Word-Wrangling Classes for Women

One of the most exciting classes I offer is a weekly writing group in Alameda for women. The class uses wild writing as a technique toward telling our stories and uncovering the themes we want to write about. The hour begins with a poem or a theme that I suggest and then we write as a group for 15 minutes without letting our pens leave the page. It’s not about good writing or coming away with finished pieces. It’s about pushing ourselves past the clever stuff and past the making pretty stories stuff. Instead we hope that by writing so quickly we have a chance to move into a less conscious, loose groove where, if we’re lucky we might stumble into the fertile material that lingers within us, conjuring up stories and memories that are waiting to be written.

After we write we read our work aloud. We don’t critique, but instead feed back to the writer some of the words or phrases we heard that resonated with us. We do this three times within the session. This technique, while very therapeutic, is also a wonderful way to jumpstart any good writing project. I start all my writing with wild writing because it helps me get to the chewy nougat of what I want to say. You don’t have to be a writer to take the class, but merely someone who wants to let loose, take risks, push past well worn territory and move into something new. I like to think of wild writing as the stretch before the run - - an opportunity to grease the wheels for all good writing.

Classes are 8-weeks long and meet once a week for two hours at my house and studio. I welcome non-writers, poets, fiction writers and non-fiction folks. Writers of all levels are encouraged to join.

Three groups will be offered, one on Wednesday mornings from 9-11:15 a.m., and the others on Thursday mornings from 9-11:15 and Thursday nights from 7-9:15 p.m. Classes cost $160 for 8 weeks.

If you’d like to find out more about the class or to sign up, please call me at (510) 522-7033 or email me.