Online Journaling Class - The scoop

 

First off, I must say a HUGE thank you to the comments and countless private emails I've received in regards to my last post. The anticipation in the air is thick for some of you, certainly for me. I've been eating, sleeping, drinking this class - the e-course I've titled "Thought Threads". Digesting the gratitude I feel for the opportunity to share this, for the words of "I wouldn't miss it for the world" from many of you. I sat at the river today and wrote in the November sun. the sun that finally burned through a thick layer of fog late in the day. I sat on huge, cold granite boulders and felt the river carry this gratitude, this dream on down to the ocean where it will become a part of this whole, wide world. That's how it felt anyway, in a strange, humbling sort of way. And the class hasn't even started yet!

Some of you have written asking me to hold you a spot. And I will, for sure. There is room. I've decided to go ahead and post a button on my side bar (see there to the right? at the top....) that will enable you to purchase your seat in the class (click on either the picture or the buy now button). You will receive confirmation of your payment within 24 hours and a password to the blog by Nov. 16th. Here are the details as far as I have them worked out yet. They will be added to and tightened up in the coming weeks, but this is enough to throw at you for now:

Duration: Four weeks, Starting MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd with the final day being SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20th, solstice eve.

I will present a robust yet approachable journaling lesson with exercises on each Monday along with a podcast that will correspond with the lesson. EVERY DAY of the week I will be posting something to encourage you along. Quotes, thoughts, Q&A's, guest journaler interviews, prompts, and "spontaneous partner journaling" which, I must say, is crazy fun and surprisingly enlightening. I have big plans for the month. Big plans. But not so big as to be unmanagable, especially at this holidayish time of year. I'm a brood mare to two wild ponies with a big herd of mustang family near by. I know what the holiday stampede is like. I also know the gift of serenity, clarity, sanity, direction that even just a few minutes a day of guided journaling can bring. It's become my lifeline to my sane self.

Format: All registrants will have full access to a password protected blog whose sole function is to serve as the gathering place for this group and for all the journaling information I will share with you. The blog and all it's content will be available for two weeks after the last day of class (until January 3rd) so there is time for you to walk through everything that you want to walk through without the pressure of needing to perform every day. There will be recommended reading lists, music to journal to, and (i hope) a commradarie that can't be found anywhere else. We are sisters and brothers in search of self. A gathering place is good for our souls.

Cost: $50 (I'm having a small and likely simple issue with getting the shipping to be at zero. You will be promptly refunded the $5 shipping if you are charged it. I have supposedly cleared this up with paypal but thought I'd mention it just in case there's a glitch for any of you).

Let me unabashadly share with you the kind words of a couple of women who bravely and boldly joined me in class at Journalfest - the seed that this online workshop is growing from:

""Unraveling Word" with Stephanie Lee was the catalyst I needed for jumping
back into my writing with both feet, wildly waving a banner exclaiming "hurray for my writing and journaling practice!".

Stephanie as an instructor is a joy... Her thoughtfulness and ability to create a positive, supportive environment was great, and created a writing day which became one of the best I have experienced. She brought a wealth of materials, background reference books and exercises, and structured the class in such a way, so that everyone felt comfortable to participate and to open up enough to share their personal writing.

The pace was appropriate and allowed for highs and lows throughout the day. Humour was encouraged, and whatever limb we crawled out on with our writing allowed us to take risks and try new ways of writing both together and individually, and then, she was able to reel us back in and move to the next level.

It is not easy to wrangle with a group of energized, creative artists and writers and draw out deep thoughts, but Stephanie accomplished that with ease, and I left the day feeling ready to plunge with renewed passion back to my writing. Thanks Stephanie, it was a pleasure to have you as our instructor!

-Sandra"

"I had the privilege of taking stephanie lee's "unraveling word"  at journalFEST recently and i have to say, it couldn't have been more than timely. i have been blogging for nearly two years now and while that has been relatively easy forum to communicate through, my own personal journal writing has been an entirely different matter, altogether. i have felt stymied and unable to write on a deeper level. stephanie's warm and inviting manner, her clear exercises plus her numerous handouts & prompts, made it possible for me to see journal writing in a whole new way. instead of just the classic "what i did today"  diary, i am seeing that journals can take many forms, each as individual as i am! with stephanie's gentle encouragement i will be writing in a whole new way, which in turn, will be a truer reflection of me! i can't wait to take another of stephanie's writing classes............-Wendy"

and lest you think I am making this all up, here's one more....

