Join My CLI Class

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CLI stands for Community Literature Initiative. It is a literary nonprofit based in Southern California with the mission of teaching writers of color and other historically silenced writers how to write and publish poetry collections. It contains three main branches: The World Stage Press, The Sims Library of Poetry, and the Poetry Publishing Program.

It is a two semester course that teaches poets different elements of writing, helps them revise their work, and supports them through producing a book. 

Investment of $250 / month for 10 months (scholarships available) provides you with:

- One, three-hour class per week which includes a 30-minute craft lesson; 15-minute writing prompt; 1h45-minute workshop; and 30-minute guest lecture from a published poet

- Bi-weekly special sessions on the poetry career (how to publish in literary journals, how to organize a tour, how to strategize social media, etc.) 

- Weekly office hours with instructor and TA

- Daily "Writers Block of Time" writing group

- Professional book cover designer

- Professional editor

- Professional layout designer

- A proof copy of your book (meaning, you will hold a hard copy of your book in your hands at the end of the course.) 

- Invitation to the Beach City Writers Conference in Los Angeles

The fall semester will begin at the end of August.

DC Chapter Class will take place Sunday evenings from 6-9 PM ET

Office hours TBD

There are other national chapters that meet on Saturdays 12-3 PM ET

Click here to access the CLI Class Application

Under the question "How did you hear about the CLI course?" Please click "other" and type "Anne Marie Wells"

YES!

I first came to CLI as a student and graduated in 2021. I completed my book Survived By in this class and over the course of the next year, I sent my book to indie publishers all over the country. In August 2022, it was picked up by Curious Corvid Publishing, and it will debut on April 30 of this year. (Click here to RSVP for my book launch!)

My CLI teachers Andy Sánchez, Alex Petunia, Ravina Wadhwani, and Tommy Domino were all alums of the CLI course and have published their books.

My classmates Christian Perfas, Karo Ska, Lolo Wink, and Adanna Moriarty all had their books picked up by publishers after graduating. My classmate Diosa Xochiquetzalcoatl self-published her book and my other classmate, Brenda Vaca, self-published her book and then started her own publishing house, Riot of Roses Publishing.

My former students Marissa Forbes (pending Finishing Line Press), Larissa Freitas (pending Bottlecap Press), and Estela Victoria-Cordero (pending World Stage Press) have all had their books picked up by publishers. 

On May 30th, my current students will graduate with their end-of-year culmination where they will reveal their book cover designs, read from their collections, and give their book's pitch. 

It is free to attend, so RSVP to this event to catch a glimpse of what your future could hold.

Your book could be next!