Writing Toward Wildness: A Non-Linear Approach to Writing a Memoir (with Arya Samuelson) - ONLINE
Do you have an idea for a book project, but feel lost about where & how to begin? Is there a story you’ve always dreamt of telling, and now you’re seeking structure, accountability, and community support? This new year, it's time to take the plunge! Rather than starting with an outline or at the “beginning” of a story, this generative and community-building class will be about writing into the wildness of a new project in a non-linear way, allowing the story to reveal its true colors over time. Come in with the seed of an idea, and each week, we’ll write in response to a different “portal” – a launching off-point for you to explore within the world of your book. Though there won’t be any formal workshopping, there will be a chance each week to read your work aloud and receive “on the spot” reflections. Throughout, you will be receive abundant support from the group and emerge from the class with the first pages of your next book! For serious writers of all levels. Limited to 10 writers.
Workload: This is a purely generative class with no expectation of work outside of class, outside of individual writing projects.
WHEN: 8 Weeks: Wednesdays, February 9 - March 30 (6 - 8pm EST)
WHERE: Online, via Zoom video conference (live)
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
ARYA SAMUELSON is the winner of the CutBank’s 2019 Montana Prize in Non-Fiction, awarded by Cheryl Strayed. Her work has also been published in Columbia Journal, New Delta Review, Entropy, and The Millions. She is a proud graduate of the MFA in Creative Writing Program from Mills College and has been studying at Lidia Yuknavitch’s school of Corporeal Writing since 2017. She teaches with LitReactor, Sundress Academy for the Arts, and through her own teaching series, Writing as Ritual. Arya writes across all genres and is currently working on a novel.
WORKSHOP GOALS
- Generate an abundance of new material brimming with opportunities for expansion
- Build a strong writing habit over eight weeks that will spark inspiration and create momentum in your creative practice
- Alleviate fear of the blank page and self-censorship
- Release the notion that you have nothing interesting to say and have to sit around waiting for inspiration
- Write through eight portals, that you can repeat as many times as you want, each time with different results
- Draw support, inspiration, and accountability from a community of fellow writers on a parallel journey
- Receive insightful, encouraging verbal feedback on your writing from a highly perceptive teacher and editor
WORKSHOP OUTLINE / TOPICS COVERED
Below is a list of potential topics & portals that we'll use. However, this list is subject to change based on the dynamics and needs of the particular writer:
• Mosaic of inspiration
• Senses and Scenes
• Objects as Talismans
• Writing the Body
• Bringing Images to Life
• Discovering the Through-Line of your Story
• Unexpected Angles
• Digging Deeper & Opportunities for Expansion
RECEIVING THE ZOOM LINK: For one-day workshops, we send out the link to attend the Zoom session 1 - 2 days before the event, via email. For multi-week workshops, you should receive info and the link about 3 - 5 days before. Please mark your calendars when you first register and look for our emails. If you don't see the email in your inbox on the day before the class, please check your spam and junk mail folders (and search all folders) for an email from joy@pioneervalleywriters.org before contacting us. We have found that very often our emails end up in those folders. This is based on your own email settings, and you can prevent this by adding our email as a contact.
ONLINE SESSIONS happen remotely, via Zoom video conference. All you need is a laptop, computer, or phone with functioning audio and a webcam. Those who RSVP receive directions and a link to "join" the session via email (please see above note about receiving the Zoom link). All online instructors will log on to the video conference a few minutes before the start of the session, so please plan to log on early if you'd like assistance! We'll do everything in our power to help you get comfortable with the Zoom format, though we are not able to offer technical assistance beyond basic Zoom orientation.
REFUND & CREDIT POLICIES AT PVWW
If you withdraw from a workshop ten days or more before the start of the class: You'll receive full credit toward another workshop OR a full refund. If you withdraw from a workshop nine days before the start of the class up until 48 hours before: You'll receive a refund minus 20%. If you withdraw from a workshop less than 48 hours before the start of a class or after the class has begun: We are not able to offer you credit toward another class or any refund, unless in the case of a medical emergency, or if we are able to fill your spot. If you are absent on the day of your workshop or miss it for any reason, we are unable to offer any kind of refund. If we have to cancel a class for any reason, you will receive a full refund, or if you choose, credit in the amount of your payment, to be used for any future PVWW class. Anyone who does not specify whether they would like a refund or a credit for a cancelled class will automatically be refunded. Please contact Joy (joy@pioneervalleywriters.org) for all matters concerning credit and refunds.