New Six-week Workshop Series: Writing About Transformation and Inner Change

When: Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

                                  March 16 – April 20, 2013

Where: Good Shepherd Center; 4649 Sunnyside Ave N., Seattle, WA 98103

Cost: $180 ($160 if registered by 2/15; see below for details)

Facilitator: Anne Liu Kellor, M.F.A.

   

Stories of personal transformation lie at the heart of human experience. Whether we’ve given birth to a child, uprooted our homes or relationships, come out of the closet, lost or found our faith, or said goodbye to a loved one, many of us have gone through vital periods in our lives where we’ve struggled to embrace a shifting identity, longed for greater direction or purpose, or strived to create a new home.

In this workshop, we will explore our own intimate stories and questions in a supportive and stimulating environment. We will free-write together extensively, share from our writing, and read and discuss works of creative nonfiction from authors like Cheryl Strayed, Lydia Yuknavitch, Steve Almond, Patricia Hampl, and Maxine Hong-Kingston. We will also discuss the process of writing and a few key elements of craft, such as:

• the importance of writing as openly and fearlessly as possible;
• the question of why we are called to tell a particular story, and what it is we want to understand or say;
• the balance of “showing” and “telling” (i.e. including vivid details that invite our readers into our experiences, while stepping back to reflect and provide deeper insight);
• the different stages of writing: from early, raw free-writing to the first attempts at pounding out a draft, editing, and finding a frame.

Most of all, we will seek to locate the heart of our stories and to identify their major metaphors or themes. We will ask: Beneath the obvious storyline, what am I really writing about, and how has my inner landscape shifted or changed? 

During week 4, you may choose to submit a rough draft of a piece to the instructor for feedback. Enrollment is limited to 8, and all voices are welcome.

Please email Anne at alkellor@gmail.com if you have any questions or to register. Payment is accepted via Paypal or by check. (You do not need a Paypal account to use Paypal.) If needed, you may pay ½ upon registering, and ½ on the first day.

Refund Policy: If the workshop needs to be cancelled due to low enrollment, full refunds will be administered. If you otherwise choose to drop out, full refunds are available if written notice is given by February 28th. After 2/28, I can offer a refund only if the workshop has filled to its minimum (5 students), or I can offer a credit towards editing/mentoring services. After the first workshop, unfortunately no refunds are available. Thank you for your understanding and please don't hesitate to contact me with questions! -Anne alkellor@gmail.com