Dharma of Writing Group

So many of us say we want to write. When we write, we come home to ourselves. We have ideas to explore, stories to tell, or songs to sing. Writing can illuminate, clarify, and heal.

In short, writing is very powerful. Yet, it is so difficult to begin! This is common and natural.

The Dharma of Writing is an ongoing two-hour online monthly gathering designed to help you enter your own writing with the support and companionship of other writers. It will be co-hosted by myself and Kate Lila Wheeler, a novelist who is also an acclaimed Buddhist teacher. During the months that I host, we will gather from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET and when Kate hosts, it will be from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET. (We will alternate months.) This will give people in various time zones a chance to participate.

At each session, we will practice meditation together and then actually write. Each person will work on his or her own project with the quiet, supportive companionship of writers all over the world. We will convene using the video conference platform, Zoom. Sessions will be recorded and links sent to all, so if you can’t join live you can still participate.

The schedule for each session is:

• Guided mindfulness practice: 15 minutes
• Journaling exercise (“free writing”): 15 minutes
• Writing period: 80 minutes
• Check-in and close: 10 minutes

No work will be shared during the class, but the group will have a private forum on our site for anyone who would like to post their writing.

Open to writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenplays, and song—and anyone who would simply like to explore writing as a practice.

Subsequent sessions will take place as follows:

March 10   4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET (hosted by Kate)
April 13   6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (hosted by Susan)
May 11   4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET (hosted by Kate)
June 11    6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (hosted by Susan)

This program is for you if you are looking for some gentle accountability and dedicated time for your writing.