Workshop Series

Bring a Workshop Series to your organization

We recommend a Workshop Series for all audiences — especially a 10-week program. In general, a workshop series helps participants build trust, which can allow folks to share more vulnerability, increasing healing, connection, and belonging. 

This is also our ONLY program that includes access to publication.

a Workshop Series is Right for You If…

  • You are looking for a therapeutic outlet for your clients
  • You’re looking to build community among your clients
  • You’re looking to help your clients build their storytelling or writing skills
  • You can recruit 10-18 people who could commit to some or all of the series (the maximum workshop size is 18)
  • Our workshop season works within your program calendar

If a Workshop Series doesn’t seem quite right, take a look at our Single Workshop program.

Getting Started

Interested in bringing a Workshop Series to your organization? Fill out our Partner Interest Form!


Questions?

Sarah Weller (she/her)
Program Director
503-796-9224
sweller@writearound.org

An older woman smiles with elation. An open journal is front of her and she has her hand on her cheek as if she can't stop laughing.

“The powerful impact Write Around Portland has on our residents is amazing. The boost in self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-preservation is what Write Around Portland does for us.”

Debbie, Reach CDC

Program Timeline

We offer workshop series in the Spring and Fall of each year. 

A 10 week series helps participants build trust with each other and sets up a pace that is conducive to revision exercises.

However, we are happy to customize your program to meet your needs. If you’d prefer a 6-9 week program, we can do that!

A chart with weeks 1-10 is laid out below a title that says "Sample 10-Week Program." Below across the whole chart it says that participants will generate new writing each session. Below that, each week has different themes. Week 1 says "Intro." Weeks 2-4 says "Experiment with different storytelling elements." Week5 says "Select 1-2 pieces to revise." Week 6 says "Work on a title for your piece." Weeks 7-8 say "Revise 1-2 pieces and submit for publication." Week 9 says "Think about how to write beyond the program." And week 10 says "Farewell!"

“The workshop allowed a safe space for our residents to share deep feelings and emotions when more traditional models of processing require much more buy-in and are difficult methods to engage in for our folks.”

– Kristin, Our House

Session Length

We recommend that each workshop session be two hours long (and we always provide a 10-minute break in the middle.)

We also offer 90-minute workshop sessions if you prefer.

What’s in a Workshop?

Freewriting

Good news: spelling and grammar DO NOT MATTER in a Write Around Portland workshop! Freewriting is all about keeping the pen moving and writing whatever comes to mind.

Sharing & Feedback

After freewriting, participants are offered the opportunity to read their work aloud. Participants are always allowed to pass. Only positive, specific feedback is allowed.  

Reading & Discussion

Many workshop sessions also include the opportunity to read a poem or short prose piece together. These reading samples offer facilitators the opportunity to introduce participants to elements of storytelling and writing. 

Revision

Participants are guided through revision exercises that allow them to look at their writing in new ways.

What’s Freewriting?

Freewriting is a tried-and-true writing method developed almost 100 years ago in universities. It has become a tool often used to overcome “writer’s block” and as a way to “warm up” in preparation for putting thoughts to paper.

In freewriting, spelling and grammar do not matter, and writers are encouraged to keep their pens moving the entire time. If they run out of things to say, they are encouraged to continue writing anyway, even if it’s just to write about how they don’t have anything to write. Writers are encouraged to let their mind wander and to write about whatever strikes them at that moment.

“Write Around Portland provides a highly engaging and deeply creative service to a wide array of populations. They are reliable and always come prepared. They are flexible to different agencies’ and populations’ needs which is very much needed and appreciated.”

– Sean, Northwest Housing Alternatives

Elements Outside the Workshop

Between Session Support

Each participant will receive a handwritten, mailed postcard after each session in a workshop series. Postcards are written by the workshop facilitator, and share encouraging thoughts about participants’ writing.

Publication

Every participant is eligible to have one piece published in that season’s anthology. Participants are invited to choose how they’d like their name to appear in the book — whether a pseudonym, initials, etc. 

Reading & Book Launch

Everybody is invited to attend a celebratory reading and book launch at the end of the season. However, if it isn’t realistic for your clients to come to our reading, we would be happy to work with you to develop a celebration at your program site. 

A group of three people (one obscured in the foreground) sit around a table. Two of the people are laughing. On the table, there are various tote bags, a water glass, and papers.

What You’ll Need

  • Actively recruit participants for the workshop. Our ideal group size is 8-12, and we can have up to 18 people in each workshop.
  • Provide a comfortable, safe space where the workshop can be held, including enough tables and chairs for all attendees. Allow the facilitator access to the space 15 minutes before the workshop begins, and allow 15 minutes after the workshop to clean up.
  • Help cover workshop costs by paying a fee to fund the workshop in an amount decided by your organization.
  • Work closely with us to ensure the program is a success for your organization.
  • Provide guidance around best practices for working with the people you serve.
  • Continue communication and coordination throughout the workshop series.

What Write Around Provides

  • A qualified volunteer facilitator who has received 27 hours of training and has passed a criminal background check.
  • Weekly support and supervision of the volunteer facilitator by a Write Around Portland staff person.
  • All workshop supplies, including writing journals, pens, handouts, light snacks, weekly personalized postcards, and a copy of the published anthology for all participants and one copy for the organization.
  • Accommodations, as necessary, for participants, including providing a scribe if needed.
  • Invitation to the Reading and Book Launch celebration.
  • Upon request, we may be able to provide guided playtime for the children of participants, transit tickets, and large format print materials.
Four people sit around a table with pens in their hands writing in journals. They appear very focused.

Pricing

As a small nonprofit organization, Write Around Portland relies on the generosity of foundations, donors, and partner agencies to support our work.

We do ask each agency to cover a portion of the workshop expense (meaning cash support, not in-kind.) We require that participants not pay anything toward their workshop experience.

Our standard pricing is a sliding scale fee of $300 – $4,200. We ask that larger organizations pay closer to the high end of the partner fee to allow us to serve smaller agencies in our community. We do NOT want price to be a barrier, especially for smaller organizations.

For questions or additional information about partner fees, contact our Program Director, Sarah Weller.

Getting Started

Interested in bringing a Workshop Series to your organization? Fill out our Partner Interest Form!

For any questions, contact Sarah!

Sarah Weller, Program Director
sweller@writearound.org

503-796-9224

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