The Writing Clinic
Join me for monthly gathering where we’ll write, build community and provide each other with accountability. Sessions include warms up (somatic and creative), writing exercises and tools, time for 1-2 writers to share their project or process and time devoted to addressing various writing issues. For new and experienced writers.
What I bring: These gatherings focus on three things that are essential to my own writing practice:
Multi-disciplinary experimentation: You may find yourself choreographing a scene, making a puppet show or writing a song in service of your writing process. We cultivate curiosity and a beginner’s mind to keep discovering as we develop a piece.
Embodiment: I believe that writing shouldn’t be from the neck up, so my classes offer ways to invite the heart and body into the creative process.
Community & Accountability: I’ve found community to be an essential ingredient of a healthy writing practice. We all need aunties who champion, believe in and give tough love to our writing projects. Writers use the group to create accountability for their projects and writing. I provide communications guidelines and space to create community agreements.
What you bring: Willingness to experiment, to show up for other writers with constructive feedback and follow community guidelines. Come with a project in the works or find one through this process. I’m offering an in-person version and one of zoom!
In person: 2nd Saturday of the month, Sept – May, 2-4:30 in person in Glassell Park. $360
On zoom First Wednesday of the month, Oct - May , 3-5:30pm PST 6-8:30 EST $320
Add a one on one sessions for $50.
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Testimonials
Sibyl O’Malley’s writing classes are superb. The reason they are stellar is because Sibyl creates a safe environment in which to really let go and drop into the action of writing.
Sibyl provides wonderful prompts and paces them well throughout the sessions. In the workshop classes, Sibyl structures the feedback process in such a way that writers feel encouraged to keep writing. I have come away from her classes a better, more confident writer.
— Isabella Christodoulou
Sibyl creates a warm, inviting, safe community rife with creative tools. The structured yet gentle approach she brings to the class and to each exercise gave me access to my writing and creativity that I have been unable to find any other way. She nurtures each writer's individual interests as well as their talents. I can't recommend her or the class highly enough!
— Bianca Le Mouël
My tween loves the online writing course with Sibyl! It gives him an opportunity to be creative outside of an academic setting, but where there is still some guidance and structure to develop his writing skills. He enjoys collaborating with a small group of peers that he wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to meet. He looks forward to continuing to learn & explore in Sibyl's classes.
— Cindy Lopez
Sibyl’s class allowed me to be messy, to experiment, and to be fearless in doing so. The various observation methods and ways of attacking the blank page that Sibyl introduces greatly demystify the process of writing. By engaging these practices, the artificial barriers to accessing the richness in my own observations melted away. The other wonderful surprise of this class is the community that forms over six weeks. Sibyl creates an encouraging environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. I highly recommend taking this leap into curiosity and discovery.
— Dan Evans
It was so hard to make the decision to read this project to the class because it feels almost like I am not sure it's a thing and also so personal. I have had this story/characters/world in my mind for nearly two years and your exercises helped unleash it! Thank you for your thoughtful comments on my work! I am blown away and so so appreciative.
— Tara Wallace
Sibyl takes such a gentle, thoughtful, and playful approach to writing. I immediately felt comfortable in her classroom, and her insightful feedback has helped me recognize what it is I’m trying to accomplish as a writer and given me so much more confidence in my abilities. She truly listens to everyone in her class, and meets everyone where they are, without expectations or judgment. I appreciate that she takes a radically holistic view of the writing process, even incorporating things like theater and body-movement exercises to get our brains churning. Sibyl is generous, patient and has such amazing intuition when it comes to figuring out what her students need to move forward with their work. The world needs more Sibyls!