November 6, 13, 20, 27 – 11:00am to 1:00pm
Early-Bird Registration by Nov. 3: $ 100usd / $1,800mxp
[After Nov 3: $120usd / $2,200mxp]
Info and registration: wownowmx@gmail.com

Show Up & Write!

Wednesday Workshops with Maia Williams

Writing from the Heart Workshop

Throughout Mexico, November begins with private and public rituals that pay homage to ancestry and memory. They encourage us, regardless of age, to embrace the inevitability and universality of change, loss, and death along with acceptance, wonder, and celebration. In this series of workshops, we will tap into the power of writing about our personal memories and stories.

We will experiment with “ways to write” which will honor, deepen, and enrich the telling of our memories of home, family, friends, places we’ve visited, and other pivotal experiences in our lives. We’ll gather in a comfortable meeting room, one block San Miguel’s historic el jardin.

The goal of the workshop is that each participant will produce one or more drafts of a story or poem each week, for personal satisfaction or eventual publication.

Beginning writers are welcome – all that is required is an open mind and open heart. The group process is designed to support various levels of experience.

Although the act of writing is often therapeutic, this writing workshop is not intended to be group therapy. We will follow guidelines created explicitly for writing groups to maintain this distinction.

Samples of fine writing will be used to demonstrate literary techniques and as models for our own work, to elicit ideas, memories, and inspire us to write with honesty and clarity. We will transform our thoughts and experiences into poetry or prose, or a hybrid form.

We will explore short forms of nonfiction and poetry by notable writers such as: We will discuss craft essays and short forms of creative nonfiction and poetry by notable writers such as: Ada Límon, Elizabeth Alexander, Richard Blanco, Natalie Diaz, Joy Harjo, David Whyte, Joanna Macy, Paul Kalanthi, and Glenis Redmond.

The intent is to create a safe and supportive environment for participants to create and share their work. Sharing is optional and encouraged.

Workshops are led by Maia Williams, co-director of the international San Miguel Writers’ Conference, founder of San Miguel’s Poetry Café Bellas Artes, and publisher of Crossroads: La Vida Creative en San Miguel de Allende. Courses are conducted in English. Seating is limited. Pre-register or ask a question via email: wownowmx@gmail.com – Subject: Write!