“Write the story that you were always afraid to tell.
~ Dorothy Allison
Courage and transparency are hallmarks of powerful personal writing. Allowing yourself to be naked on the page is a liberating experience for all kinds of writers: memoirists, journal keepers, poets, and people who use writing as a tool for self-discovery. Without nakedness, there is no transformation. Without stripping away artifice and exposing the truth of who you are, you cannot tell a convincing story or bring insight to personal experience.
In this one-day workshop, Mark will guide you through a series of Writing to Awaken practices designed to liberate your authentic writing voice. He’ll offer tools to help alleviate self-consciousness and touch into the depths of your personal stories, using a language uniquely your own.
As a writer, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of emphasizing technique over depth, style over courage, syntax over spontaneity, and to focus more on structure than on insight. But, effective memoir changes not only the reader but the writer who created it, and this cannot happen without taking risks. When you show your heart, you give your readers permission to do the same thing. That is the magic of memoir.
“Mark has a laser-like ability to identify the core of what you’re writing about – and where you’re writing from – and shines his light to encourage you to go there. He inspires you to go beneath the surface and tell the truest story that your heart yearns to express. I loved this workshop.”
~ Jifa, USA
In a safe, judgement-free atmosphere, you’ll spend the day exploring key issues related to personal writing. Mark will offer one-on-one feedback, provide personalized prompts, and guide group conversation and sharing.
- The obstacles to honesty and integrity in personal storytelling
- Overcoming the shame of self-exposure and fears of self-incrimination
- Writing about living people without trespassing boundaries?
- Why secrets and secret-keeping are indispensable to a rich inner life
- How to write about sex and sexuality without self-indulgence
- How to write about trauma without becoming re-traumatized
- Articulating spiritual experience in a grounded, relatable way
Who would benefit from this workshop:
* Writers interested in memoir and personal narrative for publication or legacy
* Journalers wishing to want a deeper their powers of self-inquiry and truthfulness
* Poets drawn to personal narrative a source of inspiration and insight
* Seekers who wish to practice Writing to Awaken as a path of self-knowledge
Mark brings decades of experience as a writer, teacher, and mentor to his transformative work with students. Known for his insightful questions, he creates an atmosphere of safety, support, and laughter to his events, and provides a confidential, judgment-free zone in which to do this powerful writing practice. Writing to Awaken has helped countless people around the world to reach their creative and spiritual goals. We hope you can join us for this inspiring one-day workshop.
