We have all had experiences--significant and everyday--that we can transform into powerful stories. Our challenge comes in finding the path from memory to prose. Using embodied practices and lessons in Generative Somatics, we will learn to listen to our natural instincts and impulses, using that to translate memories of an experience into a rich and compelling story.

No writing experience is required. Bring yourselves and your writing tools.

Outcome: 

Using embodied practices and a writing strategy that works with text on the line level, you will begin developing a story from a personal experience. In this workshop, you will create a seed for a longer work that can be personal essay, memoir, autofiction or something else entirely.

Barrak Alzaid is a writer of poetry, prose and creative nonfiction whose forthcoming memoir, Fabulous, chronicles his queer coming of age in Kuwait. 

Excerpts of his memoir are anthologized in The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human and New Moons. His poetry is published in El Ghourabaa: A queer and trans collection of oddities. He has been awarded fellowships and residencies through The Corporation of Yaddo, La Napoule Foundation and 100 West – Corsicana Artist & Writer Residency. He has taken part in writing workshops including Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, Lambda Literary Writers Retreat and VONA.

His writing has been awarded prizes by Barjeel Art Foundation/Rusted Radishes Magazine and Nasiona Magazine. He is a founding member of the artist collective GCC.

He has taught literature and writing in the US and internationally at the high school, university and community level, as well as online through virtual workshops and retreats.

fuss fee: 50,-