Walk Through The Portal
Walk Through The Portal
Writing. Healing. Community.
The Portal is a summer journey of writing and healing for women and female-identifying creatives.
Welcome to the Portal! This is an annual summer journey that exists JUST for writing, healing and being in powerful creative community with other women. It combines coaching, workshops, guest teachers and write-ins for a creative summer-camp vibe.
WHAT: Change, expand or grow your relationship with your writing. The goal is to complete a significant chunk of a current writing project OR create a packet of new work by the end of our session and establish a personal writing practice. You’ll be exposed to new forms of writing/ ways to play and build through words. Write from the inside-out.
HOW: This program combines writing workshops with visits from award-winning master teachers in both creative writing and healing modalities to expand your toolbox. You’ll receive 1:1 coaching along the way and consistent community. note: this year The Portal is being hosted by WritingWorkshops.com.
WHO: You! The Portal is open to brand new writers and experienced ones. The Portal is a MAGICAL SPACE where we get to commune with our inner muse, inject poetry/prose into our lives, and get real work done.
〰 You do not have to figure it all out on your own. 〰
Sustain yourself as a creative ✹ in community.
Apply for Summer 2024!
⚡What People Are Saying⚡
“The Portal was the exact experience I needed to rejuvenate my writing practice. I learned lots, grew a ton and met amazing writers.”
— Former Student
“I reconnected to the craft of writing through my inner artist, guided and supported by a wonderful teacher and her team of guests.”
— Former Student
“It was the perfect balance of writing, workshop, instruction and mindfulness, that helped me bring myself into the present and focus on my writing as a practice.”
— Former Student
“Step through The Portal. Trust me -- it's great here on the other side.”
— Former Student
PORTAL GUIDES 2024
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Sarah Herrington
FOUNDER + WORKSHOP LEADER
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Edgar Fabián Frías
MUTANT MAGIC WORKSHOP
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Sara Glass
WRITING THROUGH AND WITH TRAUMA
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Omotara James
POETRY AND PROCESS
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Holly Colino
RESTORATIVE YOGA FOR CREATIVES
The Portal is a Space of Writing + Healing.
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ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE:
Weekly Tuesday night Zoom meeting, 7-9:15 PM EST — 11 total classes (note: we take a break August 6th)
(contents: a writing workshop or guest teacher workshop, alternating)
Two one-on-one office hours on your work and creative process (basically coaching ❤️)
Private Mighty Networks channel for 24/7 community shares and conversation in between classes
Bi-weekly Sunday noon EST write-ins where we log on and generate writing
An accountability partner, someone also in the course to partner up with and write together.
Publishing + pitching protocol advice
Award-winning authors as guest teachers and workshops led by Sarah Herrington
Room to explore new types of writing + healing modalities AND the discipline to stay ON TRACK with your personal writing goal
Why Writing in Community?
Writing can be a lonely art. While we need that solitude, so much growth happens in community, too.
In that spirit, we are bringing together favorite writing teachers, friends and guides for a journey unlike any other! This is the course we wish we’d had once-upon-a-time.
Through writing we can take what feels to be the chaos of life, and make some order, some art. Or, as Joan Didion said: “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.”
By the end of the program you will…
Have a completed portfolio as per your own goals (for example: a publishable-essay with a cover letter and plan for submission, an outline of your larger project, or two polished chapters.)
Have a deeper relationship to yourself and your own creativity
Have a new, supportive community of creatives
Know how to move a piece from spark to publication
Feel rebalanced in your self and your expression
Have new writing!
Portal Dates + Schedule
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Portal Opens: June 18, 2024
Portal Closes: September 3, 2024
***We take August 6th off for a ‘rest and digest’ week :)
🌙 Night One:
June 18th
Intro Night
Set your intention. Meet the community. Get writing right away with a co-writing session. Set up your writing altar. Receive Portal materials. Define (and redefine) yourself as a creator.
🌙 Night Two:
June 25th
Writing Workshop
The sacred container of writing workshop is where we’ll dig into work, giving and receiving feedback on the actual language-on-the-page. This week we’ll also explore how to deal with the infamous inner critic.
🌙 Night Three:
July 2nd
Writing Workshop
The sacred container of writing workshop is where we’ll dig into work, giving and receiving feedback on the actual language-on-the-page. We’ll also explore how to use obstacles on the path of writing as jumping points for further progress in our work.
🌃 Night Four:
July 9th
Writing Guest Lecture: Edgar Fabian Frias— Mutant Magic
Learn how to harness your magic and utter uniqueness as a source of CREATIVE POWER.
A master class not to be missed!
🌃 Night Five:
July 16th
Healing Guest Experience: Holly Colino—-Restorative Yoga for Writers
Experience an hour-long accessible restorative yoga class for creatives. Consider how rest and tuning into ourselves can benefit our work. Then, we write!
🌃 Night Six:
July 23rd
Writing Workshop
Write and get feedback in our sacred container. We’ll also talk about audience—-should we think of one, or not?
🌙Night Seven:
July 30th
Writing Guest Lecture: Sara Glass— Writing On, About and Through Trauma
Learn from a NYTimes published author (with a gorgeous memoir out this summer!) and therapist HOW TO WRITE from trauma without being consumed by it. How can we be honest and effective in our work while caring for ourselves in a real way?
🌙Night Eight:
August 13th
Writing Workshop + Publishing Lesson
Meet within the sacred container of writing workshop. Get feedback on your work and give feedback to others (we’ll guide you in this, too).
Learn best practices and practical tips for publishing.
🌙Night Nine:
August 20th
Writing Guest Lecture: Omotara James—Poetry and Process
Learn from epic poet and author of “Song of My Softening” how to approach poetry and writing process from the inside-out. This class will combine writing and craft talk(s) for practical magic.
🌙 Night Ten:
August 27th
Final Writing Workshop
Meet within the sacred container of writing workshop. Get feedback on your work and give feedback to others.
🌙 Night Eleven:
August 27th
Final Reading+ Closing Ceremony
Close the Portal with reflection, personal goal setting and a celebration.
*1:1 meetings will be set up individually. This is a chance for us to set up goals and check in on them with personal coaching. We’ll have 2 1:1s!
*bi-weekly “Write-Ins” will take place every-other Sunday starting June 23rd—-this is an (optional) hour to hop on zoom, receive a prompt and write together
FAQs
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Come one, come all. The Portal is open to brand new writers as well as experienced, published folks and everyone in between. Craft talks, one-on-one meetings, workshops will all meet you were you’re at. You’ll be challenged but also be in a safe space.
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The Portal offers a beautiful mix of craft talks, experiences, and writing workshop (where you get feedback on your work, in the group!) You’ll be “workshopped” three tim sin the Portal. You will also get two one-on-one sessions with Sarah Herrington where you can further work and get feedback.
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Not at all. Some writers attend with a project in mind, in hand, or just following interest and their creativity! You can be in exploring mode or have some work already. No matter what, come with an open mind and heart because with so many great teachers things could change/ open up. :)
ENERGY EXCHANGE
$1549 with Payment Plans available
HOSTED BY WRITINGWORKSHOPS.COM
THE FINE PRINT!
Scope of Practice: The Portal is an educational program, a course bringing together creative writing and healing modalities. It is not a substitute for mental health or physical health practices. Contact us with any questions.
Payment Plan and All $$ Questions: WritingWorkshops.com is hosting us this year! and handling all payment and policies. Visit their site (linked here) for info.