Crossing the Threshold: A 12-Week Creative Writing Journey
into Story and Personal Mythology
Starts Monday 26 April 2021
$180
In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: "When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories?
When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?
Gabrielle Roth
When were you last enchanted by a story? When last did you allow the words to flow? Can you allow silence into your life, and allow creativity to rise into that void?
This is a 12-week creative writing journey with writing mentor and author Sarah Bullen, and a call to write. But it is also a call to dive deeper as we will follow a pilgrim’s descent through exploration and writing.
Over the course of the 12 weeks we will follow the ‘path of the hero’. We will find the key elements that make writing powerful, and unite stories across time. We will track the path a hero must walk, and into Magic, Adventure, Conflict, Struggle Descent and Resurrection.
Each module, and week, will set up a new lesson in the craft of writing – in scene structure, plotting, story build and pace. Then the week will develop that in your writing as you take this into your own project.
Over the 12 weeks you can use the structure to write up to 40,000 words if you are working on a book.
This is a 12-week creative writing journey with writing mentor and author Sarah Bullen, and a call to write. But it is also a call to dive deeper as we will follow a pilgrim’s descent through exploration and writing.
Over the course of the 12 weeks we will follow the ‘path of the hero’. We will find the key elements that make writing powerful, and unite stories across time. We will track the path a hero must walk, and into Magic, Adventure, Conflict, Struggle Descent and Resurrection.
Each module, and week, will set up a new lesson in the craft of writing – in scene structure, plotting, story build and pace. Then the week will develop that in your writing as you take this into your own project.
Over the 12 weeks you can use the structure to write up to 40,000 words if you are working on a book.
WHO CAN JOIN THIS?
Writers of any genre are welcomed. Any levels of experience can join. You may want to use this process to work on your current book and intensify the journey and language. You may want to start a book, or write your personal story. You may want to write poetry, songs, essays, short stories or blogs. You may want it to develop and deepen character or plotting.
This (unlike many of my courses), does not have a fixed outcome in mind. You don’t have to end up with a book. I do love to push writers, but it is a delight of writing that will bring you here. But of course, it will also give you the technical tools, prompts and pushes to make sure you actually write.
This (unlike many of my courses), does not have a fixed outcome in mind. You don’t have to end up with a book. I do love to push writers, but it is a delight of writing that will bring you here. But of course, it will also give you the technical tools, prompts and pushes to make sure you actually write.
HOW DOES IT RUN?
We will all start together and work as a community across the 12 weeks. Each writer, of course, will do their own work. But The Writing Room is also a community of authors, writers and poets. We use a community platform that will function as our writing group, and your place to connect, get support and advice, share and get feedback on your writing throughout the journey.
Three days each week you receive an email with a link to the day's content. The materials are in written, video, and audio format which you can view and listen to at any time. Every second Monday we will have a live call.
Each week operates with a theme to explore, which you will receive on the Monday lesson.
Three days each week you receive an email with a link to the day's content. The materials are in written, video, and audio format which you can view and listen to at any time. Every second Monday we will have a live call.
Each week operates with a theme to explore, which you will receive on the Monday lesson.
- On Monday evenings at 3pm UTC/GMT (every fortnight) there will be a 45 min live call with Sarah Bullen with a lesson and tasks for the week. Please see below for session times as depending on your location they may change for two of the weeks. All sessions are recorded.
- On Wednesday there will be Writing Tasks and Reflections taking you into a week of writing.
- On Sunday you will submit or share your piece of writing – or a portion of it – with the other writers for feedback or comment.
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?
While the course will run over 12 weeks, your writing time is your own. On our first week and our first call I would like you to focus on a writing project, and all pieces you write over this journey can go towards this. Your time is your own and the urge will be to dive deep, write and allow it to rise.
While the course will run over 12 weeks, your writing time is your own. On our first week and our first call I would like you to focus on a writing project, and all pieces you write over this journey can go towards this. Your time is your own and the urge will be to dive deep, write and allow it to rise.
“It costs so much to be a full human being that there are few who have the enlightenment, or the courage to pay the price. . . One has to abandon altogether the search for security and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to embrace the world like a lover, and yet demand no easy return of love. One has to accept pain as a condition of existence. One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing. One needs a will stubborn in conflict, but apt always to the total acceptance of every consequence, of living and dying.”
--- Morris L. West The Shoes of a Fisherman
About the Course Leader
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Sarah Bullen is a literary agent and writing mentor. She runs the vibrant online writing community The Writing Room where she has led countless writers through mentorships to get their books written. She is also a storyteller, at women’s circle’s events and retreats where she brings to life older and wiser stories from a long, long time ago. She is a multi-published author and on a quest to share stories, bring wisdom and light into the world. She also likes to have a lot of fun, and laughter and humour form part of the writing exploration. Sarah has written extensively about her own journey with cancer, loss and survival, as well as love, parenting and beauty. As an agent she represents (by invitation) authors of non-fiction and breath-taking memoir. She lives currently in Cape Town, South Africa and spends summers in Greece. |
Live Session Weekly Schedule
Calls are every 2 weeks on a Monday
Live Session 1: Monday April 26, at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 2: Monday, May 10 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 3: Monday, May 24 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 4: Monday, June 7 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 5: Monday, June 21 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 6: Monday, July 5 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 1: Monday April 26, at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 2: Monday, May 10 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 3: Monday, May 24 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 4: Monday, June 7 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 5: Monday, June 21 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
Live Session 6: Monday, July 5 at 3-4 pm UTC/GMT (7-8 am Pacific + 10-11 am Eastern)
IS THIS A PERSONAL MENTORSHIP?
