Writing from Within with Kayara Hardnett-Barnes
Six Tuesdays, Oct 7—Nov 11, 6:30-8:30pm
Cost: $175-$250 sliding scale*
As writers, we are the record keepers of the beautifully treacherous return to oneself in a world that, by nature and in practice, pulls us outward. This isn’t all bad: the sense we make—or don’t—of our surroundings are powerful nutrients for our stories, and it’s in their telling that we venture inwards through the page. The fear, joy, and resistance we encounter in this process is what makes writing a creative voyage of both spirit and discipline; and the biggest myth of all is that we must do it alone.
This workshop is an invitation for writers of all genres/experience levels to embark on this return to self in a sacred community. Over the course of 6 weeks we will assess and uncover the conditions for our creativity; engaging in a series of exercises, activities, and discussions designed to help us hone our inner ear, nurture our individual and collective voices, and empower us to write with courage, curiosity, and intention. Drawing from—and away from—the contributions of several great and flawed creatives, each week will build on the last to provide you with the tools to create a personalized sustainable writing practice to support you in telling the stories you’ve always wanted to tell. Don’t miss this nourishing new class facilitated by Kayara Hardnett-Barnes!
Please bring a spiral bound notebook and pen/pencil to write by hand if you are able, as well as one large manilla envelope and one standard envelope.
For questions or to register, please email programs@nohoarts.org. If registering, please include your full name, mailing address, and phone number. Payment may be made in advance via PayPal here or by check to “NCFA” mailed to the Northampton Center for the Arts, PO Box 366, Northampton MA 01061.
*Payments on the upper end of the sliding scale help support our ongoing commitment to accessibility and sliding scale models. If financial assistance is needed, participants may apply for Community Fund support.
Kayara Hardnett-Barnes (she/her) is a multidisciplinary writer and creative based in Northampton. A Western Mass local, she has taught and facilitated for as long as she can remember. Since receiving her BA from Smith College in Sociology and Film and Media Studies, she has published non-fiction essays, co-written curriculums, and serves as a lead writer on a thee-part short documentary series. There are currently a novel, a television pilot, a film, and a handful of personal essays bouncing around in her head, but she promises she can still hear you.