The Writing Life with Barbara O'Neil
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Classes 
SPRING 2021: The Writing Life Weekly Classes ON ZOOM
  • Tuesday and Wednesday morning classes 
  • Generative writing with a focus on developing a writing practice
  • Open to all levels
  • To register, email Barbara at barbaramoneil@gmail.com 

Retreats
February 28 - March 5, 2022 - Deepening the Writing Life - Taos, New Mexico
  • All information can be found at Taos Retreat
  • To register, email Barbara at barbaramoneil@gmail.com
  • For information about the Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos, visit http://mabeldodgeluhan.com/workshops

July 10-12, 2021 - Writing Retreat - The Adelynrood Retreat Center - Byfield, MA
  • To learn more and register, visit Adelynrood Retreat and Conference Center online.

More...
Day-long, weekend and week-long group retreats are available by request. Email Barbara at barbaramoneil@gmail.com.


What is Writing Practice?

It is my great pleasure to inspire writers to follow their passion for writing, to break through any blocks they might have and to reach the deep well of material that is available to all of us, if we just pay attention.

With practice, you actually do get better. You learn to trust your voice and attempt to let go of the inner critic. Since we are "just practicing," we welcome whatever comes onto the page. We take risks. Go deep. Timed writing creates pressure. Inspired by a prompt, you may be guided to write for three minutes, ten minutes, a half hour. It is very dynamic. 

There are simple rules:
Trust first thoughts, keep your hand moving, accept your curious mind, go for the heat of the material.

This is not a critique group in which we polish finished pieces. That can come later. Rather, we use class time to generate new material. We alternate periods of writing with deep listening to ourselves and each other in small and large groups. We learn from each other, giving feedback in the form of recall.