Finding the Heart of Your Birth Story

Spaces are still available in next Saturday's Writing Your Birth Story Workshop!

 

Saturday, February 22, 2014 from 10-3 (with one-hour lunch break)

Where: The Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford (4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103)

Cost: $65; with additional writing and feedback options available (see below).

Enrollment limited to 10.
One "pay-what-you-can' spot available; please inquire for details.

Most often, we think of a birth story as starting somewhere around your first contractions and ending with your child’s first breaths. But a birth story can also include aspects of your pregnancy, your efforts to conceive, or your relationships with others who were involved with the process. A birth story can examine your hopes, fears, expectations, elation and sorrow. A birth story might also stretch to reflect upon your first weeks or months of motherhood, and where the birth of your child has taken you both internally and externally. Whether you had a relatively peaceful birthing experience or an experience that was traumatic, giving birth is a profound experience that can be empowering to process and record.

In this one-day* workshop, we will explore our birth experiences through a series of free-writing exercises. Participants will also be encouraged (but not required) to share from their writing, in a safe and non-judgmental space. 

*After the in-person workshop, you may sign up for the option to submit a rough draft of your birth story to Anne at a later date for extensive feedback (see details below).

Whether you hope to share your story with others, to write it for your child, or simply to write it for yourself, this workshop can help you unearth deeper insight into the heart of your birthing experience and to articulate your story in a new and healing way.  

“What I loved most about this course was the chance to write what I needed to write. I assumed that I would write about labor but once in the class I wanted to write about so, so much more. It was also so motivating to hear everyone else's stories. Plus the fact that it was a class made me commit to sitting down and making my writing happen. Anne is a wonderful, kind, insightful instructor.”- Kristin AnthonyMalone 

(Please note: Although writing about your birth experience is often therapeutic, this is a writing workshop, and not intended as therapy. Many women whom have experienced traumatic births find it essential to seek support from groups and/or professionals to address the real and important issues and emotions arising from difficult birth experiences.) 

 

 Registration Details:

1. Please first email me (Anne) at alkellor@gmail.com to confirm space in the workshop. Please note that I cannot hold your spot until payment is received.  
2. You may pay either pay by check sent to my secure mailbox, or by Paypal:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

*Additional Birth Story Feedback Option:

1. After the workshop, if you decide you would like to continue to develop your free-writing into a more substantial draft, whether for your own personal satisfaction or for publication purposes, you may sign up to send a rough draft of your birth story to me with one of the following due date options: March 3, March 17, or March 24.
2. My feedback will consist of: a lengthy letter addressing your birth story, including: what themes I feel lie at the heart of the story; what questions I have for you; where you could potentially cut back or expand; how to improve the structure or flow of your piece; and other smaller editing or resource suggestions. All feedback will be given in a thorough, respectful manner, and will seek to challenge you to make your draft the very best it can be.
3. I typically spend about 3 hours making extensive comments on a draft (that is about 10-20 pages double-spaced), as well as writing a lengthy summary letter. My editing/mentoring rate is $35-$50 an hour (sliding scale), with some considerations made for those in need.
4. I am also more than happy to work with you on a future revision of your draft.
   For more information or questions, please feel free to email me (alkellor@gmail.com), or to visit the 'testimonials', 'more about me', or 'mentoring' pages on my blog. Thanks so much, Anne