The idea of Writing Our Lives came to me in 2009. I spent over a year nurturing the idea and building the first class, which I launched at the end of 2010.

I’ve since led hundreds of writers through the journey of penning their stories, and have created and facilitated various classes with my love (read: obsession) for Creative Nonfiction at the center — Intro to the Personal Essay, Writing Fiction from Real Life, Advanced Personal Essay Writing, Reclaiming Your Voice on the Page, Writing the Self as a Character, and so many more. I brought WOL online in 2017.

In 2018 I launched the Writing the Mother Wound class and thus started the Writing the Mother Wound Movement.

I’ve traveled with WOL, facilitating classes and talks around the country.

I’ve partnered with Tin House and The Rumpus’s Voices on Addiction column to publish alumni of the workshop.

I’m currently partnering with Longreads on the Writing the Mother Wound Series.

It’s been a phenomenal year and an extraordinary decade for Writing Our Lives, and I couldn’t see them come to a close without celebrating us, our stories and the audacity it takes to write them. That’s what we’ll be doing on the evening of the Winter Equinox in my home hood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, where I became a writer and the story of Writing Our Lives began.

When: December 21st, 6-9pm

Where: Starr Bar, 214 Starr Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237 (L train to Jefferson)

How much: $5*

What else: Writing Our Lives merchandise will be available for sale including t-shirts ($20) and stickers ($1)*

*A portion of all proceeds will go towards funding scholarships for WOL 2020 classes and workshops.

The Show: An amazing line up of talented writers and artists are ready to share their stories and images with you.

Hosted by Vanessa Mártir, the founder of Writing Our Lives and the Writing the Mother Wound Movement. 

I hope you’ll join us.

Send questions and inquiries to writingourlivesworkshop@gmail.com.