Writing Your Way Home: Developing Purpose, Motivation, and Freedom
“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” ― Albert Camus
Maybe you started 2020 thinking this was going to be a great year. You had clear writing goals and you were making so much progress. Then COVID-19 hit. States went on lockdown. Job losses soared. Cases and death tolls began to climb.
You wondered whether writing was worth it.
Your project suddenly felt irrelevant.
Coming to the page seemed like an unbearable chore.
Is that still your experience?
We’re here to help.
Join us for this three-part webinar series designed to reignite your writing practice.
Part One: Establish Your Purpose
Join us on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 2:00 PM EDT (11:00 PDT) for a 60-minute webinar designed to help you identify your project’s purpose, discover why your story really matters, and reboot your creativity.
Part Two: Build Momentum (in a Time of Loss, Uncertainty, and Heartache)
Join us on Wednesday, July 14 at 2:00 PM EDT (11:00 PDT) for a 60-minute webinar where you’ll explore what’s depleting your creative energy, help you practice self-care, and find the small wins and moments of celebration even in dark or heavy projects.
Part Three: Befriend Your Roadblocks
Join us on Thursday, August 6 at 2:00 PM EDT (11:00 PDT) for a 60-minute webinar that will help you recognize and befriend what’s holding you back. You will learn how to find a new direction and move forward with fresh eyes.
This series is taught by writing coaches Lisa Cooper Ellison and Joey Garcia. Together, they have a combined 50 years of experience in supporting the process of turning difficult experiences into literary art.
Bring a pen and paper, because you’ll not only learn new skills, you’ll practice using them. Continue the learning between sessions with your Writing Your Way Home workbook.
In the last fifteen minutes of these interactive sessions, you’ll also have a chance to ask questions about your project or writing practice.
Who should attend this course?
While this series is open to writers of all genres and all ability levels, it will be especially helpful for creative nonfiction writers.
You don’t need to have a project in mind to benefit from the Writing Your Way Home series.
Can I attend one session or do I need to register for the entire series?
You are welcome to register for one, two or all three sessions. We would love to have you join us as your schedule allows. Keep in mind that all registrants will receive recordings of the live sessions, so you won’t miss a thing.
What to Expect
Each Zoom session will last for 60-minutes. You will receive the Zoom link when you register.
- When:
- Session One: Tuesday, June 16, 2020
- Session Two: Wednesday, July 14, 2020
- Session Three: Thursday, August 6, 2020
- Time: 2:00 PM EDT (11:00 AM PDT)
- Fee $29.00*
*25% of proceeds from this session will be donated to Feeding America.
You can access this webinar via the internet. Audio is live and delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual portion of the presentation is displayed from the presenters’ computer to your screen. Our Q&A uses a chat-style system. Your questions will be read and answered by the presenters so the entire class can hear and benefit.
Technology Requirements:
- A computer with audio, a webcam, and access to high-speed internet.
- All students must download and test the free version of the Zoom app prior to this webinar.
We regret we will not be able to use class time to troubleshoot technical difficulties but you will be able to access the recording after the class.
Unable to attend the session? No problem. All registrants will receive a recording of this session along with the workbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Writing Your Way Home different from other online courses?
The Writing Your Way Home series is composed of three webinars taught by writing coaches Lisa Cooper Ellison and Joey Garcia. They understand writing and the psychology behind your creative endeavors. Together, Lisa and Joey have a combined 50 years of experience in supporting the process of turning difficult experiences into art. Lisa Cooper Ellison is an editor, writing coach, and speaker with an Ed.S in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a background in mindfulness. Joey Garcia is a writing coach and speaker who is certified in alternative medicine and spiritual counseling. They are uniquely prepared to support your writing and personal growth.
Plus, in this interactive webinar series, you’ll do more than just listen. You’ll get some creative work done.
What questions will this webinar series address?
Session One: Establish Your Purpose
- What does it mean to have a creative purpose?
- Do I really need one?
- Why does my story matter?
Session Two: Build Motivation
- Why am I so tired and unmotivated when I have so much time to write?
- How can I regain my creative energy?
- How do I find the small wins worth celebrating?
Session Three: Befriend Your Roadblocks
- What’s really holding me back?
- Do I push through or is there a gentler way to move ahead?
- How do I stay true to my story when the world is so different?
Bring a pen and paper, because you’re not going to just learn skills, you’re going to practice them. In the last fifteen minutes of this interactive session, you’ll also have a chance to ask questions about this work.
I write fiction. Is this course right for me?
While this course is open to writers of all genres and all ability levels, it will be especially helpful for creative nonfiction writers. Regardless of your genre, you will benefit from this course even if you don’t have a project in mind.
Are online classes self-paced or scheduled?
The first 60-minute webinar will take place on Tuesday June 16, 2020 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT /11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT.
If you can’t attend live, you can still register and receive a link to a recording of the 60-minute Zoom session and all materials provided by the presenters.
The series continues at 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT /11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 14 and again on Thursday, August 6. You can register for all three classes in the series today.
How much effort will this take?
Each session is an invitation to show up as you are and engage in the experience of the webinar. The topics and writing assignments will stir your creativity and spark a new perspective that you can bring to other writing projects and to your life.
What are my payment options?
Tuition can be paid via PayPal. PayPal is an Internet service that allows you to charge items to your credit card. It’s easy to set up an account and takes about five minutes.
What is your refund policy?
Because all participants will receive access to our materials, no refunds will be issued once payment has been made.
Lisa Cooper Ellison is an editor, writing coach, and speaker with an Ed.S in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a background in mindfulness. She has spent the last two decades helping clients and students turn difficult experiences into art and currently teaches courses in memoir, creative nonfiction, and mindful writing practices. Her life story and essays have appeared on NPR’s With Good Reason and in Hippocampus Literary Magazine, Kenyon Review Online, Huffington Post, and The Guardian, among others.
Joey Garcia coaches authors on book proposals and publicity. She is the founder and director of the Belize Writers Conference, an annual event in her native Belize. Joey also manages book publicity sessions for the San Francisco Writers Conference. Her short stories have won awards from Writer’s Digest (#8/5,500 entries) and Mslexia. Her poetry has been anthologized, nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and published in Calyx, The Caribbean Writer, and the Tule Review, among others. Joey’s essays have appeared on KQED’s Perspectives and newsreview.com. For 23 years, she’s written “Ask Joey,” a relationship advice column with 300,000 weekly readers. Joey speaks at literary conferences and women’s empowerment events around the world.