Featured Online Generative Writing Workshop

Thanks so much for your spot on comments in recognizing the key milestones I experienced within my teaching career, which was not initially easy to come by and obtain. But your comments hit the right notes so much that they are riveting, meaningful in so many sentiments, and it lets me know I made the perfect choice in deciding to take your amazing Memory/Photo class online. ~ Saron

I appreciated your style of providing feedback. You have an uncanny ability to see beyond the words and focus on the intent of the piece. Your positively-focused and specific analysis of each submitted story, whether it was mine or not, helped to strengthen my understanding of what makes a successful memoir. The follow-up challenges you offered definitely increased insight into how to write pieces that had more emotional and personal depth.

I was glad that this was not a Zoom class but instead done completely through print because the asynchronous nature of the course allowed us to review the topic, think about the writing prompt, reflect on the photographs we chose to best match that assignment, and to complete the work all in our own time frame. The message forum was easy to use and encouraged on-going discussions of our work before and after we submitted each piece. ~ Jean

Memoir is not my usual arena, but I am in the early stages of working on a huge, messy family-biography project and I am trying to figure out where the "I" comes into it. I signed up for this course to force myself to begin practicing this mode. I also was looking for some accountability, so that my teaching this semester didn't totally railroad my writing life. Mission accomplished, on those two scores—so thank you! I was hoping, too, that there would be plenty of new material for me to circle back to once the semester winds down, and that is indeed the case. So again, thank you. — Emily (2025 session)

I had lots of favorite parts, but if I had to pick, it would be your feedback. Your ability to discern what was underneath for me was uncanny, and your encouragement for my process so helpful. Your gentle challenges were just that—gentle enough and challenging enough at the same time. And since I don't have to pick one favorite, I also appreciate the actual class assignments. They were thought provoking and interesting. I know that I was mostly slow in completing the assignments, but that is because I spent a lot of time thinking, had lots of first (and second and third) attempts. As I often said to you, I struggled, but in a good way. I also appreciated that this gave me the focus to start a disciplined practice. Thank you, too, for your suggestions about next steps. ~ Joni (2025 session)

I enjoyed the class so much! It was one of the few I’ve taken on Zoom that didn’t make me want to leave after a half hour and/or 3 sessions. So much of it was the students, over which, of course, you had no control. But you did bring out the best in us. I’ve attended a lot of OLLI classes in person and have always felt that they didn’t help us get to know each other. I felt a wonderful intimacy in this class. You kept things moving without seeming to rush. — Dianne Sinclair

It was fun and interesting. I am not much of a story writer, but it was interesting to try a few new ideas. It reminded me to think about writing family stories. I thought the teacher explained well and offered good illustrations & examples of the lessons. The class also showed me what a range of writing possibilities there are, illustrated by all the class members. Thanks — Cathy Field

The homework assignments each week were fun, enlightening, and questions I often pondered all week. And I so welcomed the way it enlightened my week to walk with the quests. It was a joy. Ariela was clear and organized in her directions; heart centered in her responses and treated each student with kindness and respect. She also shared appropriately which paved the way for each of us to share fully—and be open to many different interpretations.If it were possible I would enjoy having the class for a longer number of weeks and at the same time the number of weeks worked well. I was just enjoying it so much I hated to see it end. — Patricia Ellen

This class inspired me to enhance and perfect my writing. Ariela helped me organize my writing so I could get across what was most important to say. I was able to articulate a story from a photograph which made it come alive. She had a way of critiquing my writing while at the same time validating my creativity. I would take another one of her classes in a heartbeat. — Ellen J Della Torre, Auburn, Maine

I sought out something to ease my worried mind. Looking at online classes, I discovered Ariela and her novel approach to recalling and recording stories. It was called Picture Writing and it was one of the best writing classes I have ever taken. Ariela’s approach to unleashing memories, writing poetry, and stories, by using photographs made her class one I looked forward to each week. Thank you, Ariela, for a wonderful class in a not so wonderful moment in time. — Susan Meynell