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No writing experience necessary, this workshop is for all levels of writers and non-writers who want an environment in which to practice. We will discuss tricks and tips for accessing and writing personal stories, particularly related to traumatic and difficult life events, such as a cancer diagnosis, as well as practice writing via prompts. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their writing if they so desire. There will be no critics, only listening. No pressure to share. We'll also discuss how to establish a writing practice beyond the workshop as well as different places to get published, in case that is of interest.
We will meet 6 times, for 2 hours each time (once per week — choose either Wednesdays or Thursdays).
Small class size (no more than 9) enables us to get to know one another in a more intimate setting and provides the most time for writing & sharing possible
All stages of breast cancer welcome.
Participants may be any age now, but were diagnosed under 50*. (If you’re older, and still want in, email me to discuss: editor@wildfirecommunity.org)
Your facilitator:
April Johnson Stearns, Founder, Editor-in-Chief, WILDFIRE Magazine. A lifelong writer, April was diagnosed at 35 years old with Stage 3 breast cancer that she found while breastfeeding her daughter. Four years later, while struggling to “go back to normal” and find other young women in similar circumstances, April launched WILDFIRE Magazine as a way for younger women to tell and read breast cancer stories. April believes strongly that helping women tell their stories has the dramatic effect of turning a traumatic cancer experience into an empowering one. April lives with her husband and young daughter on the coast of California. Although she loves town life, she also likes to get away from all the hustle and bustle whenever she can to hike in the woods, but writing remains April’s purest escape.
The workshop will take place online via Zoom. Although not required, headphones with a mic are helpful.
Praise from past workshop participants:
Our weekly writing time is my happy place. ~Anne
You balanced everything so nicely, sharing just enough of your own experience to where we all felt comfortable sharing ours. It felt very safe and I think that the way you facilitated it contributed to that. I would definitely do something like this again. I got a lot out of it and it made me want to try more writing exercises. ~Pamela
Thank you so much for the workshop and all that you are doing for the community of women living beyond a breast cancer diagnosis. I loved the prompts leading into the actual writing. It was very healing and has lead me to want to write and share more. ~Stacy
You gave me some ideas and permission to write things that don’t flow, connect or make sense to others. There is so much inside me that I wasn’t even aware of before my diagnosis. It is not necessary for others to “get it” or even read it. It’s for me. ~Suzanna
You have really reminded me how rewarding & healing writing can be. ~Kai