Summer Pop-Up
Writing Classes
Summer Pop-Up
Writing Classes
Summer Pop-Up
Writing Classes
Summer Pop-Up Writing Classes with Laura Davis
They’re easy, short, and online!
Summer is the season when we want our lives—and our learning—to be more spontaneous, immediate, flexible, and fun. In keeping with this summer spirit, I’m taking a five-month hiatus from my regular classes and have created a brand-new offering: an eclectic potpourri of short, online pop-up classes with something for every writer.
If you'd like to:
- Pair writing with food
- Discover how to write about what you can't remember
- Explore your boomer past
- Learn twelve secrets for getting your book across the finish line
- Benefit from the healing power of story
- Have fun with a group of like-minded writers
- And much more...
I've got a half-day class for you!
Some sessions are more craft oriented. Others focus on the joy, pleasure, and deep connections with self and others that writing provides. They will all be participatory, with time to learn, write and share.
All pop-ups will be held online so you can attend from anywhere—even on vacation!
They'll be recorded so you can catch them on replay and still benefit if your summer plans change.
You can sign up for a single pop-up, mix and match, or take them all. You can invite a friend or family member to join in on the fun or give a half-day of writing as a unique, creative gift.
All registrations come with a free copy of Laura’s award-winning 2021 memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars.
Now, here’s the line-up:
Two Things I Love Best: Writing About Food
Wednesday, June 14 - Investment: $147
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
Treat yourself to a decadent, delicious half-day of writing pleasure. In this scrumptious summer pop-up class, we will write about food with a variety of fruitful, evocative prompts.
As a source for writing, food provides a rich, varied, sensual source of stories. Food is primal, visceral, and full of sensory detail—what more could a writer want?
The foods we eat and how we eat them reveals so much about our culture, families, and relationships. And food is easy to write about—it’s so immediate.
There are always stories connected to food: how you learned the secret recipe for strudel at your grandmother’s knee, the Thanksgiving your Aunt Helen insisted that the ants floating on top of the chicken soup were really black pepper, the ravioli that was a miserable failure when you were desperately trying to impress your new in-laws.
Or how about the weirdest thing you ever ate? A description of a food you had to spit out?
Writing about food often evokes deeper stories. When we write about food, we explore hunger, scarcity, satiation, greed, deprivation, sensuality, family rules, pleasure, nostalgia, loss, punishment, and rewards. Food is the vehicle that reveals these truths.
Consider, for instance, what you might write in response to the following prompts:
- Tell me about a food that’s gone extinct.
- Tell me about something you were scared to eat.
- Tell me about a time you fed someone.
- Tell me about all the kinds of hunger you have known.
It makes you think, doesn't it? Food is not just food. Food is everything. So come spend a day writing about all the places food stories can take you.
You’ll leave the workshop feeling nourished and well-fed, with a notebook full of vivid, memorable stories.
Two Things I Love Best: Writing About Food
Wednesday, June 14
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
Treat yourself to a decadent, delicious half-day of writing pleasure. In this scrumptious summer pop-up class, we will write about food with a variety of fruitful, evocative prompts.
As a source for writing, food provides a rich, varied, sensual source of stories. Food is primal, visceral, and full of sensory detail—what more could a writer want?
The foods we eat and how we eat them reveals so much about our culture, families, and relationships. And food is easy to write about—it’s so immediate.
There are always stories connected to food: how you learned the secret recipe for strudel at your grandmother’s knee, the Thanksgiving your Aunt Helen insisted that the ants floating on top of the chicken soup were really black pepper, the ravioli that was a miserable failure when you were desperately trying to impress your new in-laws.
Or how about the weirdest thing you ever ate? A description of a food you had to spit out?
Writing about food often evokes deeper stories. When we write about food, we explore hunger, scarcity, satiation, greed, deprivation, sensuality, family rules, pleasure, nostalgia, loss, punishment, and rewards. Food is the vehicle that reveals these truths.
Consider, for instance, what you might write in response to the following prompts:
- Tell me about a food that’s gone extinct.
- Tell me about something you were scared to eat.
- Tell me about a time you fed someone.
- Tell me about all the kinds of hunger you have known.
It makes you think, doesn't it? Food is not just food. Food is everything. So come spend a day writing about all the places food stories can take you.
You’ll leave the workshop feeling nourished and well-fed, with a notebook full of vivid, memorable stories.
Finding Joy in a Time of Grief and Uncertainty
Friday, June 16
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
As you take in the news, do you feel cynical, anxious, or numb?
Do you wonder where your vitality has gone in this time of global uncertainty?
Would you like to experience more joy in your life?
The past few years, we’ve faced unrelenting change, loss, and uncertainty. It’s easy to block out realities we find too painful by falling into numbness, cynicism, and despair.
But when we shut down, our lives flatten, and we lose our connection to grace, love, and beauty.
