Contact me at susan @ susanbarrtoman.com to bring a Mindful Writing workshop to your group or organization.

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Tiny & True: Crafting Flash Essays with Mindfulness

Tiny & True: Crafting Flash Essays with Mindfulness – Offered through Writers.com

Flash essays are true stories told briefly. They can be written in as few as 6 words and as many as 1,000. Each one is a mindful event in that we bring our full attention and curiosity to a tiny moment and recognize the big universal truth it holds. As we examine its details, we discover our human connectivity, we discover metaphor.

Whether you’re new to flash or a veteran, this six-week generative writing course offers a mindful approach to finding vivid moments and getting words on the page. 

On Wednesdays, we will meet on Zoom to discuss how the tools of mindfulness can benefit your writing practice. Then, we will meditate, write, and discuss our experience. 

On Wet Ink, I will provide mindful activities and writing prompts to support and inspire your Mindful Writing practice each week. You can submit one draft essay to share with me and the class for feedback. 

Each week, I will assign a close reading of published flash work for inspiration and discussion on Wet Ink.

We’ll share our writing with each other offering insight and encouragement. In addition to getting lots of writing done, you will learn about places that publish great flash essays for both inspiration and submission guidelines.

Learning Goals

• You may finish this course with a foundation of a Mindful Writing practice to keep you connected to your creativity.
• You will have mindfulness tools to help you overcome your inner saboteur, connect with your creativity, and discover stories.
• You will gain an understanding of the joys and challenges of crafting flash essays.

Writing Goals

• You will develop a list of publications to read for inspiration and, when ready, to submit your work.
• You will write in response to a prompt each week during the Mindful Writing session. 
• You will establish a daily Mindful Writing practice and generate a lot of ideas and draft material for essays.
• You will draft a flash essay to share each week.
• You can revise and polish at least one piece for review for submission.

Live Zooms: Wednesdays, April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, and June 3

Time: 12:00pm -1:00pm ET

All Zoom sessions will be recorded. Further class instruction and discussions will take place on Wet Ink.

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Testimonials

I love Susan’s classes! I have gained a sound foundation in the combination of meditation and writing. Workshops afford a unique broadening of perspective as I glimpse bits of life through the stories my classmates choose to write and to share.

Susan effortlessly creates an inclusive and inspiring online classroom that feels like a weekly bit of normalcy and connection in this disaggregated time.

Amy L., Cherry Hill, NJ

Susan’s writing classes (I’ve enrolled in several) have been transformational. I hadn’t been able to write regularly or successfully for years, and Susan’s deep knowledge of literature–and her experience with both the craft of writing and the practical details of the publishing world–have been incredibly helpful and inspiring.  Thanks to her course, and the supportive community it has created, I now have a regular writing practice, and have even submitted some pieces for publication, with more planned for the future. This course is the highlight of my week despite a busy work schedule.

Catherine W., Haddon Township, NJ

I participated in my first 6-week personal essay workshop with Susan over a year ago, and haven’t stopped since! Susan creates a vibe in the group that fosters positive and constructive feedback, and I’ve come away from each session with improvements in my own writing and inspiration from my fellow writers, now friends. I highly recommend for anyone with a story to tell — which is everyone!

Jeanne M., Wayne, PA