Set your writing free!
The Creativity Catalyst is coming, Aug 24 - Oct 3.
Dear fellow writer,
For years, I’ve heard versions of the same frustrated lament from academic and professional writers:
I feel that my writing is boring to read and painful to write.
I want to transform my writing style from clear and concise to creative and compelling.
I need to rediscover my lost love of writing, but I don’t know how.
I developed the Creativity Catalyst for these writers — and for you! This transformational 6-week course will help you break free from the strictures of conventional prose and ride the wind of your own creativity.
Across six exhilarating weeks, you’ll explore six core elements of arts-based creative practice — story, poetry, drama, moving, making, and metaphor — and try out playful, pleasurable strategies for integrating each of them into your daily life, your writing life, and your writing style.
You can meet weekly on Zoom with writers from around the world to share ideas, give and receive feedback, and support each other’s creative risk-taking — or, if you prefer, make your way through the course in your own time and at your own pace. Either way, you’ll get lifetime access to the course materials, so you can catch up later on any modules you missed.
Here’s what some of last year’s participants had to say about the Creativity Catalyst:
The Creativity Catalyst was a joy from start to finish – a six-week laboratory of experimentation and guided risk-taking that resulted in a breakthrough with an academic paper, and a remoulding of my assumptions about ‘good’ academic writing. I now have a bag of catalytic writing tools to make better academic writing.
(James Corazzo, Associate Professor of Graphic Design, U.K.)The Creativity Catalyst exceeded my expectations. Week one’s workshop brought me to an unexpected path, revisiting a chapter I had put to the bottom of the pile (quite some time ago) and had since been avoiding. And when we ‘made stuff’ in Week 5, a collage directed me to a theme that needed more attention. One week after the Catalyst, I finished the chapter! Those who have read it say it is my most engaging work to date.
(Vicki Holmes, Adjunct Assistant Professor of History, U.K.)The Creativity Catalyst was a very nice space to get weekly inspiration, insights, and feedback into my writing. It was also lovely to work alongside other writers from very diverse academic, vocational, and geographical backgrounds. The exercises in the modules helped bring bits of creativity into my writing and life into my writing practice. Overall, a lovely experience that I would highly recommend if you are looking to bring in some creative spark into your writing and writing practice.
(Maggie Huerta, academic writing coach, U.S.A.)
This year’s Creativity Catalyst runs from August 24 to October 3, 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity to kickstart your creativity and find new joy in writing.
Stay-Home Writing Retreat (August 19-23)
My FREE 5-Day Stay-Home Writing Retreat starts next week! Whether you want to squeeze in an hour or two of writing every day or immerse yourself in a full-on creative adventure, this self-paced writing retreat will take you someplace new (even if you’ve done it before!) You’ll learn about SMART versus SAFE goals (the latter are Simple, Attainable, Forgiving, and Easy!), and I’ll encourage you to set a new SAFE goal each morning and to reflect on it at the end of the day. Best of all, you’ll be part of an international community of writers who will be writing alongside you and cheering you on your way.
I’d love to see you there!
If you appreciate hearing about events like the Creativity Catalyst and the free Stay-Home Writing Retreat, please take a moment to drop me a heart, leave a comment, and/or click Restack at the bottom of this message. Your enthusiasm and support mean so much to me.
Kia pai tō koutou rā (have a great day) – and keep on writing!
Helen
Write more, right now! Join me and fellow writers from 30+ countries in the WriteSPACE, the ultimate membership site for scholarly and professional writers who aim to lift their writing game. To try free for 30 days, click here and enter the discount code SNEAKPEEK.
Books on writing by Helen Sword
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