Writing what You Know: Transforming Experience into Words

Stories, reports, articles, novels—everything we write draws on experience in some way. Yet processing experience is anything but straightforward. How often do you write about an event, only to find you’ve not captured its essence?

In this two-day workshop, we’ll find out how to craft real life into brilliant writing—both fiction and nonfiction. On both days, we’ll generate material through writing sessions. And, as always in the workshops, there’ll be no criticism but encouragement and sound editorial advice.

All levels welcome.
Non-native speakers of English welcome.

40 comments:

  1. “The whole experience was illuminating. It was as if a whole new world was being opened up to me. Being in the company of such a culturally diverse group of individuals with the same interest was fascinating. However, the feedback and the objective non-critical manner in which it was given was just so so helpful for me personally. It was this that has given me the confidence to continue.”

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  2. “Thanks for your energy and obvious passion for writing. Thanks for your kindness.”

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  3. “As a new writer, I found the 'Writing What You Know' workshop to be incredibly motivating. Lisa is an inspiring instructor - knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining. The other participants were very interesting and I learned a lot from their own struggles and successes. I highly recommend the workshop to anyone who has a passion for writing and wants to learn more about how to improve and find new ways to write more.”

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  4. “It totally changed the way I think about writing.”

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  5. “I'd like to thank the instructor for a wonderful workshop this weekend and compliment the passionate teaching style. I realize now that I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into. Writing what I know is quite confronting! It's amazing, the thoughts that flow when a pencil is set free. The instructor manages the class so expertly and with the right level of caution, thank you for that. She has inspired me to think more about writing and I hope to participate in one of the future workshops.”

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  6. “It really gave me the boost I needed! I loved a lot of things about this workshop:
    • The way the instructor was so well prepared
    • The way the instructor could filter through the comments what was relevant for the group
    • The instructor's firmness and strictness in guiding us all
    • How the instructor went through every story and made the writer feel good about it, gave him/her confidence”

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  7. “It opened the door to a world that already existed but that I was not aware of.”

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  8. “I left the workshop wanting to write more.”

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  9. “The course gave me the inspiration to not let too much time go by without writing. And that is what I needed.”

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  10. “I learned that I can enjoy writing. It was a very liberating experience.”

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  11. “The atmosphere and the way the class was handled offered me a safe environment in which to risk more, go a bit further. Excellent!”

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  12. “I like the instructor’s approach of not judging and not interfering with each individual’s personal writing process.”

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  13. “A very, very, very good teacher and such an experienced workshop leader—it makes all the difference. You could say the instructor is all heart and soul—delivered in a very well-organised fashion. It’s a unique combination that pays off!”

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  14. “I learnt how to approach a blank page, how to get started…I found the workshop very challenging in many different ways. I was also impressed with the quality and intensity of the texts.”

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  15. “I realised that with all we know, all we experience, smell, sound, and touch can become a source of inspiration, a stimulus for creativity. I also learnt about metaphor, foreshadowing, telling the story, developing the character, and focusing on details of the setting.”

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  16. “I learned that my senses help get me in touch with what I know.

    Did you have any unique experiences or revelations during the class? My senses evoked pleasant or less- pleasant feelings, which transported me to known and unknown situations. Using my senses as prompts was a unique experience.”

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  17. “I learned to pay more attention to what works best for me. And I learned to write in a much less structured way, which was liberating. I was astonished to see how many thoughts and stories apparently came out of nowhere. Thank you very much for a very inspiring and—most of all—fun weekend.”

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  18. “Very good use of my weekend.”

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  19. “I realized how important ‘urgency’ is to me when I write. I turned on some music with a high tempo from the link you gave us and finished the first draft of a chapter I'd been stuck on.

    I liked: ‘sometimes you only know what you are writing about when you're finished with the first draft.’ I appreciated the reminder to work on structure after the first draft. I am almost finished with the first draft of a new novel, so very timely. And a lot of re-structuring needed.  ;-)”

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  20. “I didn't realise I could use so many forms of external stimuli to elicit a story!”

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  21. “The unique revelation was that I superseded my own expectations by simply trusting my own writing.”

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  22. “I discovered that I have much more writing in me than I knew.”

    “Experiencing how the story wrote itself was quite a revelation.”

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  23. Amsterdam Writing Workshops: “Did you have any revelations during the class?”
    Dennis: “That I can write.”

