Sign up for the waitlist and receive an email the second doors open.
An online community designed to help writers hone their craft and find connection.
Doors open in January 2025
We’re a vibrant community of poets and lyrical essayists.
No matter where you are in your practice, from seasoned writer to just starting out, this is a place to nourish your practice, find community, and reach your goals.
Get Started
How it works...
Get access to our extensive library, which includes every workshop I’ve ever taught as well as the replay of all guest speaker visits, including
Kate Baer, Ellen Bass, Danusha Lameris, Maggie Smith, and
Leslie Jamison
Video library
Stay connected between workshops and meetups in our live community chat space where we share ideas, challenges, questions, and inspiration.
Guest speakers
Learn from widely published authors, teachers, and writing experts live every month.
Community chat
Gather for prompt-driven hour of writing alongside peers. We begin with a craft lesson and analysis.
Generative sessions
Share on-going work, get feedback, and offer one another new lenses through which to approach a project.
Open writing forum
Every month, you can sign up to have your work critiqued by me or a guest author, along with a fellow group of supportive writers.
Writer's Workshop
Behind the Scenes...
Behind the Scenes...
Writing is a lonely business, but it doesn’t have to be. This is a ridiculously friendly community that is absolutely hell-bent on keeping you accountable to your goals and seeing you succeed.
Find friends
Learn to share your work and get deeply supportive feedback to revolutize how you write.
Receive feedback
We have a whole forum dedicated to open residencies, calls for submissions and awesome places to submit.
Find opportunities
Fall back in love with your creative life through monthly prompts, readings, and access to the work of fellow writers and creatives.
Get inspired
From weekly lessons to
on-going workshops, learning how to improve our craft is our key focus.
Learn, learn, learn
Why join Sustenance?
Join us.
Joining Sustenance is a now an annual commitment.
Your subscription will renew every 12 months unless you choose to cancel.
- Monthly feedback sessions with Joy and other MFA-level professors and instructors
- Live monthly learning with acclaimed guest authors
- Writing showcase forum for feedback
- Bi-monthly generative writing sessions with Joy
- Community writing challenges and assignments
- Weekly peer writing and feedback groups
- Immediate access to our video library, including previous workshops with Joy and other guest speakers, including Kate Baer, Ellen Bass, Danusha Lameris, Maggie Smith, and Leslie Jamison
(over $5,000 value)
$1200 For ANNUAL Subscription
Join the waitlist to be notified when doors open.
I’ve been writing poetry for nearly 20 years. I went to grad school for poetry, taught creative writing for several years, and am the author of the national bestselling poetry collection, Instructions for Traveling West (from Dial Press/Random House). It took me a long time to find the kind of spaces and community that truly honed my craft. I spent a lot of time and money searching for spaces that were genuinely nourishing. I wanted to offer fellow writers something better—a community where people could experience all the benefits of a grad school program—intensive workshops, group feedback, and kind mentorship— without the financial and time investment.
And thus, Sustenance was born.
A bit about me
FAQ
The absolute best way to grow as a writer is through ongoing inspiration, constructive feedback, and consistent lessons based in craft. That's what you’ll find here. Forums to get feedback, monthly prompts to spur progress, workshops to hear your work thoughtfully discussed, and monthly guest speakers to revolutionize your approach.
Sustenance is modeled after an MFA program, without the price tag. The community is designed to encourage cohesive and holistic participation, and an investment of time and participation is necessary to see the full benefits.
Timing of our live events varies, but typically our main weekday offerings happen around 12pm or 5pm Pacific time, and our main weekend offerings are often held around 10am Pacific time.
The Sustenance mission is to support writers at all points in their journey. That also means that I pay the expert authors that I bring in a fair compensation for their time. This price point also reflects that members are serious about contributing and engaging fully.
Unfortunately, our community platform doesn't offer that as an option yet. Accessibility is important to me, and I'd like to offer one as soon as it's available.
Yes, I offer a half-price discounted scholarships to members who identify with under-represented communities such as BIPOC and LGBTQ+. Please send an email to sustenancewritingcommunity(at)gmail.com to inquire about the waitlist.
Sustenance meets writers where they are. This is membership that allows you to grow at your on rate. Beginners are welcome.
No worries. I have a 30 day money back guarantee so if this community doesn’t meet your expectations, I’ll give you a refund. You are required to attend at least one live event before requesting a refund.
Joy has done a beautiful job creating and facilitating Sustenance. Anytime I feel discouraged or out of creative juice, I return to this space knowing I'll be excited to write again. I am grateful for her teaching of craft, for the powerful guests she's had come, and the brilliant community that resides.
—Rachel R.
kind words
Sustenance has changed my entire creative practice. The feedback and support you receive in this group is immense. There’s so much knowledge and creativity in this community and people share it generously. Joy is always so warm and supportive and her extensive experience in the craft has helped me improve my writing so much.
—Amy S.
kind words
Joy is, by far, the most skilled and generous guide I've encountered. I am a teacher by trade, trained in pedagogy and learning styles. When I meet a skilled educator, I relax knowing that I’m in expert hands. Joy is that kind of teacher: passionate about her craft, skilled in the art of communication, and responsive to the needs of her community. All this and an extraordinary poet who walks her talk with the utmost humility. I am enormously grateful for all that I have learned from her.
—Sue Ann G.
kind words
Sustenance has provided a place to meet other wonderful creatives but also a healing space for all of us who have run from our calling and are finding our way home. Joy is beyond generous in sharing the craft and what she has learned in her journey. Sustenance is a worthy investment.
—Holly T.
kind words
With Sustenance, Joy has provided a valuable platform for a community of writers and artists alike. Curiosity and growth are encouraged and creativity is nurtured. My time spent within this community has allowed for me to develop a greater appreciation for the writing craft, and an improved ability to self-critique my own work with a forgiving and yet analytical eye.
—Fayth S.
kind words
This poetry group has been a breath of fresh air for me this year. I’m not a writer by trade but this group has blossomed my creativity, helped me find my voice, and has exposed me to stunning pieces in progress by other members. The feedback from the group is invaluable and the workshops always leave me inspired and holding on to a firmer grasp of the craft.
—Nicole S.
kind words
