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

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Finding Balance at the Autumnal Equinox

At the autumnal equinox, day and night are even lengths. It’s officially fall, the time to harvest. And it’s my favorite season! Let’s take an opportunity to pause and consider the balance between day and night, light and darkness, and to reflect on what we have sown so far this year. 

Spend a couple hours connecting with your true creative self and others’ through meditation, visualization, and freewriting. Share your experiences and words in a safe, fun, supportive environment. Learn what mindfulness can bring to your writing practice and what writing can bring to your mindfulness practice. 

We will be writing by hand (if possible), so please remember to bring pen and paper. No prior writing or meditation experience is required.

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Tiny and True: Writing Flash Essays with Mindfulness – 6 weeks

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. Each week’s class will begin with a close reading and discussion of published flash work followed by meditation and freewriting in response to a prompt. Over the week, you can work on writing in response to what we discussed in class and submit a piece to me for feedback.

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!

This course is offered through Writer’s.com and opens September 17. Classes will begin Tuesday, September 23. We will use Zoom and Wet Ink.

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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. 

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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