The Story Within: A Journey to Personal Storytelling
This is more than just a writing workshop; it’s a journey towards finding one’s voice in the vast world of personal storytelling. With professional guidance, supportive feedback, and a community of like-minded individuals, participants can unlock their creative potential and embark on a path of continuous growth and discovery in writing.
This 5-week series is designed for writers of personal stories. It aims to inspire and motivate new and seasoned writers, focusing on personal growth through professional and supportive feedback. This workshop environment will nurture creativity, bolster confidence, and encourage the development of writing skills and techniques.
About the Facilitator:
Trevor Martens has 16 years of teaching experience, bringing a wealth of knowledge in guiding and nurturing new and seasoned writers. His approach is centered around creating a safe, positive, and encouraging environment for writers to explore and grow. In addition, he has been a developmental/substantive editor for the past 6 years and has been consistently teaching workshops in Winnipeg, the Niverville area, as well as online, for the past year and a half.
Workshop Details
When: 5 consecutive Wednesdays, beginning September 25, 2024, 1:30 pm
If there is enough interest, we will offer a morning class on Wednesdays, and for who can’t attend during the day, an evening session or online could be arranged
Capacity: 6 maximum, 5 Minimum
Where: Smitty’s Restaurant, 550 Pembina Highway, Winnipeg
An informal setting with ample parking, close to a major bus route
Cost for the series:
- Members – $250
- Non-Members – $300
- Students/Low Income – $200
Workshop Structure
Sessions will include:
- Impromptu writing exercises to ease tension, stimulate story ideas and practice trusting our creative intuition. They also help writers to write without the inner critic in their ear and provide ‘starter dough’ for new stories.
- Discussion of specific narrative techniques. Students will be encouraged to use the technique in their assignment for the following week.
- Sharing of stories, where the facilitator will discuss what supportive feedback looks/sounds like and share with them the impact criticism can have on our motivation, inspiration, and self-confidence. Facilitator feedback is professional and focused on the strengths of the story and writing of the author.
- Next steps for growth: If appropriate, tailored advice will be provided for both the pieces shared and the authors, to encourage continuous development and progress in their writing journey.
Participants will leave the workshop with:
- improved writing skills and techniques
- enhanced creativity and motivation for writing
- constructive feedback on their writing, offering clear pathways for improvement
- a supportive community of fellow writers