2020 has been quite the year for all of us. After so much tumultuous change, you are invited to come and seek refuge in the Winter Writing Sanctuary, a two-week online writing course to soothe the mind and nourish the soul. Join me, Beth Kempton, for cosy fireside chats, daily writing prompts, inspiration and tips for taking care of yourself through this winter. The class will run online from Monday November 23 – Saturday December 5, 2020.

***Given all that we have had thrown at us in 2020, and the additional news of national lockdowns here in England and in many other places, I have decided to make this live class completely FREE. Goodness knows we need it! Please tell any friends who might like it, and let’s write together!***

Writing can be a form of self-care. This short online class will be a beacon in the darkest season, offering an outlet for all you have been carrying, as well as an escape from the chaos of the run up to the holiday season. It will also be a place to share your words with other writers and build your creative confidence.

 

What’s included

• Twelve video-based lessons approaching writing in a variety of ways, with inspiring prompts and exercises to nurture your writing practice. I include a host of insights into my personal experience writing five books, numerous published articles and thousands of social media posts.
• Daily audios to prompt your creativity to spill out onto the page
• One live broadcast where I will share an insight into the practicalities and business of writing books. (This will be a Facebook Live on the topic of writing habits, held at 2pm EST / 7pm UK TIME on Saturday November 28, 2020)
• A private community space where you can connect with other writers, and share your work if you wish (please note there is no critique in this course, just lots of love and support!)

Who’s it for?

Anyone who loves to write and wants a gentle, creative experience to escape to, or a nurturing outlet at the darkest time of the year*. Whether you are a novice, an aspiring author, someone wanting to connect with others through your social media platforms, or a career writer, you will find much in here to support you.

*Note: I am based in England where winter is dark, wet and cosy, and where we will be in national lockdown for the majority of this course, but of course you are welcome to join from anywhere.

About your tutor

Beth Kempton has spent the last decade helping tens of thousands of people find creative ways to live well doing what they love, through powerful online courses and workshops as founder of Do What You Love. Beth writes self-help books which have been translated into 24 languages.

Her bestselling book ‘Wabi Sabi: Japanese wisdom for a perfectly imperfect life’ has been recommended by TIME Magazine, British Vogue, The Telegraph, and Psychologies Magazine, described as ‘a truly transformational read’ by Sunday Times Style, and optioned for television. She is also the author of Freedom Seeker: Live more. Worry less. Do what you love., Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and most recently, We Are in This Together: Finding hope and opportunity in the depths of adversity’ (Piatkus) which she wrote in sixteen days in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis. Mother of two adorable girls, she lives a slow-ish life in Devon, UK.

Important note

Please be aware that this is not a replacement for clinical therapy. Please seek professional clinical advice if you need it. Please also note that this class does not include specific advice on writing technique or any feedback on individual writing samples.

FAQ

IS IT REALLY FREE?

Yes, we promise, no catch! This was originally going to be a normal paid course (£29+VAT) but we have decided to offer it as a gift to our amazing community at the end of a difficult year. If you choose to register you will be taken through a checkout mechanism but will not be asked for any credit card details or any kind of payment. To reassure you, here are a few thoughts shared by participants from the last writing class I ran:

✨Thank you for such a beautiful course. It exceeded any expectations I had, and I learned to let myself be OK with whatever comes up as I write.

✨It is a course steeped in kindness and I found it amazing how it allowed the words inside me to come tumbling out in such a profound way. My understanding of ‘writing’ was not what I had thought…..it is the whispers jotted down, the thoughts prompted, as well as the longer crafted pieces.

✨I learnt that writing is so helpful to me as a way of releasing emotions and a tool for working out how I really feel about something, deeper than surface level.

✨So much came out in the group that had probably been hidden away for years. It felt like a safe place to write and come to terms with things. People were very supportive and kind to each other. Writing things down, even if only for ourselves to destroy later, helps us to see them more clearly and hopefully help with the moving on process.

✨For someone who has never written anything creative, this course was an absolute inspiration

Do I have to be online at a certain time to join in?

No. Lessons are released daily (weekdays) at 7am UK time, but you can access them whenever suits you. The only exception is the live broadcast from Beth, which will be at 7pm UK time on Saturday 28 November. If you miss that you will be able to watch a replay in the class Facebook group or the classroom.

Can I do it at my own pace?

Yes of course. You will have access to the classroom until June 30, 2021 and most of the content is downloadable anyway.

Can I join if I live outside of the UK?

Yes you can join from anywhere.

Is this course suitable for children?

It is designed for over 18s, but the class content itself is fine for young adults subject to parental approval. We would not encourage any under-18s to join the class Facebook group as writing can bring up all sorts of emotions and it might not be appropriate for them.

I’m not on Facebook. Can I still join in?

Sure. All the lessons are posted in a private classroom and the Facebook group is an optional extra. It’s a wonderful place to build community, but you don’t have to join if you don’t want to. The live broadcast will take place in the Facebook group so you would not have live access to that but you will able to see a replay in the classroom afterwards.

Any other questions?

Drop the team a line at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.