The Bronx Memoir Project (BMP) Workshop Series is back! The Bronx Council on the Art (BCA) is thrilled to announce the return of a cherished program that empowers Bronx residents to share their unique stories. This free virtual workshop series is open to all regardless of writing experience.
Led by Christopher Ferreiras, The Body Is A Portal is a generative creative writing workshop on the cathartic powers of expressive writing in the form of poetry and prose. Using various other somatic writing practices and prompts as vehicles to access the body’s memory, participants will learn to harness their stories and channel them into a growing collection of poems and prose in order to develop and finish at least one work of choice. Participants can expect to find a welcoming, inclusive community of kindred writers and leave with a valuable toolkit of writing prompts and effective mindfulness techniques to catalyze their personal creative writing practices.
Workshop Schedule:
Class I: The Way In The Wound: An Introduction To Memoir
Saturday, September 14, 2024, 12:00 PM - 2:40 PM
Participants will dive into the art and craft of memoir writing via the genres of poetry and prose in order to choose the right vehicle for their story. Genres will be introduced using samples and writing prompts will be provided to engage writers’ senses. Participants will choose one genre to experiment with and start their first piece of work.
Class II: The Wound In The Way
Saturday, September 21, 2024, 12:00 PM - 2:40 PM
Participants will explore the connection between voice, style, authentic self expression, and catharsis. The group will engage in guided writing practices to help them overcome the obstacles of memory and bridge the gap between fact, fiction, forgetting, and invention in order to enrich their chosen piece of work. Participants will also continue to experiment with various forms of memoir as inspiration for their chosen piece of work.
Class III: Voice As A Vehicle Inward & Its Healing Potential
Saturday, September 28, 2024, 12:00 PM - 2:40 PM
Literary concepts that were previously introduced will be developed so participants can gain tools to navigate their own creative writing practices. Participants will continue to prepare and finalize their chosen piece of writing for constructive feedback. Together we will meditate and reflect on our gained insights while setting sights on what’s next for their writing.
