Focus and Flow

A writing workshop for busy brains

 

Several word dice resting on a cloth napkin on a wooden table. There are four small wooden hearts to the right of the napkin.

 

Is your attention span feeling a little… wobbly?

You’re not alone. In this age of constant contact, it's easy to swing from thought to thought and task to task, missing out on the deep satisfaction of sinking into one thing and staying there.

In this workshop, we'll use writing to cultivate a flow state as a counterbalance to the distractions around us. Together we’ll step out of the noise and clear a space to hear our ideas, thoughts, and voices… And then create from there.

We designed this workshop based on Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s beautiful research into “flow state”. We believe, as he did, that focus and flow can help us access our deepest and most important work.

Participants are welcome to join with established projects they want to move forward, with the urge to write something new, or with no idea what will happen when their fingers hit the keyboard.

Here’s how it works:

Each session will follow a predictable pattern, starting with a "brain dump" (not to share) to lovingly put what’s distracting us aside. Then we'll do a highly imaginative write, in order to detach from perfectionism.

From there, we'll flow into two longer writes, lightly facilitated, to allow participants to naturally tune into their own cues, and access the themes and ideas they want to express most.

We'll share some but not all of what we write, using the group's attention to motivate and guide us, but not slow us down.

    • Are ready to dive right in, writing lots from the first class forward.

    • Don’t need a ton of guidance to get started. Keep Your Pen Moving and Begin Here are better choices if you’re new or aren’t sure what you want to write.

    • Are at any stage in your writing, from “absolute beginner” to Pulitzer Prize. 

    • Are motivated by the joy of writing and the feeling of in-the-moment creation.

    • Love the idea of sustained time to explore, express, and connect to others.

    • Feel aligned with our fundamental beliefs.

    • Lots and lots of writing in first draft form.

    • A deeper understanding of what “flow state” looks like and how to get there.

    • A little more softness in those hunched shoulders.

    • Momentum and clarity.

    • Writing peers whose work you are invested in.

    • A whole lot of time having your work read and talked about. This class is lighter on feedback than our typical classes.

    • Writing critique. This is a loving, nurturing environment for all writing voices and styles.

    • Lectures on how to write “better.” This workshop is about getting it down, not making it flawless.

    • Written feedback on your work.

Details:

Ailsa identifies as a white woman in her mid-thirties. She has long, straight golden-brown hair, blue eyes and wears glasses.

Ailsa

Summer 2024
6 Thursday evenings (weekly), 7:00 -9:30pm ET
July 11 - August 22 (no class July 25 )
Via Zoom with Ailsa

Cost:

The fee for the 6-session workshop is $530. If you prefer, you can pay in 4 monthly installments of $132.50. Tax will be added for Canadians in your local provincial rate. See our financial policies.

If the price is a barrier, don't hesitate to apply for financial aid.

If you don’t have a credit card, let us know and we’ll gladly find a way to make it work.

Sign up here:

Registration opens on May 7th. Join our early bird mailing list for early access to future registration or sign up for our newsletter.

Questions?

Your answer is probably on this page.

Looking for more options?

Take a peek at our small group writing workshops, our large group writing programs, our coaching services, and our monthly care package for writers.