A Deep Attention:
Close Reading as a Spiritual Practice
At this turning point in history, when awareness of systemic racism is growing worldwide, how do you meet the moment as both citizen and writer?
How do you approach the work ahead with both head and heart?
As a writer, one step is to read. You educate yourself.
You read to learn about the lives of Black Americans, which is primary.
But you also read for form.
You bring together your intellectual and creative pursuits with spiritual practice.
this is close reading as a spiritual practice
During this summer reading period, we will read and discuss three memoirs by Black authors over four sessions, diving deeply into how they create structure, build narrative, use epiphany, and chose point of view, among other strategies.
You will learn to work backward from the way a piece writing makes you think and feel, to discover the author’s choices that caused you think and feel those things.
As a bonus, I’m adding two work periods where we will gather to write, using what we’ve learned in our reading to inform our own work.
Unlike many of the books that teach you to read as a writer (and there are some wonderful examples), Close Reading as a Spiritual Practice is an immersive experience.
We read together and dig deep together.
You learn how to read for matters of craft on your own.
And you start to create your own sacred reading practice to take with you on your journey

FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WRITING BARN
a deep attention: close reading as a spiritual practice
When
READING SESSIONS
SATURDAYS, JULY 11 & 25; AUGUST 8 & 29 | 10—11:30am CDT
WORK SESSIONS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 AND AUGUST 12, 10-11:30am CDT
Where
ONLINE, VIA ZOOM
$247
includes the course itself, plus bonus work periods ($100 value) and complementary access to The Heroine’s Journey Home for Writers ($99).
Two monthly can be made for $135/month. You receive the Heroine’s Journey course on completion of final payment.
Through the practice, of close reading, you come close to the author’s mind.
You build empathy for the characters in the story and for the author herself.
You carry the work inside you and that informs you both as a writer and as a human being.

PODCASTER; EDITOR AND FOUNDER OF WRITERSHIP.COM