Reconnect with your Spark
Join us for our fall session of SparkLab, a six-week, deep-dive, online course in creating a content strategy and producing must-read, thought-leadership content for your brand on LinkedIn. Class starts August 21.
You’ll be led by two industry experts, Emily and Jocelyn, each with over 25+ years experience as writers and brand strategists
“SparkLab gave me the tools to write with more authenticity, clarity and purpose.” – Taylor C.
get out of your head and onto the page!
Learn to consistently create content that is aligned, authentic and sparked by your soul.
This class takes you from generating ideas to finalizing branded thought-leadership content for LinkedIn, newsletters and Substack.
“I thought SparkLab would be helpful but it turned out to be truly empowering.
SparkLab is exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
It’s not just a course. It’s a space where you feel seen, supported, and challenged in the best way. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure, this is where things start to shift. I walked away with more clarity in my content, more confidence in my voice, and a renewed sense of direction.
If you’re on the fence, Go for it. It’s worth it.” — Taylor, Spring Cohort, 2025
Because sometimes it’s hard to create content and get it out there. Maybe you…
- Have some ideas but don’t know how to go from the blank page to a piece you want to post.
- Finish a first draft, but then you get stuck on the rewrites.
- Post every once in a while, but can’t seem to create a routine.
- Wish you had a strategy for creating and posting content that felt do-able and not overwhelming.
- Feel like it’s hard to find the time to write quality content for your brand, so instead you just don’t write anything.
If any of this feels like you, we invite you to join us starting in August for SparkLab, our six-week, hands-on creative and practical online course in creating must-read content.
What to expect each week:
- Set up: Monday before each class, we’ll send out a question that sparks inspiration and dovetails with the week’s work.
- In-Class Creative Lab: Brand messaging deep dives + Writing prompts + Idea sparks
- Guided Lesson
- Live Writing Exercise
- Group Share/Supportive Feedback
- In-Class Practical Lab: Strategies for consistently producing great content + Creating a posting cadence that’s realistic + Real-time feedback and peer support
- Guided Lesson
- Live Writing Exercise
- Brand Dare (done outside of class)
We’ve designed this course to help you carve out precious time to focus on expressing yourself for the benefit of your spirit, and your brand.
You’ll be guided by Jocelyn, writer, marketer, brand strategist and content producer; and Emily, principal brand strategist, author and facilitator; with the support of our other writers and strategists, Chris and Kel.
We will guide you from generating ideas (even if you feel uninspired) to creating a content and posting strategy that is consistent and sustainable, filled with authentic, must-read content.
We’ll ground our work in three pillars:
- Cadence
When, where and how will you create content? - Consistency
How often will you commit to posting and engaging? - Content of Impact
What metrics are meaningful to you?
This foundation will allow you to elevate your brand and create consistent, must-read, thought-leadership content using your authentic voice.
Each week we’ll apply the pillars to a new topic:
- Week One – Language That Embodies Your Brand
- Week Two – Editing The Fear Out of Sharing
- Week Three – Overcoming the Overwhelm
- Week Four – Crafting Content That Connects
- Week Five – Using the World as Inspiration
- Week Six – Repetition is your friend
You’ll walk away with new tools and support to spark your creativity and produce the kind of content you’ve always wanted. By the end of the course, you will have at least one full month of content to post to LinkedIn. You’ll also know how to repurpose that content for other platforms like newsletters, blogs and Substack.
The course begins August 21 and concludes September 25.
Class is 90 minutes, for six consecutive Thursdays, starting at 10:30 a.m. CT.
“SparkLab is exactly what I didn’t know I needed.” – Taylor C.
BONUS: Those who regularly produce content will have their content amplified by Root + River.
Join us!
$2,500
Early bird registration: $2,000 through August 1.
- Get your ideas out of your head, onto the page and into the world.
- Produce content you love that differentiates your brand.
- Keep creating even when you’re busy and overwhelmed.
