I don’t know a lot of things, but one thing I know for sure is this: you do not need to live a grand, big, bold life in order to have things to write about.
Stories can be found in the tiny tender details of everyday life. You simply need to pay attention and trust that your life is beautiful enough to write about, worth sharing with others, and that others will connect with it (spoiler alert: it is enough, it is worth it, and someone, somewhere, will always connect with it).
In “All The Life,” a song by Sam Lynch, she sings: What are you gonna to do with all the life you have? This line inspired my NSG project – a writing workshop called All This Life. My goal was to invite writers of all abilities, ages (16+), and experiences – especially beginners – to come together in a cozy environment to sip coffee, snack on local treats, and simply write about our lives together.
We met on a sunny Saturday morning at the Rossland Public Library, where participants were greeted with Alpine Grind coffee, Hoopers Bakery croissants, and Alpine Grind muffins (as well as other goodies). We had a very full group (fourteen people to be exact!) ranging in age from our early thirties to our late sixties. We had poets, journalers, fiction writers, haikuers, past bloggers/technical writers, memoir writers, educators, longtime scribblers, and people that simply wanted to learn and try something new. This group in particular was incredibly engaged, brave, willing to share, and encouraging of others.
My workshops always include perspective from writers/authors that have inspired my own writing practice, guided conversation, prompts, time to write, and (optional) time to share with one another. One perspective that I shared that really resonated with our group was from author Jedidiah Jenkins:
“I’m writing my new book and I sit down wondering if I have anything to say. I think every artist hits this sometimes. I feel dull. Silly. But then I thought, and I swear this thought visited me like a whispering angel,
Write because the Universe has never had the chance to be seen by you. As only you see it. And it never will again. Existence as it passes through you comes out a new color. Get that down. Grab it as best you can.”
What folks loved the most about our time together was poems that led to prompts, hearing everyone’s writing, sharing their own (surprisingly!), the welcoming energy, and an inclusive environment that encouraged authenticity. One participant in particular said they loved “… the entire thing, the laid back atmosphere, the gentle prompts, the openness to all styles, and the insight into the craft, the new ideas and the way to get started.”
As with all projects, there are of course ways to improve. I was not anticipating as many participants as I had (which is a beautiful problem to have!), so the space I rented was quite cramped. I didn’t want to turn anyone away. A bigger space would ensure more comfort for all participants. Other participants suggested encouraging the quieter/wallflower participants to speak up, and to have more time. How beautiful it would be to host a longer workshop in the future, and to help folks feel more confident sharing.
Participants learned many different things from our time together, including: “I belong in a writers group. We’re all alone in this together.” “The process is tricky for all writers.” “I have a lot to write about.” and “It’s not so scary to go to a writing workshop.” (I LOVED this one, of course).
I left the workshop feeling so overwhelmed with luck and gratitude for all of the folks that were brave enough to try something new, for the incredibly tender writing that was shared, for all of their thoughts and hearts, for the library and librarians, for Hoopers and Alpine Grind, and of course for NSG for giving me this opportunity to bring people together. I’ll leave you with one testimonial in particular that brought tears to my eyes. This is why these projects matter. Thank you NSG!
“Mandy can take a room full of strangers and transport them to brave new worlds where they share thoughts and dreams or just what they did yesterday. Her workshop is good for all levels of scribes and scribblers dreamers and dads, moms and mystics. Truely two of the best hours I have spent in a long time.”
