The Flow—
You want to write.
You want to love it.
Today, you will.
“I live for these Monday afternoons. Your workshops are rooms of one’s own–with adjoining doors. Brava!” (Adrienne W., perfumer)
Women’s writing workshops on Zoom: Mondays, 1:00-3:30 pm EST. Continues through March 18th.
Fee: $30 sign-up rate / $33 drop-in rate (both require registration)
This practice transformed my relationship with writing, and a private client with a severe writing block experienced a breakthrough after practicing The Flow with me. She says that writing, instead of feeling “torturous,” has become pleasurable, satisfying, and she’s making steady progress. For me, writing has become the part of each day when I feel especially energized and focused, curious and free.
In this workshop, you’ll be invited to practice grounding rituals, you’ll receive inspiring quotes and writing prompts, and write for an hour and fifteen minutes in “pomodoros”—25-minute writing cycles followed by 5-minute breaks to stretch, get a snack, dance, etc. The only “rule” is that you stand up for a few minutes.
Music is provided, based on a crowdsourced playlist of songs that make my friends have to get up and move—or at last stretch or sway! At the end of 3 writing cycles, we share excerpts, observations, and insights, then offer each other brief supportive feedback. We respond with what we like, what stays with us, what moves us—and not, at this stage (and without seeing it on the page) with suggestions about how to make it stronger.
The Flow is appropriate for everyone—from beginner to author—and all genres. Whether you’re working on a project or writing from prompts, this practice supports you wherever you are in the writing process—writing fresh pages, developing, structuring, rereading, researching, revising, etc.
The Flow is especially helpful for writer’s block, for starting and making progress on a challenging project, evicting harsh editors/critics living in our heads, and for those who want to move through resistance and heal their relationship with writing.
Since 2006, poet and writer Chivas Sandage has taught women’s writing workshops in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and more recently in Florida and Texas. As an Assistant Professor at Westfield State University, Sandage taught Composition, World Literature, and Contemporary Cross-Cultural Literature. She earned an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA from Bennington College. Connecticut Center for the Book at the Connecticut Humanities Council awarded a planning grant for a writing program she designed. The Northampton Arts Council, supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, has awarded artist grants for her writing, teaching, and performance work. An editor, writing coach, tutor, and consultant, she works with students, businesses, and independent writers. For info about her publications and awards: https://www.csandage.com
To register: Fill out the short form below to request payment info. Pay in full to complete your registration. Installment plans are available.
Cancellation Policy: You are responsible for your reservation. This is standard policy for writing workshops. Emergencies happen and if you cannot attend for any reason, please contact me ASAP so we don’t worry about you. These policies make it possible for Write Like a River to support your voice and the voices of other women writers.
Is there an opening for the Thursday Collinsville Writing Workshop?
Yes, Marie, I believe there’s an opening. Maya forwarded your email & I’ll get back to you in the morning. Thanks for contacting us!
hi chivas: i am able and would like to attend nov 28 and dec 12 & 19.
love,
joyce
Exciting! Can’t wait!