

Laurie has stepped forward as my beloved and reliable Muse. When we brainstorm together, wonderful
things happen. She has contributed beautifully and playfully to almost every significant creative
project, expanding my view of the possible and re-igniting the fires of my imagination. I admire her
deeply, and feel immensely grateful for her contribution to my life and my work.”
– Jeff Greenwald
Author & Travel Writer, Strange Travel Suggestions and Snake Lake

No one is a better nurturer of writers than she.
At the same time she gets right down to what’s extraneous or needs improvement.
LOVE HER!”
– Nan Becklean
“Laurie is fearlessly curious. Nothing is taboo. Its all up for grabs to be explored, questioned, unearthed and played with. And she leads courageously by example. She doesn’t expect anything from her students, collaborators and friends that she’s not willing to do herself. This is the magic of Laurie!”
– Michael Tertes
Business and Life Coach, integrityforreal.com

– Stephanie Dodaro
walkingthemissions.com

Her opening salvo to the group gave me a new name for myself: “Hello, writers.” Laurie balances the carrot with the stick. She pushes, pokes, prods. She excels as coach, cheerleader and whip-cracker. She listens into the words I offer, hears the story behind the story, motivates me to tell it out as best I can. My writing life is the richer for it.– Rab Marlow

– Sherry Richert Belul
Writer, Publisher at Simply Celebrate


– Lisa McCubbin
Co-author of The New York Times Best Seller
The Kennedy Detail: JFK’s Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence,
and Mrs. Kennedy and Me
As a visual artist and long ago English Lit major I had abandoned writing for years before tentatively stepping into Laurie’s Wild Writing class back in 2003. I’ve been a regular ever since. Working with Laurie has changed my approach not only to writing, but to my photography and visual art practices as well. Her honesty, fearlessness and humor are contagious. She creates an environment where one feels simultaneously safe and wildly courageous. Laurie’s inspiration and encourage continue to open many doors in my creative life.
– Stephanie Williamson, Professor of Photography and Design
Writing with Laurie, seeing her vulnerability and honesty, made me braver. It’s that particular kind of courage, the willingness to be harmed, to make a fool of yourself, to offer someone a thing they could use to hurt you if they wanted, to risk being wrong, that encouraged me to show up, to go deeper, to say the very thing I didn’t want to say but so desperately needed to. It gave me confidence in my writing, in the way my friend Susan Piver defines it, “the willingness to be as ridiculous, luminous, intelligent, and kind as you really are, without embarrassment.
– Jill Salahub
Working with Laurie has opened my eyes to what it really means to bring a reader into a story. She has a beautiful way of coaxing the scene to life in my writing. I have sent countless friends who were seeking to up level their writing to work with Laurie and always hear back rave reviews.
– Rachel Cole, coach
Working with Laurie gives me courage to quiet the stern editor in my writing-releasing the hidden thoughts, writing reflexively without judgement, resisting the urge to second-guess what I’m about to say. This is when my writing can surprise me most, giving me confidence to keep going, stay in my chair, keep the pen moving.
– Becky Ruiz Jenab, writer
I’ve been writing with Laurie for about a year and the most important thing I’ve learned is how to let go. To let go of the conscious thoughts I have that hold me back from writing what’s honest and true. To stop editing myself before the pen even touches the paper! Thanks to Laurie I’ve learned how to trust my own voice and realize that my story – as mundane, original, heartbreaking and resolute as it is – is worth telling.
– Lisa Grantham
Working with Laurie Wagner changed my writing. It helped me find an hold onto that most elusive thing of all–my writing voice. I will always be grateful to Laurie, because once I found it–nothing was ever the same again.
– Lisa Russ, writer
The last decade has been about building a business supporting young writers, but it has meant I’ve abandoned my own writing for many years. For me Wild Writing, and being at Laurie’s table, is a treasured opportunity to return to the craft in the company of other fine women writers.
– Sondra Hall, poet
True story: I was looking back in my journal yesterday and I was struck by the brilliant writing inside! I didn’t recognize it as my own words. Laurie’s gift as a teacher is to get you out of your head, side step your critic and let the imagery flow! Laurie’s Wild Writing process has been so helpful not only in writing, but also for my painting practice and for greasing the wheels of ease and connection in my life.
– Mati Rose McDonough, artist, illustrator, author