I’ve written about why I created the Writing Our Lives Workshop, and back in 2017 I even created a video sharing the journey. I like to revisit my “why” periodically, and today’s newsletter gave me the opportunity.
I (Vanessa Mártir) created Writing Our Lives in 2009 because I wanted to be part of the movement to bring our stories, stories by BIPOC and marginalized writers, to the forefront.
I wanted to help dismantle the very white, very straight, very male canon.
I wanted to share my love (read: obsession) for all things autobiographical writing. I didn’t know of anyone teaching memoir and personal essay in a non-academic setting in NYC, and who better to do it than a person who loves this work and sees its value in the world?
I wanted to help people write their stories.
I still want all these things. My motivations have stayed the same, but with the political upheaval we’ve experienced over the past few years, I am even more convinced that our stories need to be out in the world.
Since creating WOL, I’ve led hundreds of writers thru the journey of writing the stories of their lives. I’ve brought my workshops and classes across the country, facilitating them across the tri-state area as well as in Massachusetts, Texas, Portland, and beyond.
Over the years, I’ve partnered with prestigious online literary organizations and websites to publish the stories of WOL alumni:
(More partnerships are in the works, so stay tuned! )
In 2017, I launched the Writing the Mother Wound movement, and have facilitated one day and multi-week mother wound classes across the country and online. I also created and moderated a standing room only panel during the 2019 AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) Conference in Portland, which led to a partnership with Longreads where we published 10+ mother wound essays.
I’ve been hard at work for more than a decade facilitating free and low cost classes and workshops to the community. It’s important to me that my classes be affordable and accessible. For tuition based classes, I offer multiple scholarships and payment plans.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I offered two hour, free/donation based, generative writing classes every Friday for three months. I did it because it felt good. We were all going through so much, with the shelter-in orders and widespread protests over systemic racism, among other things, we needed something to remind us of joy and community. The weekly classes gave me that. And while it was a lot of work to come up with topics, create reading lists, writing prompts and slideshow presentations for each class, the work didn’t feel like drudgery because I loved doing it. Despite what capitalism tells you, work doesn’t have to be painful.
I took a few months off in early 2022 to heal and transmute my energy after a devastating loss in December. I’ve come out of that quiet contemplation re-energized and more in love with this work I do, and I’m ready to bring Writing Our Lives back!
The Begin Again Series, launched at the beginning of April, continues this coming Wednesday, April 13th with: Writer’s Block–Is it real? How can we get unstuck?
The series continues every Wednesday in April with:
In May, I’m launching the All In My Feelings Series.
In June, I’ll be launching the For the Love of Craft Series. I’m still figuring out the details, but these generative class will also take place on Wednesdays, 7-9pm EST, and will cover everything from voice to character development. More on that in a coming newsletter.
If you like what Writing Our Lives is up to, and you are someone who wants to write their story, sign up for a class!
If you know someone who wants to write their story and needs some help, please tell them about Writing Our Lives and share this newsletter with them.
I love this work. I love our stories. It’s time we write them! Let me help you do that.
Until next time,
Vanessa