A sanctuary for real people writing real stories.
What is it?
The Inkwell is a gathering space for people who are writing (or wish to be writing!) memoir. This is a place to dip your proverbial pen whenever you need some creative fuel, clarity or direction, answers to writing questions, fresh ideas or recommendations, companionship with like-hearted people, or perhaps just a breath of beauty and joy.
Perhaps you’d like to develop a more consistent and enjoyable writing practice, finish a project you began, or simply become better a writer.
With guidance, resources, tools and support, this is a place to develop and refine your voice and craft, and become the writer you wish to be.
The Inkwell is an ‘AI-free refuge,’ a place for people who value authentic human creativity, communication, and connection.
This is a home for genuine writing and the wildly imperfect beauty of the human heart. ❤️
In short, The Inkwell is the space I've been dreaming of creating since the first group of writers finished Memoir Writing Ink and said, “That was great, but how can I keep writing, stay connected and inspired, and finish what I’ve started?”
It's taken me a few years to figure out the specifics. ;)
Part of that meant figuring out how to create a space that would allow me to be one of the people writing! So, I look forward to having this become a collective creative endeavour and to joining you as a writer in this community.
Become a Founding Member.
Help to Shape this Space.
At the moment, we are only opening The Inkwell to a limited number of Memoir Writing Ink alumni.
We are looking for people who are interested in being part of a 3-month ‘founding members launch’ from October 1 - December 31, 2026.
There will be plenty of ‘creative fuel’ there for you to enjoy, but we are also interested in your suggestions for how we might create the kind of experience you would like to see and continue to be part of.
If you’d like to join me on this new literary adventure, please keep reading!
What You’ll Find in The Inkwell
Support for Your Writing
Guided writing sessions, workshops, answers to questions on everything from arc to voice, tips and insights from authors and guests experts.
The Inkwell meets you wherever you are and helps you become the writer you wish to be and finish the project(s) you have started.
Like-Hearted Community
Connection with people who are also engaged in the unique process of excavating their lives for story and transforming those stories into memoir.
Writing may be a solitary endeavour, but storytelling is a communal act, and writing is made easier and more enjoyable when it becomes a shared experience.
Inspiring Creative Fuel
Recommendations and invitations to deepen your writing, expand your literary toolbox, and grow as a writer (and human being!).
A library of resources that will widen your creative horizons, uplift and motivate you, fill your heart, and bring a spring to your literary step.
Live Learning
Weekly, monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly events including co-writing sessions, guided writing, deep dives into great books, and mindset coaching.
There will also be opportunities to connect with other writers, Q&As, editorial revision sessions, and even a monthly dance party! :)
Uplifting Beauty
The Inkwell is a celebration of simple beauty, the extraordinary in the ordinary, a reminder of how beautiful the world can be when we co-create it with compassion and joy — and without AI! ;)
Bite-Sized Satisfaction
Offerings that invite you to craft—and complete—short pieces of memoir that can either stand alone (and get published?) or become part of a larger project.
There is nothing like the fulfilment that comes from moving from an idea to a polished piece and you’ll find the tools and guidance to help you do just that.
Interactive Feedback
A moderated space that helps you sculpt your writing into its finest form, preparing it to move into the hands and hearts of your future readers.
The chance to receive insights from fellow writers and the option to work with a small group and receive feedback from a professional editor {additional cost}.
Purpose
The longterm vision of The Inkwell is to support initiatives that bring the transformative power of storytelling to those in need. Members of this community are welcome to lend their hand or voice.
Priority Access
Members of The Inkwell will receive priority access to Alison Wearing’s memoir writing retreats, small group workshops and coaching, mentorships, and special events.
What Being a
Founding Member Means
This is a ‘beta test’ of The Inkwell, rather than a formal launch. This means that your feedback may shape what The Inkwell ultimately becomes. The idea is to create this space both for you and with you.
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A voice in how the space develops.
First access, before anyone else.
You'll be inside before the doors officially open to the public, letting us know what’s working and what we might consider tweaking before the doors open fully. Sort of like being invited to the theatre for the final dress rehearsal.
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A rate you keep for life.
Joining The Inkwell now means receiving a discounted ‘Founding Member’ rate that you will keep for as long as you remain a member — even as The Inkwell grows, adds more resources, and (inevitably) costs more for everyone who joins later.
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A special standing in the community.
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We are inviting Founding Members to enjoy and test what we have so far, but you are also an important part of The Inkwell’s origin story. You will be the characters in the story who believed in it, even before it was real. :)
Your support means the world.
The Memoir Writing Ink team and I have poured heart and soul and a sanity-busting number of hours at the computer envisioning, exploring, designing, experimenting, creating, fine-tuning and tweaking (and tweaking and tweaking…) The Inkwell, and we would be so grateful for your company on this exciting new literary adventure.
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Become a
Founding Member
Founding Member Membership
$89?? / 3 months
Payable in your home currency.
October 1 - December 31, 2026
This membership gives you 3-months’ access to all of the resources, events & assorted goodies in The Inkwell.
While your feedback during this Founding Members Launch would be greatly appreciated, there is no obligation. You may use and enjoy the experience as you choose.
As some of you already know, there was a quiet irony to Memoir Writing Ink, in that I found myself the teacher, organiser and host of a community built entirely around writing—and adoring it—but needing to set my own writing aside in the process.
My longing for The Inkwell is that it evolves into something that can stand on its own. I’d love to bring on the writers, editors and creative spirits who can carry the vision forward, so that I can step back and be one of the writers alongside you. It humbles me to ask if a few of you might be willing to help me do that.
Becoming a Supporting Member is a way to invest in this project, in the community you have helped to shape, and in the vision of all of us writing side by side. If this idea sings to you, I would be profoundly grateful for your help.
Become a
Supporting Member
Every Supporting Member will be recognised (by name or anonymously, as you prefer) on our Supporting Members page and in the front matter of any future community anthologies, along with our lasting gratitude. Beyond that, there are three ways to give:
$1000
Quill
QUILL
A founding supporter's welcome, behind-the-scenes newsletter, and an invitation to a private online literary salon.
$5000
Muse
MUSE
Everything from Quill, plus a signed copy of our next anthology, priority registration and a discount on a future retreat or a seat or on a small-group virtual workshop with me or one of the writers or editors we bring on.
$10,000
Patron
PATRON
Everything from Muse, plus a lasting mark on the project: a dedication in a forthcoming publication, the option to underwrite a named scholarship for an emerging writer, an annual one-on-one with me or a professional editor on our team, and an invitation to an in-person Inkwell celebration.
Whatever level feels right, your support means more than I can easily put into words—which, for a writer, is a sign of overwhelming gratitude. ❤️