THE FLOW—

It’s a writing workshop.
It’s a dance party
(or you can make tea).
It’s a community, a literary zine,
& a revolution.

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

THE FLOW:
Women’s Writing Workshops / Spring 2026
(on Zoom)

All LEVELS: Wednesdays, 2-5 pm EST, starts April 8

$350 for the spring series of 10 workshops

• April 8, 15, 22, 29
• May 6, 13, 20, 27
• June 3, 10

ADVANCED: Thursdays, 1-4 pm EST, starts April 9 (full with a waiting list)

$450 for the spring series of 10 workshops

• April 9, 16, 23, 30
• May 7, 14, 21, 28
• June 4, 11

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.

We’ve launched SUB ROSA: A Journal of Women’s Literature & Art, and will continue to edit & publish Sub Rosa this spring!

In both workshops, expect a brief embodied meditation, intriguing prompts, at least an hour & fifteen minutes of writing time, three short breaks with music (stretch, dance, make tea, etc), time to read an excerpt of your writing aloud as part of a group reading & to receive supportive feedback. Please note that the Wednesday series is appropriate for everyone—from beginner to author—& all genres. Whether you’re working on a project or writing with prompts or both, this practice supports you wherever you are in the your process—writing fresh pages, developing, revising, etc.

THE DETAILS: We write for an hour & fifteen minutes in “pomodoros”—25-minute writing cycles followed by 5-minute breaks to dance, stretch, get a cup of tea, go outside, 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 & sway!

At the end of 3 writing cycles, participants share brief excerpts in a group reading. We respond with what speaks to us, stays with us, moves us—and not, at this stage (& without seeing it on the page) with suggestions or questions.

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.  

REVISION WORKSHOP (Wednesday FLOW only. On Thursdays, there is no weekly revision workshop. Instead, we dedicate one full session in the series to workshopping everyone’s manuscript for one half hour each.)

We devote the last half hour of each session to discussion of one participant’s work in progress—something you typed up, revised, and want balanced, helpful feedback on before writing the next draft. Unlike the rest of the workshop, this is a manuscript critique that participants sign up for, and feedback focuses on what is strong and what can be stronger. Please choose writing for which you feel ready to receive supportive, constructive comments, including suggestions and ideas to consider. This process directly and profoundly informs and changes your writing, whether or not your work is discussed that day!

Differences between the Wednesday & Thursday FLOW 

• Thursday FLOW has 5 participants max (vs. 6-8)
• Thursday starts/ends one hour later
• Otherwise, both workshops are the same until the readings begin
• Thursday’s reading/discussion schedule: 5 women/15 mins each (think of it as 6 minutes to read / 9 mins. to discuss)

To inquire about the workshops: Use the form at the bottom of this page to send your name & email address. I’ll reply & we can schedule a time to chat about your questions & your writing!

To register: Space is limited. To complete your registration, please pay in full for the series. If you need to pay via installments, email me for info.

Cancellation Policy: You are responsible for your reservation. This is standard policy for writing workshops. Emergencies happen and if you cannot attend for any reason, please contact me ASAP so we don’t worry about you. If you know in advance, I can usually arrange for a sub to attend & you’ll receive a credit. These policies make it possible for Write Like a River to support your voice and the voices of other women writers.

TESTIMONIALS

“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)

ABOUT CHIVAS

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 independent writers. For info about her publications and awards: https://www.csandage.com

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