The Writing Life | Esalen Institute
Roxan will be co-teaching this retreat with Ellen Bass.
There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action. And because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. -Martha Graham
"This workshop," writes Ellen Bass, "will allow us to leave the rush of our busy lives and be still enough to hear the stories and poems that gestate within us. We'll write, share our writing, and hear what our work touches in others. We'll help each other to become clearer, go deeper, take new risks. With the safety, support, and inspiration of this gathering, you will have the opportunity to create writing that is more vivid, more true, more complex and powerful than you've been able to do before."
Whether you are interested in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, or journal writing, this weekend will provide a rich opportunity to immerse yourself in the writing life. Both beginners and experienced writers are welcome.
Recommended reading: Bass, Like a Beggar; eds. Addonizio and Laux, The Poet’s Companion; Gornick, The Situation and the Story.