Upcoming Events
The structure, tools, and community you need to (re)start your writing practice... and keep it going.
QUARRY: An Excavation Workshop
Reveal what lies beneath the surface of your writing.
Saturday Aug 29, 2026 | on zoom | 9-11am PT / 12-2pm ET
SCRAPS: A Composting Workshop
Use your notes app to grow your writing practice.
Sunday Aug 30, 2026 | on zoom | 9-11am PT / 12-2pm ET
5 to 9: A Workshop for Writers with Day Jobs
Make room for your creative practice with 6 weeks of structure and tools.
Sept 19-Oct 24, 2026 | on zoom | Saturdays 9-11am PT / 12-2pm ET
UNFURL: 12 Weeks to a Full Draft
A workshop for ambitious beginners… and writers who want to begin again.
Jan 30-Apr 10, 2027 | on zoom | Saturdays 9-11am PT / 12-2pm ET
About the Midwives
We’re Jade Chang and Ann Friedman, two best-selling authors and national magazine writers who, between us, have put in our 10,000 hours (sorry for Gladwelling) in screenwriting, podcasting, editing, and various entrepreneurial ventures. We are also friends who live in Los Angeles.
And we have way, way too many ideas. We wish we could pursue every single one of them. Alas, we are mortals, so we have to prioritize. We’ve had countless conversations about deepening an idea, shaping a concept so that it feels vital and rich, and knowing when a nascent project is worth the time and effort. Our workshops and retreats are about sharing those conversations with you.
Jade Chang
Jade’s debut novel, The Wangs vs. the World was named one of the best books of the year by NPR, Elle, and Amazon. She has been invited to discuss the book at colleges (Yale, UT Austin) and companies (Google, Amazon), as well as on the air (Late Night with Seth Meyers, NPR’s Morning Edition). Her bestselling novel was optioned by Hulu and has been published in twelve countries. She is also a film and TV writer (The Baby-Sitters Club) and has written and voiced two non-fiction audio projects: The List (Amazon Originals) and You’ve Already Changed Your Life (Audible). Her journalism and essays have appeared in The NYT Magazine, The WSJ, The Best American Food Writing, and others.
Ann Friedman
Ann is an audio pioneer who co-created the beloved Call Your Girlfriend podcast, and a newsletter innovator whose long-running Ann Friedman Weekly has more than 50,000 devoted readers. She is the co-author (with Aminatou Sow) of the New York Times best-seller Big Friendship, which was featured on The Today Show. For many years, she was a columnist for both The Cut and The Los Angeles Times, and her features have been published in The New Yorker, ELLE, The Guardian, Bon Appétit, and more. She is a contributing editor to The Gentlewoman, where she writes short essays and cover profiles of fascinating women.
Testimonials
Here are some nice things that attendees have said about our workshops and retreats:
“It's hard to distill something as broad as ‘coming up with an idea’ into clear points and actionable items, but you both did amazing at this.”
“A game changer for me.”
“I’m leaving with what feels like a very full toolbox for approaching something new.”
“Both of you have been very generous with what you’ve shared about your own work and processes, and I really appreciate the inclusive, encouraging environment you’ve created.”
“I was genuinely riveted.”
“Everything, from the ability to work on my own ideas, to the advice and information we were given from two successful writers/editors, to how much thought and planning went into making sure we stayed on task and covered a lot of ground, make this the best professional workshop I've ever attended.”
“I feel unstuck and my project feels… midwifed.”
“You loosened my grip and allowed me to fall in love with being an artist again.”
“A huge THANK YOU for facilitating what was honestly a transformative experience for me.”
“I wrote 5,000 words!”
“It’s possible this ruined me for all other writing retreats. Obsessed with this entire week—and beyond grateful.”