“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eyes.”

~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery
In this two-day workshop, Mark takes you through a series of guided writing practices that illuminate the eye of the heart. Doing so increases the emotional awareness a writer needs in order to create powerful memoir. This guiding perspective deepens insight and leads you to core of your story, enabling you to make a heart connection with your readers.
Mark will begin the day with an overview of the memoir writing journey, focusing on how the witness perspective lends depth and insight to personal narrative. He’ll lead you through guided exercises to help you transform life experience into written experiences, conjuring emotion from memories shaped into words. We’ll have plenty of time for breakout groups, questions and answers, and as well as one on one time with Mark.
Known for his skillful questioning, Mark brings decades of experience as a writer, teacher, and mentor to his transformative work with students. He has helped countless writers around the world reach their personal, professional, and spiritual goals.

“Mark is an insightful teacher whose skill with the written word is outmatched only by his skill with the human soul. I did not know him before this course, but the feedback I received was more like something from an old dear friend – clear, kind and direct. His ability to see into the heart of the story and the emotions behind it were uncanny I could not recommend it highly enough.”

~Pascale, Engineer
In a safe, judgement-free atmosphere of mutual support, encouragement, and fun, you’ll explore the memoir writing process. Mark will offer one-on-one feedback and provide personalized prompts for deepening your writing practice in addition to guiding group conversation.
In this course, you will learn to:
* Derive meaning and insight from complex personal experiences
* View life experience through the eye of the clear-seeing witness
* Bring your writing to life with details, specificity, and contradiction
* Identify your blind spots, numb areas, and magical thinking
* Recognize the mythic dimension of your experience
Who would benefit from this workshop:
* Writers of personal narrative
* Journal Keepers who enjoy turning experience into story
* Seekers interested in using writing as a path of self-inquiry

Workshop Details

Schedule
Saturday, February, 3, 2024
9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Sunday, February 4, 2024
9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Location
Stanley Park Ecology Society,
610 Pipeline Road, Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4 (MAP)

*The entrance to the space is in the back of the Pavilion building. There are some metered parking spaces available. Bring your preferred writing materials. Coffee, tea, and goodies will be served. Bring your lunch or you can eat at Stanley’s Bar & Grill in the Pavilion.

Registration

Early Registration Workshop Fee: $265 CAD

(You will be redirected to EventBrite in order to register and pay in CAD)

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“Mark’s courses have been like having a personal writing companion, providing guidance and community as I traversed the long road from journaling, to writing, to finally publishing my spiritual memoir. His books and courses have been invaluable in writing my way through false narratives and worn out stories of myself, to simply reveal the tender love story of my heart’s awakening. He has been a touchstone for my writing process.”

~ Vickie MacArthur, Canada, author of A Lotus on Fire