Workshop

Breathe, Move, Write

My Dad used to say, “Half of being a good carpenter is having the right tool to do the job.”  This was undoubtedly his rationale for spending yet another large sum of money on a piece of equipment he wanted to add to his shop.  But of course, he’s absolutely right, isn’t he?  A good and persistent craftsman will eventually get just about any job done, but he will do the job more efficiently and more deftly if he has a good toolbox to call upon.

This adage applies to the writer, too.  So I ask you, how is your toolbox these days?  Are your tools clean and well cared for?  Are they readily accessible?  Are they dependable in performance?  Do you have a good array of implements for addressing all manner of moods and circumstances you experience in maintaining your practice?

If your answer to these questions is no (or “I have no idea”), you may be interested in a workshop that will introduce you to a new “tool,” a process that will help you find purposeful intention for your writing and develop the depth of concentration necessary for clear and creative writing to arise.  It’s called Breathe, Move, Write, and I’d love to have you join me to learn how it works.

You’ll learn a very simple sequence of yoga movements (you do not need to know anything about yoga to perform these movements), and you’ll practice three deep breathing exercises (pranayama) that will literally clear out the clutter in your mind, making way for your authentic voice to come forth.  This practice will open your mind and your heart, giving you access to new and original images, stories, and ideas.

Our writing focus in this workshop will be a piece that you’ve already written, but for some reason you’re having trouble with.  Maybe one that you’ve stalled out on and just don’t quite know where to take it or how to fix it.   Or one that you like but you know just doesn’t pop.   We’ll use these new tools as a way to come at the writing from different angles, and I think you’ll be pleased to see how your piece opens up in surprising ways.

Body awareness and deep breathing:  I know it sounds crazy, but these strategies are writers’ tools that work.  They’re not the only tools we need to keep us on the creative path, but they’re really good ones, and I look forward to sharing them with you and writing/re-writing together.  Breathing consciously, moving with intention and focus, writing with power and insight:  Is there a better way to spend a Saturday morning?

What to bring:  a piece of unfinished writing; a yoga mat; a cushion or towel to sit on; dress casually and comfortably.

Lezlie Laws holds a PhD from the University of Missouri and has taught writing and literature at a variety of levels for over forty years, the past twenty of those years at Rollins College. A well-known figure in the Central Florida writing community, she regularly conducts workshops for MAD about Words and for two years facilitated the very popular series of writing events called Writing Around Town.

Contact Lezlie about her Breathe, Move, Write workshop.