Wrestling the Wild Boar: Understanding and Engaging with the Language of Dreams

Are you feeling stuck? Unsure of what you want to create on the page or in your life? 

Your dreams want to help. Each night your dream production team works hard to communicate with you using a cast of characters and exotic locations. They offer you guidance, insight, and inspiration about all aspects of your life.

Join me and dedicated dream sleuth Susan Magee, as we explore how we can capture our dreams, so that we can work and play with them and connect to our unconscious and its eternal wisdom. 

Bring a dream to workshop. Everyone dreams, but if you don’t remember yours, come anyway. As mindful writers in our wakeful life, we pay attention and take notes. We can do the same with our sleeping life and open that conversation with our dream production team.

Questions? Email me at sbarrtoman @ gmail.com

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The Tales We Weave: Writing the Braided Essay

Are you struggling with a personal essay that doesn’t quite feel like enough? Or does it feel like your story has been told before and needs a new approach? 

The braided essay may be the solution. Adding another personal narrative and / or research element(s) can make your story stand out. Readers learn about your experience but also learn something new, such as the history of the oldest tree in your hometown or the mating ritual of the Beluga whale or the secret life of a B-movie star from the Golden Age of Hollywood. What you choose to thread together reveals the intriguing workings of your mind and adds to your personal experience. 

In this class, you will work with essays or essay ideas you haven’t been able to finish. You’ll dig into what external topics interest you and could bring something broader and unexpected to your life experience. You’ll research and write and begin to weave your braided story together. 

If you’ve been curious about writing a braided essay, this 4-week workshop will give you the space and structure to explore this unique form.

Questions? Email me at sbarrtoman @ gmail.com

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New Beginnings at the Spring Equinox

Spring arrives in the Northern Hemisphere on March 20 with the Spring Equinox and offers us an opportunity to pause and reflect on what the season brings. We emerge from the cold and grey of winter and feel energized as the sunlight greets us in the morning and stretches into the evening. All around us are signs of nature’s return.

The Equinox with its equal parts of day and night invites us to find balance and firm footing so that we can reach for something new.

Join me Saturday, March 22 for a couple hours of meditating, writing, and connecting with a community in a safe and fun environment. Be sure to have pen and paper ready as we will be writing by hand if possible.

Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm ET
Where: Zoom
Cost: $55.00

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Testimonials

I have taken several classes with Susan and loved them all. She creates a supportive community where writers can share their writing, receive feedback and learn from each other. Seeing the group is a highlight of my week.

Susan is extremely knowledgeable about the craft of writing and I always leave our sessions newly inspired. With her thoughtful guidance and encouragement, I have even had two essays published! I highly recommend any workshop with Susan. 

Lisa Mazinas

Susan’s What’s your story? memoir writing class set the stage for me to go deeper with my writing. Meditation and mindful writing unlocks the door to story. I will be using the techniques I learned in this class in my writing going forward.   Susan creates an open space for creatives to write, share, and grow. Susan brings her tremendous knowledge and an ease to each class. She builds community!  

Annie Pittinger

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