Why take a writing workshop?
There is absolutely nothing, apart from my own experience, stories and passion for writing that I can share in these workshops that you can't learn on your own. I did. There are volumes written and videos galore on the art and craft of creative writing.
No laws proclaim that first you must attend classes or workshops before you can put pen to paper. It's not impossible to write good stories without first having consumed volumes of information. Shakespeare managed quite well all on his own, although I did hear that he had a remarkable mother. All you have to do is sit down, start at the beginning, wherever that may be, and stay until "THE END". Simple as that!
Worse still, there is no guarantee that having read the books and attended the classes and workshops, including mine, that you will write your stories. You are the only one that can guarantee that. You will have to sit, write, and write some more.
Why then, should you waste your time and money on writing workshops?
There are many benefits to be had from participating in workshops, especially when at the beginning of your writing journey. Here are just a couple.
1- Save time. I've spent a lot of time learning about storycraft, creativity and the writing process. It's one of my favourite ways to avoid writing while still technically working. I've taken these years of productive procrastination and condensed and synthesized it into these workshops.
The more you learn about the mysterious process of taking what's in your head and heart and putting it on the page in a way that a reader can see and feel what you saw and felt, the more confident a writer you will become.
2- The company of other writers. Writing is a one person sport, performed behind closed doors without an audience. And it's hard. It's easy to get lost, lonely and give in to the internal critic who is positive that you are behaving quite foolishly, and give up. After all that moat isn't going to did itself now is it? It helps to be in the company of other writers who also spend time behind that closed door, who hear the voices and share the feeling that writing can often invoke.
It's the psychology of "misery loves company".
There is an energy to a group of people who have come together in common purpose that encourages and empowers each person to be more than they are individually. It makes your desire to write credible to the most important person involved in the process. You. "Well if these ordinary people can write their memoirs and no one has knocked down their door demanding to know "Just who they think they are to write about their life?", then I can too.
Why take a Story Wisdom Workshop?
Barb's teaching style is unique mixture of seminar, coaching session, social commentary, inspiration, motivation, improvisation and comedy routine. Her laid back, low keyed authentic style creates a respectful, welcoming atmosphere where participants laugh as well as learn. Her courses and workshops are the child of her passion for writing and her strong belief in the importance of peoples life stories to our continued evolution.
"If you're looking for an all-knowing writing guru who will teach you how to write a best seller in a weekend, I'm afraid that would not be me. I am but a humble scribe who is constantly learning and discovering. I struggle to get my ass in the chair, pen to paper and one word after another in a manner that closely captures the on-going narrative in my head. But I have learned a few tricks and developed a few theories about how to make that happen.
I teach from the crumpled paper, ink soaked and tea stained trenches of the writing process. I teach what I’ve learned and what I most need to know and practice. My goal is always to keep the pen moving and through these workshops, help others to do the same. By arming you with the tools and techniques of storycraft and clear understanding of creativity and the writing process, you will have the knowledge, courage and confidence to sit, stay, and write your stories beginning to end and the very uncomfortable parts in between.
I know the struggle and I also know the intoxicating thrill of writing merely for the sake of writing and of the deep satisfaction that comes from holing the hard copy of something that started with the soft whisper of an idea. This is my goal for you.
If, however, it's magic your after, I just so happen to have a limited quantity of very rare enchanted seeds. Each seed, when planted in 100% pure, organic bullshit, at precisely 11:37 PM, on a three-quarter waxing moon in the month of November while chanting, "Once upon a time", will grow one fully formed story of Pulitzer Prize quality. Only $14.95 each while supplies last. Comes with absolutely no guarantee. Three out of four seeds may grow green beans, and the fourth will most likely wither and die."
No laws proclaim that first you must attend classes or workshops before you can put pen to paper. It's not impossible to write good stories without first having consumed volumes of information. Shakespeare managed quite well all on his own, although I did hear that he had a remarkable mother. All you have to do is sit down, start at the beginning, wherever that may be, and stay until "THE END". Simple as that!
