WORKSHOPS

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)

Spring 2024 Women’s Writing Workshops (on Zoom)

I’m excited to offer this spring series of writing workshops on Thursdays from 1-4 pm EST, April 4-June 6.

This 10-week series will weave together my original workshop with “The Flow.” Expect a centering meditation and or exercise, inspiring quotes, intriguing prompts, at least an hour and fifteen minutes of writing time, plenty of short breaks, wonderful music (in case you want to stretch, sway, or dance with me on breaks!), and time to read your writing aloud and receive brief, helpful, inspiring feedback.  

Genres include nonfiction, fiction, poetry, plays, and hybrid works. Beyond genre, we write from our lived experience. As Mona Eltahawy says, “The most subversive thing a woman can do is talk about her life as if it really matters.”

We write for an hour and fifteen minutes in “pomodoros”—25-minute writing cycles followed by 5-minute breaks to stretch, get a cup of tea, dance, etc. The only “rule” is that you stand up for a few minutes. While this may seem counterintuitive, sitting is hard on the body and standing/walking, even briefly, restores our energy and clarity.

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 on a book. For me, writing has become the part of each day when I feel especially energized and focused, curious and free. 

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.

Lastly, you always have the option to ignore the breaks, turn your video and the volume off, and keep writing!

Space is limited and it’s first come first serve. The fee is $450. Installment plans are available.

Participants have published in The Sun, Ms. Magazine, Hartford Courant, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Dark Matter: Women Witnessing, The Journal of Farmington History, Naugatuck River Review, and The Women’s Times, among others. 

Fee: $450 for the series of 10 workshops / $48 drop-in rate   

To register: To reserve a spot, pay in full for the series. Installment plans are available. Email me and I’ll send payment info.

Drop-in rate is for women who want to visit once (if there’s an opening).

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


4 Responses to WORKSHOPS

  1. Marie Lavendier says:

    Is there an opening for the Thursday Collinsville Writing Workshop?

    • csandage says:

      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!

  2. joyce rosenfeld says:

    hi chivas: i am able and would like to attend nov 28 and dec 12 & 19.
    love,
    joyce

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