Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colours, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. ~Rilke
On embodied memory, untaming your draft, and zero-waste writing
Gustav Klimt's Water Serpents II (1907)
Dear Writers,
I don't know about you, but as I watch the greening all around me, my primal urge to reclaim my own creative projects (the ones that stalled out in the infinite gray slog of February and March) has grown so urgent I can barely stand it. Luckily for me, I leave June 1 for a week-long self-imposed writing residency on the North Shore of Lake Superior. That week is for novel writing, and novel writing only. Please wish me luck as deep and wide and infinitely greedy as that Lake of all Lakes, that lake with a capital L. I know I will need it as a bolster to my own fierce determination.
Meanwhile, if you, too, are ready to generate new work and/or breathe new life into existing projects, Elephant Rock has a thoughtful, rich, and uniquely supportive roster of spring/summer classes designed to ignite your imagination, elevate your craft, and bring your creative projects forward.
Partnering with talented and experienced teaching artists, we've curated a series of workshops that will push the boundaries of your writing and prepare you to refine and shape what you have into something more than the sum of its parts.
Here's what's coming up soonest, including ...
A class that celebrates the wisdom of the body and the stories held therein (nothing, not one thing, has strengthened my own writing practice more than embodied writing techniques, and Nina, who teaches this course, can help you discover, integrate, and implement these methods)
A class for exploring real revision, the kind where you go beyond "editing" and truly see your work again, see beyond what it has been and into what it could yet become, taught by Jennifer Berney, whose book The Other Mothers I was honored to review for Literary Mama.
And, finally, a class near and dear to my zero-waste writer heart, in which you'll actively revive and resurrect a draft you thought was beyond hope, meant for the dustbin ... dead as a doornail, taught by the wonderful and innovate Rebecca Gummere
Details and links are below. We would love to write with you soon!
"The Body Remembers"
6wk Session with Nina B. Lichtenstein
Dates: Sundays, May 21 - June 25
Time: 12:30-2:30pm CT
Tuition: $499
Description: Join acclaimed author Nina B. Lichtenstein in this generative workshop series that explores the profound connection between body and memory. Through guided exercises, you'll tap into personal experiences and bring forth compelling narratives rooted in the power of the body.
"Untame Your Draft"
4wk Session + Individual Consultation with Jennifer Berney
Dates: Wednesdays, June 7 - 28
Time: 7-8:30pm CT
Tuition: $499
Description: Award-winning writer Jennifer Berney invites you to embrace the revision process as a tool for play and discovery. In this workshop, writers will begin with the draft of an essay, short story, or chapter to use for exploratory revision. Then with Jennifer's guidance they'll take stock of current practices and intentionally dig deeper by trying new revision tools that engage specific elements of craft.
"Resurrecting the Dead…Files"
2hr Workshop with Rebecca Gummer
Date: Sunday, June 11
Time: 1-3pm CT
Tuition: $79
Description: Join author Rebecca Gummere in this insightful workshop, where you'll learn how to view rejection as an opportunity for growth. Through practical strategies and creative exercises, you'll resurrect discarded pieces and explore ways to breathe new life into them. Embrace the power of reimagining and find inspiration in what was once considered lost.
To join our vibrant community of writers and stay informed about these workshops (and more!) subscribe to the Writing in the Dark Newsletter. As a subscriber, you'll gain access to early registration, special discounts, and a wealth of resources including weekly writing prompts to fuel your writing practice. We would love to write with you.
Good morning Jeannine. Happy novel writing, what a dream. Klimt’s sea serpent painting is enough inspo for any creative day!
I totally understand that! It's always that kind of calculation around where our creative energy is most needed. I am sending you all the best energy for your proposal!