Writing Towards the Body

A writing workshop that draws from the body as a source of creativity

 

A fern uncurling on a blurry greenish background. By Drew Farwell via Unsplash.

 

Our bodies are full of stories.

This workshop will invite us to step off the well-worn path and connect to our writing through the wisdom and richness of our embodied experience.

Writing from our bodies invites us into the wisdom that lies beyond our thinking mind, so that we can, in John Lee’s words, “Write from the truth of our total experience.”

Here’s how it works:

In each session we’ll explore different aspects of writing from the body, including the stories our bodies carry, the experience of living in our bodies, and the things our bodies need. We’ll scribble up a storm using writing prompts, mindfulness exercises, and sensory connection to travel inward.

We’ll be sharing lots of what we write and giving each other encouraging feedback to keep moving us forward. Our goal is to cultivate joy and compassion for our bodies as they are right now, and a deeper wisdom around how our bodies connect to our creative voices.

Is this class right for you?

We approach this material from an anti-diet culture, anti-racist, disability justice perspective. That means that this workshop isn’t about how to change our bodies or idealize the “perfect body”, but instead is an invitation to witness and acknowledge our bodies for their role they play in our creativity.

People we’ve learned from and are inspired by are Sonya Renee Taylor, Virgie Tovar and Aubrey Gordon.

Here are our guiding principles:

  1. We can write about our own lived experience, which may include dieting, witnessing our bodies age, grappling with societal expectations, but we avoid content that implies that living in a fat body is wrong, that glorifies youth, or that normalizes bias about disability. 

  2. We don’t share writing that assumes that there are only two genders or that heterosexuality is the norm. We recognize that gender and sexuality are complex and we welcome all expressions of that.

  3. We welcome work that challenges the messages of oppressive systems. We encourage participants to be curious and examine how diet culture, racism, ableism, ageism and other bias impacts our bodies. 

  4. We will let go of all ideas about what a “good” or “bad” body is, and instead acknowledge and appreciate our body’s unique contributions to the world. 

  5. We’ll give content warnings for descriptions of food and eating, to show care for those participants with eating disorders or other sensitivities.

As writing facilitators, we aren’t therapists. When we draw our attention to our bodies, we can find trauma, judgment and past wounds. We’ll do our best to make a safe-as-possible space in this workshop, but writing can be confronting, and a group writing experience won’t be the right tool to process deep trauma.

If this feels like it might be too much, reach out to us with your questions, we’d love to talk.

This class has a prerequisite

Because of the tenderness of this material, we recommend that people start by taking another Firefly workshop first. Begin Here, Keep Your Pen Moving, and The Life Stories Workshop are great places to start, but any of our small group workshops will do. 

If you haven't taken one of our workshops and you want to start with this one, get in touch and we’ll talk it over.

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

    • Are very motivated by self-exploration, connection and listening. Participation is deeply important, though you’ll never be forced to share.

    • Are open and curious to explore the connection between their creativity and their physical selves.

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

    • Feel aligned with our fundamental beliefs.

    • Writing tools and practices to carry you forward.

    • A bunch of short pieces written in first-draft form.

    • Access points to creative energy in the body.

    • Stories from the perspective of our bodies.

    • Writing peers whose work you are invested in.

    • Therapy. We’ll be exploring our inner selves, and it may feel therapeutic, however this workshop is about the writing and the tools we can use to come back to our writing. If you feel the desire to explore these themes with the help of a therapist, we recommend that wholeheartedly.

    • 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 writing.

Details:

Sophia identifies as a fat, white woman. She has wavy, dark brown hair, a nose piercing and is wearing a floral shirt.

Sophia

This workshop isn’t running this season but it will be back soon! Join our early bird mailing list for early access to future registration or sign up for our newsletter.

Cost:

The fee for this workshop is $575. If you prefer, you can pay in 4 monthly installments of $143.75. 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:

Join our early bird mailing list for early access to future registration or sign up for our newsletter.

What people are saying:

 
Cecilia testimonial image

The facilitators were amazing across the board. What stood out was how gentle they were in conducting the writing prompts and feedback. The overall mood they generated was of a safe space to share, to write good and bad stuff. I was looking forward to the session every week.

Cecilia Gomes
Designer & writer