"Where do I begin? Your class was such a breath of fresh air, I'm not sure if I can put it into words.

I am a busy mom of 4 kids and I hadn't written in years.  I wasn't even sure I really had anything interesting to say even if I did want to write.  I signed up for Journalfest thinking it would just be a fun retreat from my hectic life.  The first two days I took classes that I thought would be fun, but that wouldn't stretch my abilities too much.  I signed up for Stephanie Lee's "Unraveling Word" on the last day and honestly, as much as I was excited for the class, I was terrified.  From the first minute of class, I was put at ease by Stephanie's kindness, patience, and her willingness to reveal to us her authentic personality.  Her ability to draw thoughts and words out of the class participants through provacative prompts and interesting writing exercises is truly a gift.  The six hours of class flew by too quickly, and I was left thinking, "Wait, I have more to say."  Thank you Stephanie.  Your class was truly a gift to me.  I will be stalking your blog on a regular basis to find out where and when I can take another of your writing classes!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
-Jenny"

I share these words from others to offer another perspective on this offering so you don't have to just take my word for it. And let me make one thing very clear: this workshop is not designed just for writers (though experienced writers are sure to learn from it as well). This is a workshop for the common wo/man. It is for mothers and daughters and executives and creatives and wanderers and those who are found. It is for anyone who wants to live with intent and is open to seeing that journal as the most simple and personal way to maintain that clarity of intent. It can be a place to improve your poetry, a place to learn the practice of self-care and quietude, a place to work through what to do with an unruly teenager. It can be whatever it needs to be for you. Light and heavy. Thick and thin. Funny and real.

Thoughts coil and catch, like yarn in a cat’s paw. The hook-ended practice of word-smithing catches a strand of thought and pulls it out in linear form, laying the words on a page. Tug by gentle tug, the unexamined thoughts become disentangled and lay before you on the paper like a river with clear and obvious direction.

Who will be the keepers of our stories? Who will interpret the many layers and find the guides in the whispers of our lives? We will. We must. It's not about poeticism or eloquence. It's just about practice with a little direction and encouragment, a journey into deeper authenticity and lightness of being.

I'd love it if you joined in.

ox

Comments

[Jennifer White]

Seriously, I could read your words forever. Where do you find such descriptive, visual adjectives? I can feel your excitement Stephanie...it's literally beaming through my MacBook. I can't wait until day one, already signed up which I'm sure you already can see...this is going to be a fantastic journey!

xo

[Chris Meissner]

I am so excited for you and looking forward to this experience. I want to become a better writer, this sounds to me to be just what I am looking for. Hugs!

[jen]

Oh wonderful dear you! SO happy you are launching this! yeah!

[Becky Monteith]

Hi Stephanie - I have to thank you again. I took your Selective Seeing class in Ft Collins last August. We have an annual ball and auction at my school each year and I did a picture of my 3rd grade class using the skills you taught. Believe it or not, our picture was the highest bid item and went for $1200.00!!! It beat out 2 airline tickets to anywhere in the US ($800) and 22 tickets to a Nuggets game ($1000)!

[Stephanie Lee]

Thank you! Im super excited too! Im walking around feeling mostly giddy. Its been a while since ive felt that for such a stretch! :)

How are you?

I miss yoU! :)

ox

[Tracie Lyn Huskamp]

DON'T WALK ...... R-U-N !!!! to sign up for this workshop....I participated in her Journalfest class and LOVED IT every minute!

[Sherry]

I'm so looking forward to this!! If I can't do these things in person because of distance, then surely I can do them from the comfort of my own home. Won't be quite the same...but it will be good nevertheless!

[joanne]

thank you so much for all the work in offering this experience online for those of us who haven't yet had the opportunity to travel to one of your amazing workshops :)

i too can't wait for day one...

[Alexis]

Hi Stephanie,

I'm excited to take your journaling class. I was just curious what your background was and who you are since your about link does not work. Alexis

[lorraine lewis]

So excited- butterflies in my stomach too because I have never taken a Journaling class. I am a big fan of your beautiful writings so I know this will be amazing.

[carly]

I just signed up and I can so hardly wait.
Thank you!
Carly

[Eliza Tobin]

I just signed up to take your journaling class! I am excited! Thank you for offering it!

[Liz Curtin]

I am just reading this post the morning after the class started. Is it too late to join? I would really love (need) to be part of this class. It sounds fantastic!