The Weekend Writing Marathon

Stephen has a unique capacity for listening that allows him to understand the feeling that I'm struggling to communicate. With a few insightful words he's helped me clarify and amplify my connection to my true and powerful voice.

I expected the block I had been feeling to go away, but I didn't expect the floodgates of creativity to open as they did.

My novel was literally transformed in one day. Thanks to an optional creative writing exercise, I wrote a new prologue that helped me understand my character so much better.

I came here wanting to be done with six stories and I left with two new collections and notes on a novel. I went well past what I expected I could do.

I wrote more in two weeks than I did in my first year of my MFA. The writing exercises brought ideas and memories out of me that had been hidden or buried for years. The prompts and exercises gave me no excuse to stop and encouraged me to keep moving forward with my writing.

The goal writing and creative exercises helped me to find my writing voice again; it had been buried for a few years and now I've got it back. That is one of the greatest gifts I took home.

I returned to the place where I really like writing. I started to play with my words and my sentences again, finding things that just made me happy to write.

My writing practice had languished for so long it wasn't even a practice anymore. Stephen masterfully guided the creative process with just enough mind/body structure, just enough push to help reconnect my inner voice with its outer expression.

I completed a new first draft of a story from scratch in a single day, got perspective on and groundwork laid for a longer term project, and embarked on a completely unexpected creative project.

Stephen, ever-focused, ever-encouraging, ever-offering, helps you connect with yourself on the deepest levels imaginable, all in the service of unlocking the beauty and potential already living inside of you.

Stephen's discussion questions along with the exercises and examples in his book were great to turn to when I reached a block in one of my own projects. When I started a writing marathon or a spurt of writing with one of his exercises, I found that my writing would wander or end up in a very creative and fun place.

The writing exercise in which we wrote from the perspective of already having achieved our most important goals had a huge impact on my writing and on me personally. Clearing away obstacles that were keeping me from what I know I want to do, the exercise brought me closer to the pleasure of achievement.

I learned that writing and life are processes that can be practiced with an open heart. I give myself space to be completely productive or completely relaxed as I move forward with my creative projects.

DO IT.

It really removed a block that had made me afraid to write since it had been so long since writing creatively, and the pressure that the words must come together perfect.