The following writing workshops are free to attend.
Bring your own writing materials and an open mind.
8:15-8:45 am
Wake Up and Write!
Judith Hannan
There’s no better way to begin your day at Islanders Write!
Essayist, author, and workshop leader Judith Hannan will lead participants in a series of quick writing prompts to encourage free association and the revelation of scenes and stories
Judith Hannan is the author of the memoir “Motherhood Exaggerated,” and an essayist whose writing has appeared in numerous publications such as Lilith Magazine, the Washington Post, and The Martha’s Vineyard Times. She has facilitated writing workshops for those coping with physical and/or mental illness, medical professionals, homeless mothers, and those within the criminal justice system. Most recently she has launched a series of free workshops at the Brooklyn Public Library.
9:00-10:30 am
Take Five: Meditation as Muse for Inspired Writing
Sherry Sidoti
Oh, to be in “the zone,” filled with spontaneous inspiration, riding the sweet spot of creative flow! But equal to the elation that comes with writing come the roadblocks— overthinking, stress, dullness, mental restlessness, to name a few. Creativity is too easily hijacked by the mind-stuff. Sometimes we just need to take five. Join yoga teacher and author Sherry Sidoti to learn how meditation can serve as muse for inspired writing. Through three five-minute exercises we will explore how marrying meditation and writing can nourish the writing experience, enliven the writing/storytelling itself, and bring focus and clarity to the editing process. This workshop includes conversation, gentle seated movement, contemplation, and writing.
Open to all—no prior meditation practice necessary.
Sherry Sidoti is the founder and lead director of FLY Yoga School, a yoga teacher training program, and FLY Outreach, a not-for-profit that offers yoga and meditation for trauma Recovery. Her memoir, “A Smoke and a Song” will be published in August. sherrysidoti.com
10:30-11:30 am
The P-Word – A Craft Workshop
Mathea Morais
Do you struggle with the dreaded P-Word? If so, you probably have figured out that the P-Word stands for Plot. In this workshop we will look at a simple and effective way to structure a plot, regardless of genre. Using the beat sheet created for “Save the Cat Writes A Novel” as our guide, you will come away with a stronger understanding of character and clearer way to formulate your story. Great for those who are just starting out on a project as well as those who’ve already begun!
Mathea Morais is the Director of Literary Arts at Featherstone and the author of the novel “There You Are.” She has taught English and creative writing to young people for over fifteen years. Matheamorais.com
11:30 am-12:30 pm
Memoir as Medicine
Nancy Slonim Aronie
Have you ever thought of writing your memoir as part of your healing process? If so, you’re not alone. Kick off your creativity for a writing workshop based on Nancy’s book – Memoir as Medicine, to help you create beauty from the life challenges that made you who you are today. Nancy Slonim Aronie is the author of “Memoir as Medicine” and “Writing from the Heart” and the founder of The Chilmark Writing Workshop. Nancy is also a commentator for NPR and a columnist for the MV Times.
1:15-2:00 pm (New Time!)
Navigating Imposter Syndrome: What if they find out?
T. Elizabeth Bell
Do you sometimes (always) feel like you’re not a real writer? If that’s the case, you’re not alone. In this workshop author T. Elizabeth Bell will ask you to confront your imposter syndrome and through writing prompts and other exercises provide you with tools to try to defeat it.
T. Elizabeth Bell is the author of two novels, “Goats in the Time of Love” and “Counting Chickens.”
2:00-4:00 pm
BYOB- Build Your Own Bookstagram
Bella Morais
In this workshop, you will learn the basics of creating, cultivating and maintaining a successful Bookstagram by discovering different niches, aesthetics, similar accounts and more. You will learn about different content management systems such as Canva and Later as well as work as a group to craft eye-catching bios and brainstorming the perfect bookish Instagram name. After the in depth brainstorming session, you will engage in some hands-on activities, to get comfortable with different mobile editing apps. hashtags, and engagement techniques and posting photos.
Books and props will be provided for the attendees to use, however, if attendees would like to bring their own books and supplies, they are more than welcome to. Please note that while this workshop will touch on this, the primary focus will be posting photos to Instagram, and not Reels or Tik Toks.
Video and Photo Release: There will be a video and photo release for attendees to sign prior to coming into the workshop. Bella would like to be able to use some of the video and photo content from the workshop for her own Bookstagram, but understands that some people do not want to be recorded. All videos would be of Bella talking and photos of the attendees wouldn’t include their faces. Also, the entire recorded process from the workshop will be sent to the attendees as a GoogleDrive link so they can go back and reference in the future.
Bella Morais is a gallery and administrative assistant at Featherstone Center for The Arts. She has worked as a journalist, social media manager and event coordinator for the award-winning news websites, The Root, HuffPost and BuzzFeed News.
For more biographical information, please return to the Islanders Write homepage. For more information about workshops or Islanders Write, email Kate Feiffer at kate@mvtimes.com