Christine Walker

Where do you stand at the beginning of 2021?

Bouncing back from a broken year?

Grieving and healing from tragedy and loss?

Determined to reclaim your joy?

I answer a vulnerable “yes” to those questions and ask these: Do we rely on writing as a comfort, distraction, therapist, good friend? Is writing now, more than ever, the wise and trusted counselor who helps us aspire to and discover the best in ourselves, individually and collectively? How do we renew belief in creative potential and purpose? What can be gained and shared through greater mastery of our craft and creative processes?

We’re all experts and learners with moments of mastery to discover.

When designing workshops, I keep in mind “writers who read, readers who write, and book lovers who want to read like a writer,” whether you are a published author, aspire to be, or prefer not to be.

The two sessions are interrelated, but have distinct focuses, so that you may attend one or both.

Part I. Nonfiction (memoir, narrative) Saturday, March 20, 10AM Pacific Time Uncovering truths and shaping intentions for writing vivid, meaningful memoir and narrative nonfiction. Focus: Ways into the Story, Narrative Arcs, Presence of Place. (Also applicable to fiction.)

Part II. Fiction Saturday, March 27, 10AM Pacific Time Elevating fiction with truths and shaping intentions for writing believable, memorable novels and stories. Focus: Whole-body Characters, Love and Other Emotions, Image and the Senses. (Also applicable to nonfiction.)

Christine Walker Christine Walker is a visual artist, writer, strategic visioning facilitator, and teacher whose guiding principle for fruitful creative process is: “Artful vision. Heartfelt action.”

She has an MFA in Writing and Literature in Fiction from Bennington Writing Seminars and an MA in Creative Arts Interdisciplinary from San Francisco State.

She is the author and artist of “A Painter’s Garden: Cultivating the Creative Life,” a memoir on creative process illustrated by her paintings, and the co-author and illustrator of “Wooleycat’s Musical Theater,” a children’s book with song CD.

She writes novels and short stories and teaches writing through her frameworks “Writing Fiction: 9 Ways to Mastery” and “Read to Write Books,” which are inspired by careful reading of masterful authors.

Find out more about Christine at her Artist & Author website.

Christine's Online course, Writing Fiction: 9 Ways to Mastery.

YouTube channel: Moments of Mastery videos on writing and creativity.

Christine’s Blog, Read to Write Books Christine Walker Explores Fiction Craft

Iris Jamahl Dunkle

Iris Jamahl Dunkle is an award-winning poet, literary biographer, and essayist. She has published four poetry books, including West: Fire:
Archive, The Center for Literary Publishing, 2021, and the biography Charmian Kittredge London: Trailblazer, Author, Adventurer.

Iris teaches at Napa Valley College and UC Davis and is Poetry Director at the Napa Valley Writers' Conference.

Stacey Dennick

Stacey Dennick teaches creative writing in Santa Rosa through Santa Rosa Junior College’s Older Adult Program. She holds an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco. Her published works include news pieces for KRCB North Bay Public Media, technical and humorous stories in print and online. She’s currently working on fiction for children and adults.