The Story You Need to Tell—Writing for Resilience & Renewal
During the class you will learn the latest findings from neuroscience on how our brains manage our stories as well as related “resilience tools” that can support your writing and your growth as a creative.
You will do readings from The Story You Need to Tell that allow you to explore how personal story sharing, expressive writing, and journaling can grow your authentic voice, develop your personal writing skills, and improve your health!
Benefits of the class
In this class, you will….
- Write in a safe, caring, confidential community and experience the benefits of interaction
- Practice resilience strategies that grow you as a person and as a creative
- Learn ways to frame and write your personal story or stories
- Discover the power of personal story sharing and writing
- Journal to find the stories you need to tell
- Explore how our brains manage our stories
- Discover story patterns and research that will help you write personal stories with challenges and conflicts
- Write to prompts that will explore your personal voice
- Find and embrace meaning and themes in your story writing
- Develop and grow your personal strengths as a writer at any level
- Create new and meaningful work
Class Dates & Details
Next course starts Wednesday, October 16th, 2024
Weekly classes are held Wednesdays at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm PST/6:00 am – 8:00 pm EST
October 16, 23, 30 and November 6, 13, and 20.
This Zoom class will be interactive and live for six weeks.
Classes will be recorded and shared if you have to miss a class.
“Sandra Marinella has been a healing force at Mayo Clinic over the last several years by bringing the concept of writing to heal to patients and staff alike. Participants consistently respond to how much her sessions help with stress, overall wellbeing, mood, and even pain. Sandra is a wealth of knowledge and remarkable teacher of writers at all levels.”
Denise Millstine, MD, FACP Director, Integrative Medicine Mayo Clinic Phoenix, AZ
Weekly Class Overview
Week One: Your Story Matters (Optional reading pages 1-81)
- Learn the power of story-sharing and writing in community. Create a practical framework for your stories.
Week Two: Writing Stories with Your Authentic Voice (Optional reading pages 81-141).
- Explore tools that will help you find, safely hold, and write your unique stories. Explore writing prompts that will help you develop your authentic voice.
Week Three: Writing about Challenges (Optional reading pages 143-190)
- Janet Burroway says, “There is only trouble.” Discover specific story patterns and research that will guide you in writing your “challenge stories.”
Week Four: Developing Stories with Meaning (Optional reading pages 191-247)
- Learn to manage personal stories with resilience tools and create stories with themes that embrace meaning and insights.
Week Five: Discovering the Power of Reframing a Story (Optional reading pages 251-274)
- Explore two methods of reframing your story. Write and develop the story of your best self.
Week Six: Story Celebration
- This will be a Zoom party. We will celebrate our writing circle with learned insights. Each writer will read and share a story; each participant will respond with positive feedback and support.
Please note: The Story You Need to Tell book is not included in the registration for this class. It is optional reading that can enrich your course experience and the book can be purchased here >>
There is no prior writing experience required to benefit from this class.
Join Sandra Marinella for a life enriching and inspiring learning journey!
Sandra Marinella, MA, MEd, is an award-winning writing teacher and author. She has taught personal writing and story-sharing to thousands of students, professionals, veterans, and cancer patients. Her articles have appeared in The English Journal, Seventeen, Well Being Journal, Psychology Today Blog, and more. When she faced cancer, she wrote The Story You Need to Tell, an acclaimed and inspirational guide on writing to heal and transform your story. She has taught at colleges and at several community venues, including Integrative Health at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix where data has demonstrated that her story writing methods lower stress and dramatically enhance measures of mood and well-being.
