Writing in the Margins
If you’ve been following the Writing in the Margins facebook, meetup or twitter, you’ll know that we have a whole bunch of events and groups coming up. Tomorrow is the beginning of an exciting spring and summer! (All links are to the facebook events – if you prefer the meetup interface, they are easy to find there.)
First, tomorrow’s Trauma Writing Circle. More than our other facilitated writing workshops, the trauma writing circle has an explicit focus on active self-care. We write together on two prompts, and share only if we feel safe and comfortable doing so. There are snacks, tea, breaks to stretch and chat, and a second room is always available to retreat to if things get heavy. This is not a group counselling session, but it can be a very healing and comforting experience, and an opportunity to engage with difficult memories and experiences in a safe and supportive environment. The April trauma writing circle will happen tomorrow (April 26) from 12:30-3 at the Calgary Sexual Health Centre. As with all of our workshops, participation is by donation and no donation is required to participate. The suggested donation is $10.
Sunday includes two events.
The first is the third round of Patchwork: A QUILTBAG Writing Group. We’ll meet six times over seven weeks for a facilitated writing workshop that’s suitable for fiction or non-fiction, experienced or new writers. Patchwork has been an incredible success, and is quickly becoming a staple for Writing in the Margins and our community of writers! We’ll meet from 10-12 on Sunday April 27 at the Calgary Sexual Health Centre. The suggested donation for the program is $75.
Next, the return of the Smutty Story Circle! Facilitated, fun, and open to all adults. This is our longest-running event and still a favourite. The writing produced at the Smutty Story Circle always amazes me. In this queer-friendly, kink-friendly, gender-inclusive, ability-inclusive space, people are able to explore their sexual fantasies, histories, and selves. It’s a beautiful (and frequently very hot!) thing. There is never any expectation that writers will share their work with the group. 12:30-3 on Sunday. Suggested donation is $10.
The May Trauma Writing Circle and Smutty Story Circle have not been scheduled yet, but two exciting new groups will be starting up.
Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance Writing Group will start on May 7, and meet on Wednesday evenings. We’ll work through Julia Cameron’s book, Finding Water. Although this is the third book in her Artist’s Way trilogy, it is not necessary to have read the previous books and this group is open to anyone, of any experience level, who would like to engage with the creative process in a more structured format. This will be the first time that Writing in the Margins offers a course based on a book, or a course of this length. If you’ve wanted to dive into Julia Cameron’s method but do best with the support of a community working with you, this is a fantastic opportunity! We’ll be meeting on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Calgary Sexual Health Centre, and the suggested donation is $125.
Finally, the Writing in the Margins book club is back! Resurrected at the Epic Poetry (and Beyond) Book Club, we’ll start with Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene Reading Group. This group will focus on queer and feminist interpretations of what can be a challenging text. Alternate Tuesday evenings starting May 13, 6:30-8:30, on the University of Calgary campus. There is no suggested donation for this group.
Hopefully we’ll see you at one (or more!) of these upcoming events.
