Registration is through the Inward & Artward School of Creativity, a sister project to Story Parlor.
Adventures in Ekphrasis
Four Week Class
Wednesdays, June 17-July 8, 2026 from 6:00-8:00pm EST
📍ONLINE delivered via ZOOM
Facilitated by Alli Marshall (I&A Certified)
We will use ekphrasis, an ancient literary tool, to play with words by responding to art of various genres — paintings, sculpture, film, music, etc. — through poetry and prose. This workshop will inspire you to generate ideas and new material that may later become polished projects.
This four-week workshop is for writers of all genres and skill levels and will provide writing prompts, weekly assignments, and resources for creating your own ekphrastic work beyond this workshop.
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Anyone looking to find inspiration in unexpected places, and to trigger ideas for short writing pieces.
Open to writers of all experience levels.
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Alli Marshall is a writer and artist based in Asheville. She received an MFA from Goddard College and is a creative facilitator certified through the Inward & Artward School of Creativity. She’s the author of How to Talk to Rockstars, ‘The Persephone Project,’ and numerous zines. Many of her best friends are trees.
Learn more at alli-marshall.com.
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“Alli's thoughtful approach to creative facilitation shines in her workshops. From the delivery of the hero's journey (knowledge of subject, pacing, prompts, handouts) to her supportive and gentle guidance as we examine our stories, I felt a sense of both calm and curiosity, and a willingness to explore these shadowy corners of self. This is in large part to Alli's presence as a facilitator who is fully engaged and delights in taking others on a journey of discovery.” - Faye D.
“With a keen sense of thoroughness, Alli helps participants broaden their introspective lens. She challenges outdated paradigms, integrating inclusivity and diverse perspectives, allowing individuals to explore layers they may have previously overlooked.” - Heather B.
Facilitated by Alli Marshall
Certified Inward & Artward Facilitator
The Inward & Artward School of Creativity—a sister project to Story Parlor—launched in the fall of 2025 with the intention of expanding the workshops and classes offered to a broader, virtual community.
The school takes its name from a guiding philosophy: that one must go inward in order to go “artward.” Creativity, in this framework, begins with reflection, personal narrative, and an honest reckoning with the stories we carry—about ourselves, about others, and about the world. I&A helps participants explore those stories, untangle limiting beliefs, and cultivate sustainable practices that foster creative growth. The aim is not to teach a singular technique or discipline, but to provide tools and frameworks that allow individuals to discover their own pathways to expression.
Programming at I&A spans a range of offerings, from short-term workshops to extended creative facilitator trainings. These trainings are particularly impactful, equipping artists, educators, and community leaders with the skills to guide others in creative exploration. Through this work, the school cultivates a new generation of creative leaders committed to fostering inclusive, meaningful, and transformative arts experiences.
Together, Story Parlor and the I&A School of Creativity form a dynamic ecosystem of creativity aimed at dismantling the barriers and silencing that so often accompany early creative experiences, and to invite participants to reclaim creativity as an essential part of how they live. They affirm that creativity is not the province of a chosen few, but the birthright of all—a force capable of bridging divides, deepening empathy, and helping us see ourselves and one another more fully.