    “The sensory experiences were the best experience ever. Amazing trigger. This was really an eye-opener for me…I felt valued as a person, which made the experience even better. “

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  24. “The workshops are always the boost I need to motivate me to continue writing daily. Since my first workshop in January, I don't think I've missed more than 5 days total of daily writing…. The workshops also give me new ideas for twists and tweaks I can take in my daily writing routines as well as twists and tweaks I can employ in my actual writing.”

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  25. “Loved the sensory experiences. Cool stuff!”

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  26. “The location was fabulous – I had not been to the library before, and to walk in to such a wonderful space, and pass through endless shelves of books and literary references on my way to our meeting room to talk about ... creative writing of all things ... made me smile and gave me a great kick start.”

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  27. “Wonderful interaction with each individual in a way that felt very personal. I felt the instructor wanted to know each of us, and did know us in some way.”

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  28. “I learned how to break down my barriers and dare to start writing. I learned a bit about where my strengths lie in writing and I learned some new literary techniques…I learned how unimportant it is to stick to what has happened and how important it is to start writing just fiction, realizing, too, that what I "know" is a LOT and that I may use any of the knowledge I have, was an eye-opener.”

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  29. “How do I join your fan club?”

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  30. “I learned that I can write a text that makes sense! ...Exploring our senses & writing at the same time was a very unique experience and I loved it! …I found the experience to be a fantastic way of knowing myself and how my creativity flows at best….The instructor led the workshop beautifully, creating an environment where we all felt comfortable and sure that there would be no criticism/judgment made.”

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  31. “During the “Writing What You Know” workshop I gained insight into how to write without road blocking myself. I found the free writing / sensory experiments very liberating and these are tools I will continue to use. The workshop inspired me to keep writing and offered a number of new ways to approach writing. Listening to the work of everyone who took part in the workshop was an extremely valuable and inspiring experience that offered a new perspective on my own writing. I greatly appreciated the feedback and constructive suggestions that were offered by the group and by the instructor on my written piece.”

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  32. “I learned how to get over my blockages. I rediscovered the pleasure of the words flowing on the page. …I discovered that I can be actually very practical about what I wrote and that I could listen to the feedback and the suggestions without feeling attacked, exposed, pointed to, judged.”

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  33. “I learned to give myself time to write freely, with no censorship; to understand the importance of several drafts; and that technique comes gradually…I've realized how powerful the reader's reception to the work can be…During the feedback, people pointed out ideas that I hadn't even considered. That got me out of my head and gave me perspective on how a character can be shaped.”

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  34. “I really enjoyed this workshop even more than the first one I took part in years ago. Once again it was a safe environment full of talented people. I wish I could have such inspiration every day.”

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  35. “I loved that the instructor addressed all our questions and we discussed them openly and without judgment. I also loved that she gave frank and often surprisingly practical tips for overcoming our writing obstacles…The sensory experience activities during “Writing What You Know” were fun, explorative and allowed me to really tap into a sense of play.”

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  36. “I was reawakened to the luxuriousness of the craft of writing, and inspired to learn more and improve my habits. I was moved and humbled by the rich writing that was shared by the rest of the group.”

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  37. “It was a wonderful experience for me, and in a way that I was not expecting. It was my first writing workshop, and as such, a first step towards taking my writing and myself as a writer more seriously. I was hoping to learn some good tips, maybe a few writing secrets, and rip the band-aid off, so to speak, with an experience in exposure and vulnerability. And it was all that, so that was wonderful, but I also experienced an important personal revelation…I truly appreciated the critique format, and the experience of the workshop.”

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  38. “The sensory experiences were definitely a highlight for me. I learned a lot from them and I am very inspired to use them in my own work.”

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  39. “I learnt that I was—that I could be—a WRITER. It was a first time for me, intriguing at first, and then so wonderfully comfortable and warm. I felt I could trust my fellow colleagues, that they would indeed understand and support me.

    I went home exhausted and transformed, feeling that I needed to make much more time in my present life to write.”

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  40. “I learned in the workshop that certain sensory prompts can be beneficial for me and others can be quite a distraction when I try to write.

    I enjoyed hearing other writers' perspectives about what they felt or heard when listening to another writer's piece.”

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If you have taken this workshop, please send us your feedback here.