I attended a workshop today called The Embodied Narrative, which focused on embracing the non-verbal qualities of the experience of being a body and transforming those into words. I’m very pleased with the workshop. We entered through an art gallery into a small section that had been transformed in to an inviting nest with a wool rug, floor pillows, and art. I suppose one of the advantages of doing classes in an art gallery is having art easily within reach.

After the Zoë Etkin, the facilitator, talked for a bit on what an embodied narrative is and how it differs from other narratives, we began a series of exercises. Most exercises began with a meditation or movement-oriented strategy to awaken our sense of being a physical body interacting with the world. Then we wrote from that experience. Finally we shared our experience of writing it as well as the prose itself.
For about two years now I’ve worried that I lost my writing voice. What I produce is unsatisfying to me because it doesn’t have the rhythm and sensuality of the prose I remember producing years ago. Also the work I do produce comes hard. Zoe’s techniques brought my voice out in an organic fashion and I couldn’t be more delighted.

There are two sides to writing: the artistic side where you connect to your emotional center and the craft side, where you learn techniques to craft good stories. This workshop is solidly in the artistic sphere. That was exactly what I needed.

You can find more information about this workshop and her other offerings here: https://www.awakenspacememphis.com/embodied-narratives

♥♥♥

Writing in Public blog streak… Day 20

— Short Fiction: 00 new words.

— Novel-Length fiction: 00 new words.

— Blog Posts: 248 new words.

— Editorial Work: 00 words.

— Year of Short Fiction Goal: 3 short stories finished and sent out by year end.

— Novel Goal: 1 complete novel by year end.

Healthful Eating Streak: Day 17