There is an alternative: learning to accept things the way they are: acknowledging everything we are individually and collectively grieving for while simultaneously renewing our commitment to connection, gratitude, and joy.
In this half-day pop-up class, master writing teacher Laura Davis will lead you in writing exercises, guided meditation, and small group sharing that will support you in learning to embrace heartbreak and beauty simultaneously.
Finding Joy in a Time of Grief and Uncertainty
Friday, June 16
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
As you take in the news, do you feel cynical, anxious, or numb?
Do you wonder where your vitality has gone in this time of global uncertainty?
Would you like to experience more joy in your life?
The past few years, we’ve faced unrelenting change, loss, and uncertainty. It’s easy to block out realities we find too painful by falling into numbness, cynicism, and despair.
But when we shut down, our lives flatten, and we lose our connection to grace, love, and beauty.
There is an alternative: learning to accept things the way they are: acknowledging everything we are individually and collectively grieving for while simultaneously renewing our commitment to connection, gratitude, and joy.
In this half-day pop-up class, master writing teacher Laura Davis will lead you in writing exercises, guided meditation, and small group sharing that will support you in learning to embrace heartbreak and beauty simultaneously.
Exploring the Caregiver Journey Through Words and Stories
Tuesday, June 27th
9:00-2:00 Pacific time, 10:00-3:00 Mountain time, 11:00-4:00 Central Time, noon-5:00 Eastern time
In this supportive half-day pop-up class, you’ll learn to use words and story to explore the joys, complexities, and challenges of being a caregiver.
It’s been well-established that writing and honest sharing are deeply healing practices that relieve anxiety, increase resilience, and promote self-compassion. Sharing caregiving stories with those facing similar challenges diminishes isolation and provides life-giving support.
We’ll use writing to explore:
- How relationships with family members change across the life cycle
- A moment we realized things had changed
- The ways storytelling evokes emotion, clarity, and insight
- How writing helps us access stories we might not be able to access any other way
You don’t need to consider yourself a writer to attend. A notebook, a pen and your willingness to share is all that is required. This class will be taught by 7-time author Laura Davis, an Alzheimer’s daughter who cared for her mother in the final years of her life.
Exploring the Caregiver Journey Through Words and Stories
Tuesday, June 27th
9:00-2:00 Pacific time, 10:00-3:00 Mountain time, 11:00-4:00 Central Time, noon-5:00 Eastern time
In this supportive half-day pop-up class, you’ll learn to use words and story to explore the joys, complexities, and challenges of being a caregiver.
It’s been well-established that writing and honest sharing are deeply healing practices that relieve anxiety, increase resilience, and promote self-compassion. Sharing caregiving stories with those facing similar challenges diminishes isolation and provides life-giving support.
We’ll use writing to explore:
- How relationships with family members change across the life cycle
- A moment we realized things had changed
- The ways storytelling evokes emotion, clarity, and insight
- How writing helps us access stories we might not be able to access any other way
You don’t need to consider yourself a writer to attend. A notebook, a pen and your willingness to share is all that is required. This class will be taught by 7-time author Laura Davis, an Alzheimer’s daughter who cared for her mother in the final years of her life.
Binding the Whole Together: Twelve Tricks to Transform Strong Scenes into a Cohesive, Compelling Finished Book
Friday, August 11th
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
There is an art to creating a tight, compelling manuscript that keeps readers turning pages. And just being able to write strong, effective scenes isn't enough. No matter how effectively written your individual scenes are, knitting a finished book together into a dramatic, cohesive whole requires a discrete set of skills beyond strong scene writing.
In this workshop, 7-time-author Laura Davis will reveal twelve secrets she employed during the final edit of her memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, transforming her completed manuscript into a compelling, vivid, immersive page-turner.
The most common feedback Laura gets on her award-winning memoir is, "I couldn't put it down." And "I stayed up all night reading it." "I was completely immersed in your story as if I was right there in the room with you." This is not typical feedback for a memoir.
Binding the Whole Together: Twelve Tricks to Transform Strong Scenes into a Cohesive, Compelling Finished Book
Friday, August 11th
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
There is an art to creating a tight, compelling manuscript that keeps readers turning pages. And just being able to write strong, effective scenes isn't enough. No matter how effectively written your individual scenes are, knitting a finished book together into a dramatic, cohesive whole requires a discrete set of skills beyond strong scene writing.
In this workshop, 7-time-author Laura Davis will reveal twelve secrets she employed during the final edit of her memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, transforming her completed manuscript into a compelling, vivid, immersive page-turner.
The most common feedback Laura gets on her award-winning memoir is, "I couldn't put it down." And "I stayed up all night reading it." "I was completely immersed in your story as if I was right there in the room with you." This is not typical feedback for a memoir.
How to Write About What You Can’t Remember
Tuesday, August 15th
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
Is vivid recall absolutely essential to good writing?
Many of us believe that writing a memoir—recording the stories of our lives—requires us to accurately remember our past and then transcribe our memories. This belief stops us before we begin because we are appalled at how much we don’t remember. Sometimes it feels as if whole years of our lives have been wiped out. And so, we believe our writing is doomed because there is so much that we don’t remember.
You may also carry family stories that haunt you—stories you can never know the truth about because the people involved are dead, unreachable, or unwilling to tell the truth. These family secrets and untold stories can be transformed into gripping, essential scenes in your personal narrative. But how?
You may be wondering, “How can I possibly write about what I don’t know or can’t remember?”
In this half-day workshop, master teacher Laura Davis, author of The Courage to Heal and The Burning Light of Two Stars, will teach you how to transform scraps of memory into a rich written legacy.
How to Write About What You Can’t Remember
Tuesday, August 15th
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
Is vivid recall absolutely essential to good writing?
Many of us believe that writing a memoir—recording the stories of our lives—requires us to accurately remember our past and then transcribe our memories. This belief stops us before we begin because we are appalled at how much we don’t remember. Sometimes it feels as if whole years of our lives have been wiped out. And so, we believe our writing is doomed because there is so much that we don’t remember.
You may also carry family stories that haunt you—stories you can never know the truth about because the people involved are dead, unreachable, or unwilling to tell the truth. These family secrets and untold stories can be transformed into gripping, essential scenes in your personal narrative. But how?
You may be wondering, “How can I possibly write about what I don’t know or can’t remember?”
In this half-day workshop, master teacher Laura Davis, author of The Courage to Heal and The Burning Light of Two Stars, will teach you how to transform scraps of memory into a rich written legacy.
Beyond Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll: Writing Practice for Boomers
Thursday, August 17
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
Writing practice is a terrific way to remember the past and preserve your memories—and those of us who are baby boomers (the best generation ever) have a lot to record and remember. Do you remember:
- Tang?
- Your first whiff of pot?
- Clipping nylon stockings onto a garter belt?
- Sliding around the backseat with no seat belts?
- The first time you heard rock and roll?
- Staring at the test pattern on a black and white TV?
- White-out?
There’s a lot we don’t remember—but as soon as we enlist the senses, it all comes rushing back. In this fun, sensory rich pop-up class, we’ll use music, smells, sounds, and other evocative techniques to rocket through time so you can capture the stories, adventures, and misadventures of your youth and explore the times that shaped you.
Join 7-time author Laura Davis, born at the tail end of the Boomer generation, for a rich, vivid, enjoyable summer half-day of remembering, sharing stories, and getting it all down on paper.
Beyond Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll: Writing Practice for Boomers
Thursday, August 17
9:00-2:00 Pacific, 10:00-3:00 Mountain, 11:00-4:00 Central, noon-5:00 Eastern
Writing practice is a terrific way to remember the past and preserve your memories—and those of us who are baby boomers (the best generation ever) have a lot to record and remember. Do you remember:
- Tang?
- Your first whiff of pot?
- Clipping nylon stockings onto a garter belt?
- Sliding around the backseat with no seat belts?
- The first time you heard rock and roll?
- Staring at the test pattern on a black and white TV?
- White-out?
There’s a lot we don’t remember—but as soon as we enlist the senses, it all comes rushing back. In this fun, sensory rich pop-up class, we’ll use music, smells, sounds, and other evocative techniques to rocket through time so you can capture the stories, adventures, and misadventures of your youth and explore the times that shaped you.
Join 7-time author Laura Davis, born at the tail end of the Boomer generation, for a rich, vivid, enjoyable summer half-day of remembering, sharing stories, and getting it all down on paper.
That's the line-up. You can take all of them or some of them.
All classes are online so you can attend even when you're on vacation.
And if you can't attend live, they'll be recorded so you can watch, learn, and enjoy them later.
About Laura Davis
Laura Davis is the author of The Burning Light of Two Stars, the story of her loving, tumultuous relationship with her mother, and six other non-fiction books. Her first book, The Courage to Heal, paved the way for hundreds of thousands of women to heal from the trauma of sexual abuse.
Becoming the Parent You Want to Be helped parents develop a vision for the families they want to create. I Thought We'd Never Speak Again taught the skills of reconciliation and peace building, one relationship at a time.
In addition to writing books that inspire, the work of Laura's heart is to teach. For more than twenty years, she's helped people find their voices, tell their stories, and hone their craft. Laura loves creating supportive, intimate writing communities online, in person, and internationally. She leads international trips combining writing, cultural learning, and adventure around the world.
Laura has been published in Publisher's Weekly, Writer's Digest, CrimeReads, Brevity, and The New York Times, featured in the Los Angeles Review of Books, and has been an engaging guest on QWERTY, Write-Minded, and dozens of other podcasts.
She's been a featured speaker for The National Association of Memoir Writers and a popular craft teacher at The San Miguel Writer's Conference.
You can learn about her books and workshops and get a free ebook: Writing Through Courage: A 30-Day Practice at www.lauradavis.net