When you share your gifts and strengths - a writing workshop

Hello,

I’d been wanting to collaborate with different organizations, and over the summer that dream has come true.

It has been a delight to work with Downtown Van over the last 2 months to produce an evening of poetry, all based on a theme that is close to my heart: your relationship to being witnessed in the expression of your gifts and strengths. That evening is happening on Thursday. All the information can be found below.

Also coming up this week: the free trial class for my Develop a Writing Ritual program. Even if you have no intention of joining the full series, please feel free to stop by and join in the fun. Especially if there’s a creative project that has been asking for your attention that you have been… avoiding.

And then on Saturday, I leave for Ontario to teach my very first 5-day writing retreat in Kawartha Lakes. Learn more by visiting my last newsletter. This is my first time leading a writing retreat. I’m pretty excited.

You can view all of my upcoming classes by going here (there are just 4 spots left in the Voice into Poetry series starting October 7th).

Pop! After Hours: Poetry Night

I'm been working with DowntownVan over the last two months to produce an evening of poetry in Lot 19 (855 W Hastings), with the intention of offering attendees and participants a rejuvenated sense of belonging.

When: Thursday, Sept 12th from 5-9pm
Registration cost: Free
Address: Lot 19, 855 W Hastings (Outside)

The evening will feature a community poetry writing workshop (facilitated by me), an activation by New West poet laureate Elliott Slinn (provide him with a word, feeling, or idea, and he’ll write you a custom poem on the spot on his typewriter), and an evening performance featuring 6 local poets with open mic spots. The performance starts at 7:30pm.

The theme for both the writing workshop and the performances is: ‘your relationship to being witnessed in the expression of your gifts and strengths.’ You’ll explore this theme through writing, reflection, and conversation during the workshop, and then you’ll witness local poets approach this theme in ways that are meaningful to them during the performance.

A Gentle Challenge: attend the writing workshop and then sign up for an open mic spot to share the poem you just wrote on our stage. Practice being witnessed in your spontaneity by your community. You will be supported wholeheartedly. 

P.S You are more than welcome to join just for the performance, or just for the workshop. Join us for as little or as much of the event as you’d like.

Develop a Writing Ritual - FREE INTRO

Free intro: Tuesday, September 10th from 6-7:15pm, ONLINE
Series starts on October 1st. REGISTER

If you’ve been yearning to write a book, a screenplay, poetry, or to finally set up a regular journalling practice… I designed this series to support you to stop avoiding the blank page, and to begin writing.

In this FREE INTRO to Develop a Writing Ritual, you'll:

• Reflect on why developing a writing ritual is important to you, and what it would add to your life;

• Identify a creative project that has been asking for your attention;

• Settle into a short breath practice as a mindful entrance into writing;

• Engage in a 20 minute writing practice where you'll turn off your camera and offer yourself uninterrupted space to write;

• Connect with other participants and reflect on your experience.

In the final 15 minutes of the session, there will be a Q&A where you can ask me any questions you may have about the series. This series has been inspired by The Artist’s Way program.

Even if you don’t intend to register for the full series, you still are welcome to join and write with us.

Want some more info on this program?
Here are some resources you may enjoy:

• Julia Cameron’s Rules for the Road — these rules guide each of our writing practices. I also added one of my own: include your breath.

• A love letter to my students - I wrote this a little while ago, but it’s worth sharing again.

Questions or comments about anything in this email? Send an email to [email protected] . I’d love to hear from you.

with thanks,
Christine Bissonnette

P.S — Know someone who would enjoy receiving this email? Pass it along!