A Very UniqueWriting Group
Gertrude’s Writing Room in partnership with Balanced Life Wellness Centre is proud to present a unique writing group that brings together our favourite things about writing: learning, sharing and writing! This monthly, three-hour writing opportunity offers writers a safe, comfortable, accessible and inspiring space in which to flex their creative writing souls. We will gather one Sunday each month.
MAY - JUNE WORKSHOPS
SUN. MAY 19, 2024 – DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE -
SOLD OUT!
SUN. JUNE 23, 2024 – POETRY -
SOLD OUT!
WE ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING OUR SUMMER SESSIONS. STAY TUNED!
BALANCED LIFE WELLNESS CENTRE is located at 114 Talbot Street South, Essex
*PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION IS NOW NECESSARY! Due to a consistent increase in writers gathering, we are including a registration process for the workshop portion of the afternoon. Ten writers maximum for the workshops to ensure continued safe, intimate gatherings. If you would like to use the entire time for independent writing, you’re more than welcome to use the space for the entire time (1pm -4pm). Please specify when registering. Thank you!
*PLEASE NOTE: IF THE WEATHER IS TERRIBLE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WE CAN SHIFT TO A VIRTUAL WORKSHOP.*
How it works:
THREE-HOUR FREE WRITE
The Writers’ Assembly is a three-hour long writing opportunity. Writers can use the entire three-hour session to work on their writing project, choosing a comfortable place to write for the full duration of the gathering. Enjoy a cuppa joe, free wi-fi, and various locations in the house to choose from in which to write. Writers should bring their own writing tools: laptop, paper, pens, etc.. If you and a writing partner(s) would like to use the time to exchange writing feedback, you can use this space and time to do so as well!
FIRST-HOUR WRITING WORKSHOP (1pm – 2pm) – INSPIRE!
For the first hour, Vanessa Shields will lead a writing prompt/workshop and/or welcome a guest writer will lead a prompt/workshop. Prompts/workshops will shift across genres, and will include a short lesson on writing craft, the prompt, a timed writing session, and an opportunity to share.
SECOND-HOUR SHARING OPPORTUNITY (2pm – 3pm) – EXCHANGE!
Writers will have the opportunity to pair off for a shared feedback session and/or have a group conversation about what they’re working on and/or request feedback. This exchange between writers will happen organically. Writers will not have to pre-read someone else’s writing or have to offer feedback if they do not want to. If you would like to share a piece of your work, please bring a printed out copy to share. We understand that sharing work is an integral part of the writing process so we are open to giving writers an opportunity to share in pairs or small groups. If you and a writing partner would like to use the full session for an ‘exchange’, please be mindful of voice levels.
THIRD-HOUR WRITING (3pm-4pm) – WRITE!
Our final hour together will be used to write, write, write! We know how difficult it is to ‘fit’ writing into daily life, so we want to offer distraction-free writing time for writers. Writers can work on personal projects, continue working on the prompt/workshop, do research, read…whatever part in the creative writing process is in need of attention.
PAYMENT
We are asking for $25.00 per visit or a ‘love’ donation (pay-what-you-can). Monies collected will be used to cover food, beverages, space usage and workshop teachers. We will pay attention to the cost and listen to your feedback. We want to keep this writing opportunity accessible and on-going!
FOOD ALLERGIES
If you have food allergies/concerns, please let us know via email BEFORE you come so we can make necessary amendments to food/beverages. (email Vanessa at shieldsvanessa@gmail.com)
ACCESSIBILITY
The Balanced Life Wellness Centre is fully accessible.
VANESSA SHIELDS 