We bring together brand new and seasoned writers to build practices and habits that are important to us and nearly impossible to do on our own so that through daily mindset work, taking care of our time and bodies, we can bring back the joy, confidence, and balance of daily creation. Together we will also navigate the changing and uncertain world of publishing. We make writing a permanent and healthy and sustainable part of our daily lives.
“My name is Chelene and all my life I have been shaped by the desire to build something bigger than myself. In my youth I was up against many obstacles: unhealthy relationships, growing up without money, and feeling completely alone in my stories.
When I was in sixth grade my teacher told me that my stories were interesting and that if I ever wanted to share them in front of the class, I should. I was terrified, but that was the first time anyone in my life saw value in me and what I had created.
I have been in the publishing industry for almost a decade. From running a literary magazine and a literary festival, to freelance editing and agenting, to being an author and starting my own writer’s studio—I have seen the inside and outside of the Canadian publishing industry and from multiple angles. It’s true, I have been in a tornado of burnout. I recall running myself ragged, working 4 jobs, only sleeping for 3 hours, and only eating handheld foods that I could eat while walking—although this may look like multitasking or high level productivity, it is not sustainable. It is not healthy. As a woman of colour in a cis, white male dominated arena, the pressure to “do more” followed me around like a dense cloud.
No matter what obstacle I stumbled into, I always managed to map myself out of it or around it. But I never once did that alone. I realized there was a bigger world out there full of people who not only needed support via a like-minded community, but that taking care of our minds and bodies would play an integral role in how far we went.
I’ve learned that self-care and wellness are integral components for achieving and maintaining a successful career as an entrepreneur and as an artist, and that learning about the nuances of the publishing industry allowed me to see the light in a very dark tunnel.
I started The Forever Writers Club through Breathing Space Creative because I want writers to see and learn how to find their own route to a healthy, sustainable writing practice and that it’s not an MFA or being published that makes you a writer. Being a writer means showing up for yourself every single day, and writing consistently—in a way that nourishes you and your community.”
↑ The course includes: ↓
- Poetry as a foundation
- On powerful storytelling
- Writing dialogue
- Developing your style
- The Guts: drafting with intention
- Calling in the real writing: REVISION
The course also ties in our core mindset work too.
“I do not have time to make writing a regular and inclusive part of my life. I don’t have the skills, community, or accountability support I need to create long term. I do not understand how to develop a writing practice or why it’s important. I also lack cheerleaders. When I finish a project or publish it, I feel drained. When it comes to writing, I want to give up."
have made space in your life for joyful creation. You will have built and established a clear writing process, feel connected to a community of like minded folks who are venturing on a shared journey and hold the same goals as you. You will have honed the craft skills you already hold in order to be well equipped to complete your project (and future projects) with a core group of cheerleaders in a healthy, nourishing, joyful, and sustainable way—for life.
Oh, and we value and celebrate our members. The longer you are a part of the club, the more perks you receive. Gifts in the mail, access to small group writing workshops, books, bonus feedback on writing ... the list goes on and on. It pays to be a Forever writer!
📎 Do we really get feedback on our writing?
📎 Will the live sessions be recorded?
📎 What is your cancellation policy?
📎 Will you have guest speakers?
📎 Are there any special benefits to signing up for the annual plan?
📎 Are there any benefits to staying a member long term?
read our privacy policy & terms & conditions
As of May 2022, the Forever Writers Club will be offered on a sliding scale to create multiple access points for folks depending on their financial security.
Facts:
It is our goal at Breathing Space Creative that our programs wherever possible allow folks from a diversity of backgrounds to take part while still recognizing the need to make a living and grow as a new business without burning out due to giving beyond our means. In other words we want to practice what we preach. Please read our ethics page for more detail.
Utilizing the sliding scale does rely on the principle of truthfulness.
The highest dollar cost (tier 1) reflects the true cost and value of the forever writers club
The middle cost (tier 2) reflects my knowledge that the full cost would prevent some folks from participating
The bottom cost (tier 3) recognizes folks whose economic circumstances would prevent them from participation without access to services at a cost reflective of their economic realities.
Please use the following diagram to help you find out where you fit on the sliding scale, and then select a plan accordingly.
All plans will have the same club access, perks, and tools, including the new self-paced craft course being added to the club in the summer of 2022.
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