Weekly reminder emails are sent the Monday before each class. If you accepted marketing from me at registration, you’ll receive these emails in your inbox and there’s no need to reference this page. If you did not accept marketing, this is where you need to look for all class communication as I’m unable to send you emails.
Introductory Email Sent 9/29/25
Greetings, Writing Families.
Our first meeting is right around the corner and I want to share details that help Family of Writers run smoothly.
First, print the workbook before your first class. It’s long so give yourself enough time and ink!
Second, please watch this short video that provides a big picture overview of the program. (NOTE: I made the video a couple years ago and it mentions that our focus will be meaning, but this year it’s DETAILS. Everything in the video still applies!)
Third, bring the following to every class:
One printed workbook per child attending from your family.
Favorite pen or pencil.
Writing pages are included in the workbook, but bring notebook paper and/or a journal if you or your children prefer writing on different paper. TIP: Don’t bring small journals or diaries. We all need lots of space on the page to let our ideas expand!
Water/beverage if desired.
Dinner if you don’t have time to eat before 6 PM (but nut free).
Fourth, know your cohort (1, 2, or 3) and show up at the right school. Click on your cohort below if you would like to go directly to your portal.
Cohort 1 meets at Rancho Vista (4323 PV Dr. North, RHE).
Cohort 2 meets at Lunada Bay (520 Paseo Lunado, PVE).
Cohort 3 meets at Montemalaga (1121 Via Nogales, PVE).
The last meeting for ALL cohorts is at Point Vicente (30540 Rue De La Pierre, RPV) on November 12th.
Fifth, please arrive promptly.
Be seated with your child, ready to write at 6 PM in the school MPR.
I do an early bird drawing as an incentive so give yourself time to get your names in the drawing before 6 PM.
Sixth, look for reminder emails arriving in your inboxes every Monday before class. With the information included in these emails, it’s not necessary to log into the membership area on my website. Everything you need each week is provided in the email.
If you don’t see the emails, the following could be occuring:
They’re in promotions or spam.
You didn’t yet reply to an email confirming it’s ok for me to send you emails.
You opted out of marketing at registration. This means you need to log into our course membership area to see copies that I’ve posted. Directions included at end of this email.
Finally, if you have any questions, please refer to FOW FAQ or email me (LorrieTom@lorriet.com).
It’s an honor to write with you and your kids during Family of Writers. I appreciate the effort it takes to return to school at night. I’m looking forward to our time together. Remember, you’ll arrive tired, but leave inspired.
Always writing,
Lorrie Tom
Week of 10/6/25 Class #1
Greetings, Writing Families.
It’s finally here. Family of Writers starts this week!
Here are three tasks to complete before we meet:
If you didn’t get a chance to review it yet, here is the WELCOME EMAIL with important class details.
Print the COURSE WORKBOOK (one per child attending). For anyone who printed the workbook prior to September 13th, I added a couple new pages that you might want to print for class #1. You can use THIS LINK to find those pages.
NEW! Please watch this short video before our first class. It’s a big picture overview of how Family of Writers fits into your children’s writing life (see page 2 in your workbook). NOTE: I made this video last year so it does mention that the focus is meaning instead of details, but all the information still applies.
For anyone in Cohort 1, please park in the lot on the Moccasin Lane entrance to Rancho Vista since the gates in the upper parking lot will be locked.
If you have any questions, please email me (LorrieTom@lorriet.com).
I’m looking forward to our time together. Remember, you’ll arrive tired, but leave inspired.
Always writing,
Lorrie Tom
Week of 10/13/25 Class #2
Greetings, Writing Families.
Thank you for a wonderful first Family of Writers week. It always warms my heart to greet returning families and meet new members of our Palos Verdes writing community.
Parents, I am so appreciative of your efforts to return to school after long days. Bravo to you! I am espeically thankful for Dodger fans who show up to class. If you’re a fan, please know that I will make baseball references in your honor during class. I’ve already got a good one planned for this week!
One other note for all of you younger parents, cherish this wondrous (and often stressful) time with your kiddos because it goes by quickly. My husband and I marked the end of an era today when we sold our mini van! I was shocked at how emotional I was (even shedding a tear or two). Selling that van really brings it home that my little baby daughter is all grown up. We have so many wonderful family memories in that car. I suppose it’s not an accident that I keep writing about family roadtrips lately.
Ok. Enough of my banter. I can’t wait to see you this week. Please arrive promptly, ready to write. Don’t hesitate to bring dinner if life gets too hectic.
Please watch this short video if you didn’t get to watch it before our first class. It’s a big picture overview of how Family of Writers fits into your children’s writing life (see page 2 in your workbook). NOTE: I made this video last year so it does mention that the focus is meaning instead of details, but all the information still applies.
If you signed up to bring snacks, please bring items that are wrapped and nut-free. Keep it simple and plan on enough for twenty. Thanks in advance for your kindness. See below for the names of families bringing snacks in each cohort. If anyone wants to bring items for Cohort 1, we’re a little short.
If you have any questions, please email me (LorrieTom@lorriet.com).
Once again, I’m looking forward to our time together. You’ll arrive tired, but leave inspired.
Always writing,
Lorrie Tom
Snack Volunteers—Thank you and sorry for any misspellings in this list.
COHORT 1: Teddy Cole, Luca and…three more if possible.
COHORT 2: Jennifer Randolph Ray, Erin Fairchild, Brooke Bakturner, Heidi Fessler, Sajid Mohamedy
COHORT 3: Alyson Yamauchi, Dee Dee Xia, Thu Kim, Ruxn Han, Anita Sreerama
Week of 10/20/25 Class #3
EMAIL:
Weeks of 10/27/25 (Writing Week) and 11/3/25 (Anthology Submission Week)
Writing Week EMAIL:
Submission Reminder EMAIL:
Week of 11/10/25 Class #4/Publishing Party!
EMAIL: