The Life Stories Workshop
A memoir-writing workshop for anyone with stories in their hearts
A mug full of pens.
Is your life full of stories waiting to be told?
This class is for folks who want to escape the grind, nourish their creative souls, and write some of their life stories. We’ll use short writing exercises, supportive feedback, and lots of sharing to shake away our blocks, find our writing voices, and move some of our stories onto the page.
Here’s how it works:
This class has two main tools: memoir writing workbooks (we’ll provide PDFs, but you can order paper copies if you prefer) and group sessions.
Workbooks are 25-ish page booklets with a theme to write about, a bunch of ideas about how to start, and a writing tip that you can take or leave. They aim to be generative and open invitations to express our memories in new ways.
Group sessions will start with a little warmup write to get us moving, and then they’ll focus on hearing and talking about the pieces written.
These groups are kept small to ensure your work gets the time and space it needs. You can expect to leave each session with warm and supportive feedback and conversation to fuel your next steps.
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Want to write about their lives but aren’t sure where to begin.
Want to integrate creative expression more deeply into their lives. (Most of your writing for this class happens between sessions.)
Love the idea of a set of creative dates with themselves and a small group of others.
Are motivated by the idea of sharing their writing in supportive settings.
Feel aligned with our fundamental beliefs.
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One finished story per class, with more pieces started.
Writing tools and practices to carry you forward.
Writing tricks and warmups you can use anytime.
Countless ideas about where your writing might go next.
A clear sense of the story you want to write and the voice you want to write it in.
Writing peers whose work you are invested in.
Creative momentum.
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Critique or competition. We’re all about the love.
Strict rules or guidelines on what memoir writing is or should look like.
Pressure to write things you don’t want to write. We go where the joy is.
Details:
Summer 2024
4 Tuesday evenings (every 2nd week), 6:30 - 9:00pm ET
July 9 & 23, August 6 & 20
In Person with Asifa at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse (Toronto)
4 Thursday afternoons (weekly), 2:00 - 4:30pm ET
July 4 - 25
Via Zoom with Mari
Read the Healthcare Harm Reduction Policy for the in person workshop.
Read about accessibility features of St.Matthew’s Clubhouse.
Asifa
Mari
Cost:
In Person: The fee for the 4-session workshop is $445. If you prefer, you can pay in 4 monthly installments of $111.25.
Online: The fee for the 4-session workshop is $425. If you prefer, you can pay in 4 monthly installments of $106.25.
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 registration or sign up for our newsletter.
Questions?
Your answer is probably on this page.
More options?
Take a peek at our other in-house workshops, our coaching services or our monthly writers care package.
What people are saying:
I never felt comfortable calling myself a writer. What I have learned through taking Firefly’s first Life Stories for women of colour, is that I have a voice, a story. One way I can share my story is through writing. This class took me out of my comfort zone. I began to judge my words less. Something magical happened each class. I connected with each of these amazing women and their individual journeys. I was inspired to turn the pain of my past into the poetry of the present. I laughed. I cried. I made peace with the stories in my heart by putting pen to paper.
I highly recommend classes at Firefly to bring out the writer in you. Enrolling in this class is one of the best things I’ve ever done and it could not have come at a better time.
Gina Oades
Occupational Therapist, Co-Founder of Mixed in the Six
After taking this class, I had the courage to finally tackle a task I had long held in my heart – writing a memoir about a difficult time in my life. I left each class feeling optimistic, excited and encouraged about my writing. It was a gift to feel safe enough to take some risks and grow as a writer with the caring support of my facilitator and the community of women around the writing table.
Evelyn Steinberg
Writer, Editor, Career Coach, Retired Principal
This class was the best birthday gift I’ve ever given myself. I’ve thought about writing for decades and always managed to find reasons not to do it. Having this structure in place and Britt as a leader was just the push I needed. Britt is warm, encouraging and so smart. Before I took this class, I only thought about writing; now I sit down and do it.
Sarah Wilson
Theatre Artist