Making Sense

An 8-week seminar for media makers of all kinds who want to help their audiences make sense of ideas, trends, and challenges.

Make media that helps others make sense of the world

Relief—it’s the feeling you get when you read, listen to, or view something that turns a perplexing situation into one that makes sense.

And with as complex and confusing as the world is today, we need more people willing to weave together analysis and insight to make sense of our modern muddle.

Luckily, you’ve already volunteered. You see the swirl of confusion and think, “I’d like to help.”

You have expertise, experience, or boundless curiosity that can help people create a story that makes sense to them. You have a framework or theory that helps them see more clearly.

In Making Sense, you’ll explore the methods that sensemakers, theorists, and thought leaders use to help their audiences make sense of one small part of their worlds.

This 8-week seminar combines analysis, research, process, and craft. By the end, you’ll have a draft of an article, episode, video, or social media post (or a detailed outline of a larger work) that makes sense of an experience or question common to your audience.

Making Sense is for media makers of all kinds—writers, illustrators, content creators, speakers, managers, etc.—who aim to turn lived experience and deep analysis into an idea that shifts how others think.

The Syllabus

Project: draft an article, episode, video, or social media post (or a detailed outline of a larger work) that makes sense of an experience or question common to your audience.

    • Chart the basic steps of the sensemaking process

    • Assignment: Choose the focus of your sensemaking project and make your initial observations

    • Analyze the gaps in information and experience that make it difficult for your audience to see what seems clear to you

    • Assignment: Create a “map” documenting both the visible an invisible information that allows you to make sense of the issue

    • Examine two common styles of sensemaking content: the explainer and the polemic

    • Assignment: Outline your project based on your thesis or question

    • Examine various methods of research and information gathering

    • Assignment: Complete your research and test your theory

    • Share your outline with the group for feedback

    • Assignment: Update your outline and continue to flesh it out

    • Analyze the structure, devices, and styles that help make a piece of sensemaking work

    • Assignment: Begin your final project

    • Join Tara for 2 “making” sessions—write, edit, illustration, diagram, etc.—to make progress on your final project

    • Share your final project (or whatever you have!) with the group for feedback and support

The Schedule

On-Demand Learning

Access on-demand video, audio, or text versions of each module whenever you’d like. Use the provided worksheets or prompts to make progress on your project. Submit your questions for asynchronous support & feedback.

Office Hours & Workshops

Meet live with Tara and other participants to discuss your learning, ask questions, and get feedback on your project. All sessions are recorded.

  • Wednesday, September 18 at 1pm ET/10am PT

  • Wednesday, October 2 at 1pm ET/10am PT

  • Wednesday, October 9 at 1pm ET/10am PT (90-min)

  • Wednesday, October 30 at 1pm ET/10am PT (90-min)

Co-Making Sessions

During Week 7, Tara will host 2 “Co-Making Sessions” so you can work on your final project in a structured environment. While these sessions will be focused on making your project, Tara will be available for questions or guidance as needed.

  • Tuesday, October 22 at 3pm ET/12pm PT

  • Wednesday, October 23 at 1pm ET/10am PT

Meet Your Guide

Tara McMullin is a writer and critic who studies the future of work through the lens of philosophy, critical theory, and media. She's the creator of What Works and the co-founder of YellowHouse.Media, a boutique production agency.

She believes that care, curiosity, and context create an environment where we can not only learn but experience new and sometimes challenging ideas with grace. She's coached, taught, and facilitated for over 15 years—including more than a dozen classes with CreativeLive.

Tara brings her own experience as an autistic feminist, endurance athlete, and amateur baker to everything she does.

The Details

Making Sense is a limited enrollment 8-week live seminar. The enrollment fee is $400 (or 2 payments of $200). The group is limited to 12 participants.

You also have the option of adding a one-on-one Insight Intensive with Tara. Use your session for additional guidance on your project, working on your content strategy, or discussing other craft or business challenges. Save $100 by bundling your session with Making Sense.

Choose the option below that works best for you. You’ll be prompted to create an account and then directed to checkout. Once you’ve checked out, you’ll have access to our private Seminar space.

Ready to Enroll?

Enrollment closes Friday, September 6. Seminar is limited to 12 participants.

Questions?

  • This seminar is designed to help content creators and communicators of all kinds. Whether you're a writer, video creator, podcaster, marketer, influencer, illustrator, or work in some other medium, you'll learn a process for upping your game and making the world make sense for those you create for.

  • No! If you have an established newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel, etc., where you can publish your final project, excellent! If you don't, Making Sense could help you jumpstart one if that's your goal. It can also help you craft better internal communications, draft a speech, or create compelling articles for other channels.

  • Expect to spend 5-10 hours on your final project, depending on how ambitious it is! You'll receive weekly assignments so that your time commitment for that project is spread out over the 8 weeks.

    The video lessons are short & snappy—less than 15 minutes each. Our live sessions total about 7 hours if you plan to attend them all.

  • Tara provides personal feedback to everyone who submits their questions, reflections, and assignments via our private learning area, office hours, or workshops. The more you participate in the Seminar, the easier it is for other participants to offer constructive feedback, too.

  • Seminar x What Works often offers reduced fees and sliding scale prices for our programs. Because Making Sense is a limited enrollment, interactive seminar, we cannot offer reduced fees at this time.

  • If you register before August 30 and need to drop out, you will receive a full refund. If you register after August 30 and need to drop out, you may transfer your registration to someone else.

    Because the program is limited enrollment, no refunds or transfers will be made after September 5.

  • You can get a feel for how Tara teaches by viewing her free lessons from her classes on CreativeLive. We recommend checking out this one and this one. You can also check out a recent talk she gave at Plywood Presents in Atlanta, GA.