Monday evenings from 6:15-8:45pm at Story Parlor
6/17, 6/24, 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/29, 8/5 (no class 7/22)
Early Bird pricing extended through June 7
Regular price effective June 8
Price includes a $45 materials fee
Monday evenings from 6:15-8:45pm at Story Parlor
Space is LIMITED to ensure an intimate experience. We recommend signing up EARLY!
Refund and health policies can be found here.
Join us as we re-imagine and explore new possibilities in authentic narrative storytelling. Our goal in this workshop is to illuminate how the pace and structure of a story can be more dynamic than a straight line or circle of expected events, all while immersing the audience in an experience that reflects the unique perspective and voice of its author.
This class is different from your typical creative writing workshop. Rather than focusing on output and critique, it will focus on discovering a new approach to individual expression. Participants will not learn specific tips, techniques, do’s-and-don’ts, or fool-proof formulas that “every writer should know.” The concepts are explored through a series of fully immersive modules that introduce “play” and “wonder” to the planning and outlining process in the quest to reclaim what can often be the most discouraging phase of creative writing.
This interactive and immersive workshop turns the typical approach to plotting and planning up-side-down and in-side-out in order to discover how storytelling can be creative and fun at every stage!
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The workshop will meet in-person at the Story Parlor for a total of 7 sessions from 6:15pm to 8:45pm with one 15 minute break in the middle. Light refreshments will be available. There are private restroom facilities on site and accessible at all times.
There is little or no time spent sitting at desks, rather we will be on the floor, on our feet, and moving around. In class, participants will be guided through meditations, creative play, sensory experiences, and thought exercises. Creative writing assignments are given as homework to expand on and solidify the experience of the classes. Participants should plan for 3-4 hours per week of devoted creative writing time outside of the classroom.
The value of this workshop comes from the experience of being present in class. There is no way to make-up for missed classes and, out of respect for the other participants, no one will be allowed to miss more than one class and remain in the workshop. If you know that you will be absent for any of the 7 scheduled class times, please discuss this at the time of registration.
Those with physical challenges, intellectual or developmental disabilities, or speak English as a second language will be reasonably and gladly accommodated. If you have any concern that you may have unique challenges in this class, please ask us how we think this will impact your experience and what we can do to minimize that.
This is a fun and playful class! But the mode is introspective. Much of the work will involve reflecting on emotions, past experiences, sense memory, and the like. If you are currently working through difficult emotions or memories, please take a moment to consider whether this is the right time for work of this nature. All sharing in class is voluntary, what memories you bring into the work are at your discretion, and anyone who abstains from an exercise will not be questioned.
Some social interaction and sharing are a part of this class at times, but this is not the norm. If you have a shy personality, the discomfort level should be low and I would encourage you to join us. If your main intention is to connect with others, share work and ideas, and/or collaborate with those who are actively working in the field, we invite you to join the workshop, but this will likely not satisfy those desires.
Criticism is not a part of this workshop. There are no right-and-wrongs. It is the perfect place to begin if you question whether others will approve of your writing or perspective. The focus will be on exploring your voice and helping you learn to create work that reflects your beautiful, unique self. Even if you have never written a poetic word in your life, this class welcomes you.
Artists of all mediums are invited to join and adapt the creative writing assignments to their artistic medium of choice.
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Creative writers of fiction, memoir, and historical narrative.
Documentarians and filmmakers.
Playwrights, poets, comedians, magicians, puppeteers, and writers of the one-person-show.
Glassblowers, potters, carpenters, painters, photographers, and public speakers.
Dreamers.
Anyone who has a unique story to tell and feels limited or “boxed in” by traditional Western or overly-masculine story structures and is looking to ground their creative work in their own perspective.
Neurodivergent thinkers may find this particularly helpful.
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About the instructor (in his/her own words):
A creative writer and performer since the elementary years, I have a life-long love for the interplay between artist and audience, and the conversation that occurs in that connection; the questions of what it is to be alive and to be human.
I explore through play and encourage others to as well.
I believe the imagination is the womb of all inspiration, inner healing, and innovation; it is the place we meet with our creator and our truest self. It shows what we desire, what we need, where we long to go, who we hope to become. The magical challenges our beliefs and demands that we expand them beyond the perceived limitations of the rest of the mind and the world we see around us. And, it reminds us there is often more truth in fiction.
Creativity demands that we remain blissfully naive— be foolish, play!
I am autistic, artistic, optimistic, and intuitive; I bring a unique, often challenging, perspective to the subjects I teach and the wisdom I share. I seek humanity and the divine in everything I do. My areas of specialization are in narrative fiction, coaching neuro-divergent thinkers, the art of tarot, and teaching the fundamentals of story.
See my portfolio on www.RLyonBergh.com
Lyon is a certified Inward & Artward instructor.
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With gusto and grace, Lyon immerses participants in the power of multi-sensory meaning-making. From song and videoto costumes and the written word, I was transfixed by the joy of responding to the creative impulse and relaxed in the laughter of playful connections.” —Natalie Callahan
“Lyon is a true visionary and creative steward. With a depth of knowledge infused by an insatiable curiosity, Lyon’s offerings yield an air of alchemy that naturally lead participants to unlock the wisdom already within them.” — Erin Hallagan Clare