By Lynda Faye Schmidt
In my role as reporter for The Guild, I had the privilege of attending Trevor Martens’ workshop, The Story Within: A Journey to Personal Storytelling. To prepare for the event, I’d checked out Trevor’s website, I help you write things. His slogan, “Transforming self-doubt into confidence through a supportive and transformative learning experience,” felt like an invitation. The vibe of his offering landed on my authenticity radar as the real deal. On the afternoon of the event, I arrived full of cautious anticipation, that this might be the kind of writing community opportunity my heart yearns for.
The fourth to arrive, I was received into the fold with a warm welcome. The conversation slipped naturally into a comfortable rhythm. Trevor walked in soon after. When he smiled and made eye contact during introductions, it confirmed what my foray onto his website had suggested—his intention to encourage writers is genuine. The last participant arrived soon after and the journey to the story within began.
Four-minute quick write: an emotionally valuable gift.
As soon as my pen touched the paper, it was clear; I was rusty, dusty, and out of flow. My skillset for writing spontaneously from a prompt had lain dormant for almost a year. I felt the inner critic crouched and ready to pounce.
Four minutes. Snap. Where did that time go? Heart palpitating, it was time to share. Snippets of four women’s lives electrified the air with a palpable pulse. I was present and engaged, struck at their willingness to be open, honest, and vulnerable. Blown away by the raw creativity and insights that were unfolding—write in front of me.
Then it was my turn to share. I took a deep breath and allowed my insecurity to wash out of me. I tapped into the safe space I was cocooned in. With each word I spoke, my inner critic whispered disparaging insults, but I pushed through. When I read a phrase that induced the group to laughter, the whispering softened. The specific and positive feedback from everyone was so powerful, the inner critic vanished into thin air, just like that.
The next activity was an in-depth discussion of the writing focus homework that workshop participants had completed from the week before. As part of exploring unconscious themes, they’d written responses to the prompt, “a phone call I remember vividly.”
“…but with those words, those damn words, we not only felt her pain, but we felt her shame too.” – The Girls Weekend at the Lake
“This is momentary… this is momentary,” I chant to the urgent rhythm of my rocking.” – In This Moment
“It was not an unusual occurrence.” – Unusual & Unexpected
“O…kaaaaay.” – Mothers & Daughters
All of the writers at the workshop were at different stages in the journey. Yet in the space that Trevor created for us, we shone. The positive, strength-based feedback generated an enthusiasm and willingness to be vulnerable that is rare and was beautiful to witness. I left feeling lighter, and knowing, I’m stepping in the write direction.
I’m grateful to Trevor for his offering. I’m thankful to the participants who shared their creativity. I believe the Guild’s support of workshops like these is a huge gift for members who are looking for opportunities to hone their craft, and I hope they continue to do so. Regardless, I know I’ll be signing up for more of the amazing services Trevor offers. I encourage my fellow members to explore options that resonate with them by checking out Trevor’s I help you write things website.