Please note that this is an online workshop conducted via Zoom. Participants will be provided information on how to join the online sessions.

Life is a constantly evolving stage. We therefore find ourselves faced with experiences, trials, and triumphs so vast that need they need the avenue of story to be savored, examined, and even relived. But like other tasks we aspire to, there will be challenges to tackle. Challenges as subtle as organizing those initial ideas and thoughts that have us staring off into space or sitting up in bed at night. In this workshop, we will liken these initial sweet monsters to your early story sparks in need of shaping and cultivation. Within the course of six weeks, we will focus on that flash of a concept, or that torch of an idea, with the aim of fleshing them out into longer, better organized pieces.

Using generative exercises, discussions, and readings, we will examine elements of story like mood, setting and character; not forgetting ways to retain the tension and suspense required in every compelling story. Therefore, the objective is to motivate you and your creativity, as well as stimulate you to get words on the page. Think about turning on the ignition of a car, putting it in gear and hitting the pedal. You don’t have to have a full story or manuscript to take advantage of this experience—the goal is to meet you at whatever level you are.

Please expect to receive editorial feedback both from me and your colleagues in a supportive environment. I look forward to working with you as we embark on this journey to the immense depths of articulating more life experiences than we’ll ever be able to tell. Always remember—Ignition. Gear. Pedal. And the cruise takes off.