TOPICS EXPLORED IN THIS 7-WEEK SERIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

ADAPTATION – We are all being called as writers to participate in the fractured world, and it calls for us to adapt. We will write about moments in our recent lives when we have had to adapt to change – home, employment, aging, finances. 

VOICE –  Writers hear about finding their voice, but our voices are being tuned throughout our lives by events that help shape our stories and our sense of what matters to us.  James Baldwin says that language is the key to identity and social acceptance.  When were we accepted, and when was our language and voice used against us.

ENDURANCE  – Our challenges are many in this time in history.  But looking back on history, endurance was part of what got our ancestors through the challenges.  There is a saying that even warrior knows when to rest. In this class we will explroe stories of endurance in body and spirit.

BELONGING & EXILE  – So many are suffering in what John O’Donohue calls “The Dark Valley of the Broken Belonging.” In this class we will explore the “I” and the “we”, and the stories in our lives where we were brought together in a common good, whether it was listening to music or sitting in a prayer circle. We will explore the shadow side of belonging, including exile.

BOUNDARIES & BORDERS – Creating boundaries is how we grow and help others grow beside us. Boundaries are often uncomfortable, funny and needed.  Exploring boundary stories will be a needed exercise in a world where we are all asked to stand six feet apart.

CARETAKERS  –  In our lives, we are all summoned to care for each other, and some of the caretaking has been a challenge and call to stewardship.  How do we care for others and who has cared for us. We will explore the honors and challenges of stewardship.

TRANSFORMATION– Poet Ellen Bass and other panelists discuss transformation in life, story and poetry

Laura Lentz is the author of  STORYquest, the Writer, the Hero, the Journey and the soon to be published Grace of the World, an anthology to honor earth. Laura is a writing coach and developmental editor, teaching creative writing workshops online and on the north shore of Kauai for ten years. Her workbook helps writers write to every stage of their story inspired by the Hero’s Journey through 12-weeks of writing prompts and examples out of best selling memoirs and poetry. Laura helps writers create content and expand their body of work through unique methods – offering challenging and thought provoking writing prompts inspired by poetry, mythology and segments from literature.

Laura creates the curriculum for the 6-week writing workshops also taught by Guest Teachers.

Laura’s 6-week workshops are online and on the north shore of Kauai. Laura serves on the faculty of The Kauai Writers Conference, Covid willing… and is conducting a Master Class for writers who want to write in sacred places on Kauai and allow Kauai’s beauty to influence their work.

Beth has taught writing, world literature and art. She has made her professional home with the Central California Writing Project at UC Santa Cruz where she designed curriculum and taught workshops. Beth has also been a Professional Development Coordinator for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Beth’s passion is to empower writers by creating a safe and inclusive environment in which they can write and share freely.  Beth lives in Santa Cruz, CA where she raised her daughter and son. She has two grandsons and recently welcomed her first great-granddaughter. Beth holds three teaching credentials and an administrative credential. She has an MA in Teacher Leadership from San Jose State University.