The Healing Power of Writing Your Story Workshop

New York Times bestselling author, memoir coach, and inspirational speaker Ingrid Ricks first discovered the healing power of personal narrative when she wrote her coming of age memoir, Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story. But it wasn’t until she began helping high school students write and publish the deeply personal stories they needed to tell that she uncovered its ability to foster the awareness, understanding, and empathy that is so crucial in today’s divisive world.

Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity. It can also be a powerful healing tool, helping us feel seen and heard, while working to understand how your story affects you today.

In this generative 5-week workshop, Ricks will help you tap into the healing power of personal narrative and write the emotionally charged story you need to tell.

You will learn how to identify, structure, and bring your story to life through eight powerful narrative writing assignments that culminate in the completion of your seven- to ten-page story. You’ll then have an opportunity to share your story during a final celebration session with fellow writers. This class includes a 30-minute individual coaching session. Here’s a week-by-week breakdown:

Week 1: March 12th from 5-7pm PT

• · Overview / Introductions
• · Identifying Your Story
• · Structuring Your Story

30-minute individual story structure coaching session between Week One and Week Two

Week Two: March 19th from 5-7pm PT

• · Openings that Grab
• · Character Development
• · Active Setting

Week Three: March 26th from 5-7pm PT

• · Emotions
• · Effective Dialogue

Week Four: April 2nd from 5-7pm PT

• · Transitions
• · Story Endings
• · Slowing Down Time

Week Five: April 9th from 5-7pm PT

• · Class Story Sharing / Celebration

Each session is virtual, 5-7 p.m. PT March 12th - April 9th. Limited to 15 participants.

Ticket price - $397

ABOUT INGRID: Ingrid Ricks is passionate about leveraging personal storytelling to foster healing, awareness, empathy, and change. Over the past decade, she has helped thousands of students of every age find healing and empowerment by writing deeply personal stories they needed to tell and has produced eight anthologies in partnership with high schools and non-profits. Ingrid, who views personal storytelling as the key to healing and unity in today’s divided world, regularly presents her Unleashing the Power of Personal Storytelling workshops in partnership with organizations throughout the region and has delivered keynote talks on the subject to educators and social workers nationwide. She also uses her story and struggles with breast cancer and blindness to help audiences reverse their own limiting stories and beliefs and go after their dreams, regardless of the challenges they face.

Ingrid’s books include the coming-of-age memoir, Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story, and Focus, a memoir about her journey with the blinding eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa. She has also ghostwritten several books and has shared stories from her childhood on Salon and NPR.

As an offering to our community, we record our events and post them online. When you join our events on Zoom you are giving consent to be recorded.

*No reimbursement will be issued after purchase of tickets - only in the case of a cancellation of the event.

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Host or Publisher GrapeVine / CRUSH