Workshops
Here are some of the workshops I run. Please sign up to receive my Newsletter for advance notice of upcoming events, or contact me for information if you'd like to know more about booking a workshop at your place.
What's your story?
No one can tell the story of your life like you can.
Your voice, experiences, and memories are unique to you - so let's make a start with getting those stories down. In this workshop we'll look at how you can turn your life experiences into stories and personal history, and enhance your writing with creativity, colour, and character.
We also look at the structural tools and editing needed to craft a great story.
There will be several writing exercises and attendees will have opportunities to share their work with the class.
Writers will leave with work that can be progressed at own pace.
This workshop runs from approx. 10am-4pm.
Introduction to Journaling
Journaling is a tool for personal growth
Your journal is the story of your life. It is about you, what is going on for you each day, what has brought you to this point, and 'where to' from here. Your journal is just for you (unless you want to publish it like I did!). It is companion that does not judge you, nor does it place restrictions on what you confide. Your journal belongs to you.
Keeping a journal can be life-changing and is now recommended as a way to:
lower stress levels
improve health
lessen emotional pain
enhance creativity
encourage self discovery
In this workshop you will learn:
how to get started
how to be creative in your journaling
how journaling can support emotional health and well being
what to write about in your journal
how to keep up the practice of journaling in daily life
This workshop runs approximately 9.30am - 2pm.
The Building Blocks of Story
Have an idea for a story but don't know how to get started?
What is all this talk about structure, plot, character, and theme?
Do we need to know all of this before we start writing?
How - and why - do we use these traditional elements as the foundations for great stories?
In this workshop we'll look at these storytelling building blocks - plot, character, structure, setting, conflict and theme - and use them to construct stories that are meaningful for you.
This workshop runs approx. 10am - 4pm
Feel the fear - and write it anyway!
This half-day workshop (10.30am - 1.30pm) will provide writers of all skill levels and experience with strategies, tips and tools for overcoming those emotional and practical roadblocks that can stop us from getting started with our writing.
Through discussion, writing exercises, and group sharing we'll tackle some of these common barriers and fears that can hinder, or even prevent, self expression. for example:
- Fear 1: You feel overwhelmed in front of a blank page/screen.
- Fear 2: You lack confidence, think you're not good enough and doubt yourself.
- Fear 3: Everyone will laugh at you. You want to write a sex scene when you usually write about cats.
Whether you're into creative writing, memoir, poetry, fiction or non-fiction, the tips, tools and inspirational ideas in the workshop are designed to help overcome barriers, boost self confidence, and help you explore your creative ideas and skills.
Writing your life
An introduction to daily journaling and life writing
This workshop introduces participants to the writing crafts of daily journal keeping and life writing (telling our stories) through a mix of active discussions and writing exercises within a creative, fun and supportive environment.
We discuss how keeping a daily journal can enhance overall well-being and creativity, and provide the raw materials to form the building blocks of life story.
We examine life story as a genre, and discuss the personal, family, and community value of this writing form as a way of recording our stories. We look at tips for getting started, and review the elements that make up a ‘good story.’
This workshop runs from approx. 10am - 4pm.
