THE FLOW—

It’s a writing workshop.
It’s a dance party
(or you can make tea).
It’s a community.

“By far the most productive writing time in my week is the time I spend in The Flow. Chivas creates a space that is inspiring, encouraging, and explosively creative.” (Pamela P., attorney)

“I live for these afternoons. Your workshops are rooms of one’s own–with adjoining doors. Brava!” (Adrienne W., perfumer)

“I’ve been in Chivas’ Write Like a River workshops for over ten years and I like her new format, The Flow. It allows for much more writing time with small breaks to spend as you choose–dancing to her lively musical choices, going outside, keep writing, grab some tea, etc.–than dive back into your writing refreshed.” (Nora Jamieson, LPC, Soul Work for Women)

“The Flow is an embodiment practice of writing—“spilling” as Chivas calls it—for designated periods punctuated by moving or dancing to refresh the spontaneous bodymind connections during the length of an up-beat soul song. It works! Quiets the mind and keeps the creative juices flowing.” (a retired Dance/Movement Psychotherapist)

The Flow: Women’s Writing Workshops (on Zoom)

“The most subversive thing a woman can do is talk about her life as if it really matters.” (Mona Eltahawy).

All Levels: Wednesdays, 2-4:15 pm EST, starts January 8 (Drop-ins welcome)

Advanced: Thursdays, 1-4 pm EST, starts January 9 (Full with a waiting/sub list)

The Flow provides essential connection, strong medicine, & sanctuary for your writing. Jumpstart or reboot your writing in a supportive circle of women. Discover & generate new material. Make progress on an ongoing project.

Expect a brief embodied meditation, intriguing prompts, an hour & fifteen minutes of writing time, plenty of short breaks with music (make tea, stretch, &/or dance), & at least 2-3 minutes to read an excerpt of your writing aloud as part of a group reading.

In the Thursday workshop, each woman has 15 minutes to read and receive verbal feedback as part of a group discussion.

The Flow is appropriate for everyone—from beginner to author—& all genres. Whether you’re working on a project or writing from prompts, this practice supports you wherever you are in the writing process—writing fresh pages, developing, revising, etc.

We write for an hour & fifteen minutes in pomodoros—25-minute writing cycles followed by 5-minute breaks to stretch, get a cup of tea, go outside, dance, etc. The only “rule” is that you stand up for a few minutes. While this may seem counterintuitive, sitting is hard on the body & standing/walking, even briefly, restores our energy & clarity. Of course, you always have the option to ignore the breaks, turn your video/sound off, & keep writing.

Break music is from my crowdsourced playlist of songs that make my friends have to get up & move—or at least stretch or sway!

At the end of 3 writing cycles, participants read brief excerpts, at least 2-3 minutes each, as part of a group reading. We respond with quick comments in the chat about what speaks to us, stays with us, moves us—and not, at this stage (& without seeing it on the page) with suggestions or questions. Copies of the chat are sent to all participants after the workshop.

Again, in the Thursday workshop, each woman has 15 minutes to read and receive verbal feedback as part of a group discussion.

The Flow is especially helpful for writer’s block, starting and making progress on a challenging project, evicting harsh editors/critics living in our heads, and for those who want to move through resistance and heal their relationship with writing.

Participants publish in The Sun, Ms. Magazine, Hartford Courant, Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Journal of Farmington History, Naugatuck River Review, The Women’s Times, Dark Matter: Women Witnessing, and Adanna Literary Journal, among others. 

Fee:
Wednesday/all levels: $250 for the winter series of 10 workshops ($30 drop-in rate)
Thursday/advanced: $450 for the winter series of 10 workshops (Full with wait/sub list)

To register: Space is limited. Use the form below to reserve your spot.

Since 2006, poet and writer Chivas Sandage has taught women’s writing workshops in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, and now on Zoom. As an Assistant Professor at Westfield State University, Sandage taught Composition, World Literature, and Contemporary Cross-Cultural Literature. She earned an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA from Bennington College. Connecticut Center for the Book at the Connecticut Humanities Council awarded a planning grant for a writing program she designed. The Northampton Arts Council, supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), has awarded artist grants for her writing, teaching, and performance work. The MCC also awarded Sandage with an artist grant for her nonfiction. An editor, writing coach, tutor, and consultant, she works with students, businesses, and independent writers. For info about her publications and other awards: https://www.csandage.com

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