Worse still, there is no guarantee that having read the books and attended the classes and workshops, including mine, that you will write your stories. You are the only one that can guarantee that. You will have to sit, write, and write some more.
Why then, should you waste your time and money on writing workshops?
There are many benefits to be had from participating in workshops, especially when at the beginning of your writing journey. Here are just a couple.
1- Save time. I've spent a lot of time learning about storycraft, creativity and the writing process. It's one of my favourite ways to avoid writing while still technically working. I've taken these years of productive procrastination and condensed and synthesized it into these workshops.
The more you learn about the mysterious process of taking what's in your head and heart and putting it on the page in a way that a reader can see and feel what you saw and felt, the more confident a writer you will become.
2- The company of other writers. Writing is a one person sport, performed behind closed doors without an audience. And it's hard. It's easy to get lost, lonely and give in to the internal critic who is positive that you are behaving quite foolishly, and give up. After all that moat isn't going to did itself now is it? It helps to be in the company of other writers who also spend time behind that closed door, who hear the voices and share the feeling that writing can often invoke.
It's the psychology of "misery loves company".
There is an energy to a group of people who have come together in common purpose that encourages and empowers each person to be more than they are individually. It makes your desire to write credible to the most important person involved in the process. You. "Well if these ordinary people can write their memoirs and no one has knocked down their door demanding to know "Just who they think they are to write about their life?", then I can too.
Why take a Story Wisdom Workshop?
Barb's teaching style is unique mixture of seminar, coaching session, social commentary, inspiration, motivation, improvisation and comedy routine. Her laid back, low keyed authentic style creates a respectful, welcoming atmosphere where participants laugh as well as learn. Her courses and workshops are the child of her passion for writing and her strong belief in the importance of peoples life stories to our continued evolution.
"If you're looking for an all-knowing writing guru who will teach you how to write a best seller in a weekend, I'm afraid that would not be me. I am but a humble scribe who is constantly learning and discovering. I struggle to get my ass in the chair, pen to paper and one word after another in a manner that closely captures the on-going narrative in my head. But I have learned a few tricks and developed a few theories about how to make that happen.
I teach from the crumpled paper, ink soaked and tea stained trenches of the writing process. I teach what I’ve learned and what I most need to know and practice. My goal is always to keep the pen moving and through these workshops, help others to do the same. By arming you with the tools and techniques of storycraft and clear understanding of creativity and the writing process, you will have the knowledge, courage and confidence to sit, stay, and write your stories beginning to end and the very uncomfortable parts in between.
I know the struggle and I also know the intoxicating thrill of writing merely for the sake of writing and of the deep satisfaction that comes from holing the hard copy of something that started with the soft whisper of an idea. This is my goal for you.
If, however, it's magic your after, I just so happen to have a limited quantity of very rare enchanted seeds. Each seed, when planted in 100% pure, organic bullshit, at precisely 11:37 PM, on a three-quarter waxing moon in the month of November while chanting, "Once upon a time", will grow one fully formed story of Pulitzer Prize quality. Only $14.95 each while supplies last. Comes with absolutely no guarantee. Three out of four seeds may grow green beans, and the fourth will most likely wither and die."
Barb currently writes out of a three-walled log shed. Located in the middle of a blackberry thicket, in the shade of tall pines and old cedars in Bowser's back fourty where she makes daily attempts to squeeze the contents of her head out through the tip of her pen.
She also MC’s the monthly Story Slam at the Crown and Anchor Pub in downtown Qualicum Bay and creates and facilitates the workshops for “Storytellers By the Bay” and writing workshops in support of the Lighthouse Community Lunch, “The Soupe Café”
She also MC’s the monthly Story Slam at the Crown and Anchor Pub in downtown Qualicum Bay and creates and facilitates the workshops for “Storytellers By the Bay” and writing workshops in support of the Lighthouse Community Lunch, “The Soupe Café”