a flexible structure. The commitment to your writing process helps you bring your best work, and the discussions make it real. Our coaches aren’t there with test prep or right answers—instead, they help you focus on the work at hand.
The feelings of falling behind or not doing enough are a trap. We’ll fight hard to keep those feelings from distracting you from doing the work that matters.
With nearly 20,000 students in our programs over the last few years, we've seen extraordinary results occur because our students embrace a simple possibility: That better is possible. That generous, open-hearted work in a community is a magical opportunity. Does that sound like what you’re looking for?
We have a team of coaches who will support you during the community. Our coaches model the culture of possibility, commitment, respect and connection.
They are trained to help facilitate and bring out the best in you by reflecting questions and holding you accountable.
They will not provide you with answers, reassurance or validation.
The book you're writing might not become a worldwide bestseller or even a beloved classic. In fact, the first time, it probably won't. But that's okay, because this community will get you closer to one that will.