Three November Writing Workshops Held Online November 23, 2021 By Collegeville Institute Leave a Comment During November 2021, the Collegeville Institute hosted three regional writing workshops that moved online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Participants met over zoom, learned writing techniques from skilled teachers, and had the opportunity to share their own writing-in-progress with each other. Writing for Mystic Activists with Chanequa Walker Barnes and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove was held online from Tuesday, November 9 through Saturday, November 13, 2021. This workshop was geared toward faith-rooted activists and clergy who want to engage writing as a contemplative practice. 2021 Writing for Mystic Activists participants (from top left to right): Ellie Roscher, Carla Durand (CI staff), Chanequa Walker-Barnes (workshop leader), Marcia Y. Riggs, Andrew Robb-Scott, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (workshop leader), Lindsy Wallace, Jen “JJ” Johnson Wichman, Marchaé Grair, Adam Joyce, Cheryl Kirk-Duggan, Jia Johnson, and Amelia Fulbright. One participant reflected on the workshop leaders: “I appreciated Chanequa’s ability to seamlessly integrate personal experience with craft lessons and writing advice. I’m someone who learns with real world examples, and Chanequa was able to give those so succinctly. It was incredibly helpful. I appreciated Jonathan’s sense of humor. I thought it was welcomed levity to the workshop space and never let the space get too overwhelming serious.” From Monday, November 15 to Saturday, November 20, 2021, Lauren Winner led Writing the Spiritual Life: A Workshop for Religious Leaders via Zoom. This workshop was open to both beginning and advanced writers. During their week together, clergy participants explored writing as a spiritual practice, as well as developed their writerly craft. 2021 Writing the Spiritual Life participants (from top left to right): Amy Bruch, Jessie Bazan (CI staff), Heidi Haverkamp, Katrina Wuensch, Andrea Roske-Metcalfe, Brandi Kejr, Callie Smith, Tiffany Vail, Lauren Winner (workshop leader), Susie Colby, Taryn Montgomery, Charley Eastman, Eddie De Leon, and Kit Carlson. One participant wrote in her evaluation: “Lauren was amazing. I loved her low-pressure but deeply challenging and engaging style. She created a safe atmosphere that made everyone feel comfortable to participate. She clearly is an expert and loves words, loves writing, loves craft, and cares about writers.” The Writing Spirit, Writing Faith with Mary Potter workshop ran from Wednesday, November 17 through Tuesday, November 23, 2021. This workshop was open to both fiction and creative nonfiction writers whose work incorporates a spiritual or faith dimension. 2021 Writing Spirit, Writing Faith with Mary Potter participants (from top left to right): Mary Halvorson, Carla Durand (CI Staff), Chris Townley, Sarah Sanderson, Emily Climaco, Mary Lane Potter (workshop facilitator, Laura Elly Hudson, Vivian Nabuule, Laurie Skiba, Elizabeth “Libby” Sutherland, and Chelsey Hillyer. In their evaluation of the week, one participant wrote: “[Mary Potter] was adept at directing focus, tactfully re-directing, and summarizing. She knows the craft of writing and shares her knowledge with enthusiasm.” Like this post? Subscribe to have new posts sent to you by email the same day they are posted.