- Connect with your ideal audience in a way that invites engagement.
- Use life and the world as inspiration without getting too personal.
- Repurpose content in a way that isn’t repetitive.
“My experience was validating and expansive. I was amazed at how many thought leaders were on one call. It was such a great safe space.” – Saagda O.
- Dive Deep:
We’ll guide you in going deep to uncover and rediscover language that embodies your brand (and no one else’s). - Spark your Soul:
Because we believe brand is how others experience your soul, we’ve got creative prompts and practical lessons for tapping into your soul and sharing it with others. - Attract and Repel:
In order to attract our ideal audience, we have to also repel those who aren’t really for us. When we spend energy trying to attract everyone, we dilute the power of our message, and then no one really feels it. - Cadence, Consistency, and Content of Impact:
Producing soulful, branded content that invites higher-quality engagement is based on the three pillars of Cadence, Consistency, and Content of Impact. We will teach you how to use these pillars as cornerstones for creating a sustainable content plan.
“Get out of your comfort zone by taking this course. You’ll be surprised how quickly you start learning, even without realizing it. And the skills you learn won’t be just typical “social media skills” but rather internal skills to overcome fear, perfectionism, and uncertainty when it comes to putting yourself and your content out there for people to consume, critique and comment on. Learning how to post is easy. Having the confidence to do so to build your brand, is another thing entirely, and this course did a great job getting to that second layer.” – Katy O.
What attendees from our Spring Cohort, 2025, are saying:
“It ended up being the highlight of my week.”
“SparkLab is exactly what I didn’t know I needed.”
“My experience was validating and expansive. I was amazed at how many thought leaders and unapologetic women were on one call.”
“You’ll be surprised how quickly you start learning—even without realizing it.”
“I felt supported, encouraged, and more confident in both my voice and my work.”
Because we believe Brand is how others
experience your soul
With 25+ years experience
as a freelance writer, marketer, brand strategist and content producer,
Jocelyn previously wrote and produced a decade-long travel blog and is currently the publisher of a successful weekly Substack with a robust and engaged community. She believes branding isn’t about product, it’s about people and the sacred work of helping them tell their stories. She is a lighthearted and generous teacher who loves supporting other writers on their journey.
Emily’s career spans 30+ years as a journalist, publisher and VP of corporate communications. She is the co-author of the book, Rooting Up: Essays on Modern Branding, and author of over 100 LinkedIn articles on brand, marketing, leadership, and communication. She sees words as power sources, and is full of insight, curiosity and kindness as she guides others to find the words that spark their power.
“I appreciated both Jocelyn and Emily’s authenticity, feedback and ability to make it a grounded & safe space.” – Saagda O.
“I thought SparkLab would be an engaging workshop, but it turned out to be so much more than that. I felt supported in the safe container Emily and Jocelyn held for us so I could step outside my comfort zone and explore new ways of thinking about content.” – Amanda S.
“I was really surprised how well the facilitators brought out honesty and sharing from the rest of the cohort. Most of these types of things involve a lot of artificial sharing, but the leaders’ mentoring enabled each participant to really open up.” – Katy O.
FAQ
Still have questions? Email us to schedule a 15-minute call.
Hold Space
The Root + River team is devoted to creating a space where everyone is respected, heard and seen. We seek consent before providing feedback, and come from a base of non-harm, with positive intent. We focus on what works, so you can learn to spot and create more of it.
THIS is FOR YOU IF:
- You love (or don’t love) to write.
- You want to deepen your connection to your audience.
- You think you’re not good at content (we think you are, you just need the right guide).
IT’S PROBABLY not FOR YOU IF…
- You’re not interested in going deep and creating soulful content.
- You prefer salesy or quick content.
- You never get stuck or feel like you need a strategy for creating powerful content, consistently.
Save $500 and take advantage of our 20% early-bird discount only through August 1!
Join us and walk away with new tools and support to spark your creativity and produce the kind of content you’ve always wanted.
