Monday, January 17
5:00-6:15 PM MST
JOIN US ON ZOOM
“A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity,” wrote Franz Kafka one hundred years ago. And here we are, nearly two years into a collective experience that is perpetuating ongoing mental health challenges for many writers. Our individual circumstances will differ—too much isolation, too little uninterrupted time, trouble focusing, generalized gloom, brain fog, anxiety, depression or simply feeling adrift in our writing lives and less sure of what we want to say. One truth connects us all: a writer’s sense of purpose is buoyed by the decisive act of writing. And so—from the heart to the page—we will write under the first full moon of 2022 for peace of mind and clarity. Samantha will kick this session off with a short conversation about how the pandemic has impacted the writing life, followed by an hour of guided writing. Though prompts will be offered to get your fingers and imagination flowing, participants may work on any projects they wish. In the spirit of connection and accountability, we encourage writers to leave their cameras on. And, unless necessary, the group will not be muted.
Samantha (Sam) Warwick is the author of the novel Sage Island. Her essays and poetry have been broadcast on CBC Radio and appeared in various literary and commercial publications including the Globe & Mail, Geist, Event, Dog Eyes Magazine, WestWord and FASHION. Sam directed literary events for the Writers’ Guild of Alberta (Calgary office) for over a decade.
samanthawarwick.com