Coach Sophia, smiling wide and sitting at desk with rays of sunlight streaming in.
Hello Lovelies!
It’s Sophia here, dropping into your inboxes because we’re accepting applications for one of my favourite Firefly workshops today — our deep-dive, long-haul The Big One.
Asifa and I are each launching new groups in January, and I want to share a bit of the magic of it with you.
The Big One is nine months. Three seasons of writing alongside the same small group of people. There are so many things I love.
I love that moment in month three when we’re checking in and someone celebrates that they finally got a new job, and everyone cheers.
I love it when someone laments that they weren’t able to do any writing since the last class, and everyone gets it.
I love seeing the tenderness when someone tears up as they share that they wrote the thing they’ve been avoiding, and we all know exactly how much that matters, and how to hold those words.
In this class, we get to know each other in ways that aren’t possible in many other places in our lives. We really listen to what’s happening in each other’s work. We get to know how each other’s writer-selves are shifting. We understand what works best for each of us. We can respond to each other in a way that’s curated, caring, and specific.
It’s about writing, but of course it’s also about life. I need that, especially right now, when everything feels strained.
There’s a term I learned long ago that I think about often with Firefly — “predictable magic.”
The predictable part is the structure and curriculum Firefly has been refining for over twenty years. The magic part comes from the participants, who show up exactly as they are, brave and ready to write. It all comes together into something that builds momentum, excitement, and belonging — something that couldn’t happen without each person.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, our applications are open today until November 19th.
This isn’t a “are you a good enough writer” application, it’s a “how can we create 2 groups with a balance of genres and energies” application.
My session will be on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm ET.
Asifa’s session will be on Wednesday evenings at 7pm ET.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reply! I love connecting about The Big One.
All the rest of our winter writing workshops open on November 10th.
Starting to think about snowfall? Our winter workshop schedule is now online, and registration will start November 10th. You can expect to hear from Chris that day. :)
If you want to be extra organized, you can join our early bird list, for a nudge a week sooner. There’s no fee.
Financial aid applications are open.
If you see a workshop you want to take this winter, but funds are a barrier, you’re welcome to apply for financial aid.
Applications are simple and lottery-based, so no need to “prove” anything.
And a poem for you.
This poem “Belonging” by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, seemed to fit this.
Before I let you go, here’s a personal story.
Two years ago I took The Big One with Asifa because my writing was blocked.
I was writing about what it’s like to live as a fat person in an anti-fat world, and I wanted to surprise and sometimes shock people into seeing things differently… but I didn’t want to go “too far.” I was always trying to take care of my reader. This was keeping me stuck and confused.
The warmth and courage of the group worked its predictable magic on me and I started imagining writing what I really wanted to write. Then, in one of my big shares — mouth dry and hands sweaty — I read three small pieces, each more edge-pushing than the last.
By the end, we were all crying. Everyone received my work with gratitude, open hearts and deeply helpful feedback. I could see that even with my most audacious voice, my writing mattered. That courage has fueled my work over the last two years in ways I never could have imagined.
Whether this workshop is the right one for you or not, I am wishing you moments where you realize that you can take the chance, do the hard thing, and be yourself on the page without hiding.
In it with you,
