introducing...

lit up your life

Your story matters. Do you know how to tell it?

Nora Ephron famously declared that “everything is copy.” But the thing is: how we organize this “copy” almost wholly decides whether or not anybody will pay attention. That’s where narrative theory comes in.

For years, narrative theory has only been used by nerdy PhDs and struggling script-writers—but it's time to unleash its power. Narrative theory can not only change the way you tell stories but how you live your life.

In this course, we’ll explore the basics of narrative theory, allowing you to unlock new understandings of your own experiences. (As we like to say: change your story, change your life.)

By the end of this course, you'll be empowered with techniques to:

transform your personal experiences into captivating stories
find your authentic voice and shape your “narrator”
identify core conflicts in your life and derive meaning from your experiences
apply literary analysis to your life—and learn when to STOP analyzing and start living
connect with inspiration and develop a steady writing practice

Through lectures, group discussions, writing exercises, and workshops, you will craft a first-person prose work of at least 2,000 words, which you can then pitch to major publications or self-publish. This 10-week course includes lessons on:

What is narrative theory?
What is character? What is voice?
What is plot? What is conflict?
What is structure? (& when should I experiment?)
What is theme?
How to give and receive feedback
What makes an authentic, compelling story?
How to edit and restructure
How to impart meaning through your writing
How to pitch and publish

The cost of the 10-week online course includes all 10 lessons, feedback on workshopped pieces, and lesson recordings to revisit at any time. But if you're interested in the ultimate writing growth, upgrade to the premium tier for:

2 one-on-one editing sessions (plus read & edit time from me)
feedback on weekly assignments
personalized reading list to assist in your writing/thinking

Lit Up Your Life Tiers

Access to the course is available at two different tiers

Standard

Access to 10 live classes
Video recordings of classes
Feedback on workshopped piece

$350

Premium

All standard offerings PLUS:

2 one-on-one editing sessions
Feedback on weekly assignments
Personalized reading list to assist in your writing

$500

Because this is the first session for the course, I’m offering a limited-time discount for students who apply early and agree to provide feedback. Access to the course will be available for only $300 and premium tier access will be $400 when you sign up before May 14, 2025.

**Please ensure that your email address is linked to your method of payment. It will be used for all communication.**

Using narrative and literary techniques, I empower fledgling writers to tell life-changing stories, revealing deep truths not just about themselves but the world at large. When we tell better stories, we can create a better world. I hope you will join us this summer and Share Your Story.

Cohort size will be kept small to encourage active participation. A limited number of discounted tuition placements are available, please enquire via DM (@cai.rizz) or via the form below.

COURSE BEGINS WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 @ 6PM EST.
Class will meet every Wednesday for 1.5 hours until July 30. Recordings will be sent out if you cannot attend live sessions.

Who am I?

My name is Cailey—and I’ve had countless writing gigs over the years.

I’ve been a fashion and travel journalist at some of the country’s most widely read magazines. I’ve been a novelist and essayist. An experimentalist. A blogger. A copywriter, editor, and professor. My writing has gone viral, won awards, and brought me around the world. But lately, I’ve been cooking up a different project.

A few years ago, I began writing about my own trauma and grief—the kind of black thinking that threatened to color my every experience. I wrote and I wrote and I wrote. And sure, the catharsis felt good. But I was still trapped in my thinking. Then I started to experiment with how I was telling my story.

Using the techniques of fiction and creative writing, I began releasing guilt, processing trauma, and freeing myself from limiting ideas of who I thought I was.

Then I began teaching. As I mentored fledgling writers, I used the techniques I had developed to help them craft compelling stories from their real lives and endow their experiences with new meaning. I'm now bringing that to you.

As for my credentials: I’ve trained at the Juniper Summer Writing Institute and earned an MA in creative non-fiction writing from the University of East Anglia. My creative writing is represented by WME Agency and my Substack, Philosophy for Party Girls, is read and recommended by some of the top names in the literature today (including a National Book Award winner and an infamous literary influencer.)

Over the last few years, I’ve shared my techniques with dozens of students, helping them use writing to transform their lives. To be let into your story is a privilege; I hope to hear all about your journey soon.

Get on the List

Questions? Want to know more? Leave your info below & we'll get back to you.