No. In this mentorship you will not have one-on-one sessions with Sarah like some of her other mentorships with a different price point. This is a group process. We will connect each Monday on the call, and there will be a lot of feedback and connection on the school platform.
*Optional Facilitated Small Group SessionFor an additional non-refundable fee (USD$90) participants may opt to be in a dedicated, facilitated group that meets on 6 Mondays (February 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29) via Zoom. Groups are 6-8 participants. You will be in the same group throughout the program to deepen your connection with one another.
ONLINE COURSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
There are no refunds for online purchases.
No. In this mentorship you will not have one-on-one sessions with Sarah like some of her other mentorships with a different price point. This is a group process. We will connect each Monday on the call, and there will be a lot of feedback and connection on the school platform.
*Optional Facilitated Small Group SessionFor an additional non-refundable fee (USD$90) participants may opt to be in a dedicated, facilitated group that meets on 6 Mondays (February 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29) via Zoom. Groups are 6-8 participants. You will be in the same group throughout the program to deepen your connection with one another.
ONLINE COURSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
There are no refunds for online purchases.
COURSE ROLLOUT
The journey is divided into three parts as we follow the mythical structure. The Journey is as important an emotional or psychological journey as it is physical.
- Departure
- Initiation
- Return
Week 1: The Ordinary World.This week we explore the first hurdle of scene craft and story. We will meet the hero in an ordinary world. We will explore the first construct of setting up a story – greeting the lead. Within this we begin the World Building.
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Week 2: A Call To AdventureWhen last did an adventure come knocking? What was your answer? In week 2 we progress our plotting and writing. We look at how to construct your book around events, and the most important ones that need to happen in story. We look at the Herald as an archetype.
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Week 3: Refusal of The CallThis week we explore the concept of saying no. We will look at myth, fear of the unknown and a rejection of the worlds of magic. This is an exploration of why we hold onto what we know, embrace the familiar, and what it may take to let that go,
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Week 4: Meeting The MentorA pivotal moment in story, but we take this into our personal mythology and writing. We look at the Archetypes of the Mentor, The Virgin and The Confidant We will explore them in poetry, and in our own lives.
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Week 5: Crossing The ThresholdThis is the place where magic exists. We will explore the idea of walking into the Unknown and Unknowing. This is the place where all the rules are different, this is the This is also the place of Departure and we explore leaving behind the known, familiar and true and entering a new place. Who is prepared to cross the gateway that separates the Ordinary World from the Special World? We enter the Land of the Unknown.
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Week 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies.Who can be trusted? Who are your friends? Who are the ones you can trust? This becomes so important as we enter the arena of Descent now on the journey, where tests are everywhere and enemies all around. This week we look at the concept of Initiation, the tests you have been through and the ones yet to come. We look at the role of the Trickster “to disrupt”.
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Week 7: The Approach To The Inmost CaveThis week we speak of preparation and pause. This is the calm and calculated hero. He has survived the descent and he is in the approach. Now we look at the things you need to do to ‘get ready’. We will explore the real concept of action, intelligence, planning and preparation in story. What plans must be made? What maps scoured? What interviews done? What real preparation have you done for what lies ahead.? We will also introduce into writing the idea of a ticking clock, a countdown, an imminent end.
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Week 8: The OrdealDeath. Pain. Loss. We look at the worst that life can bring us. We are in the Land of the Dead. The Ordeal is the central, essential, and magical Stage of any Journey. Is the lowest, the absolute stripping away of all that you hold true. This is where we explore The Underworld in our writing, and look at myths that take us deep into the grief and pain the Ordeal demands.
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Week 9: The RewardSeizing the Sword. The Hero has survived death, overcome his greatest fear, slain the dragon, or weathered the Crisis of the Heart. What is the prize? This week we look at celebration. How do you write it, what does it mean to win and where has this shown it’s face. We look at writing as praise and joy.
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Week 10: The Road BackWhat does it mean to come home? This week we look at the journey back. This is the second crossing of a threshold. What does it mean to return? And what must be sacrificed to get back? We explore in our writing the road home, and the choice between a personal objective and that of a Higher Cause. We look at the
We look at the Shapeshifter who’s role is “to question and deceive” |
Week 11: ResurrectionIn our penultimate week we look at the most dangerous meeting of all, and the concept of sacrifice. Where have you been engaged in a battle for much more than life? This is a test that is bigger than any other. This is the place where your hero must defeat a bigger foe. This week we look at huge battles, and write them in words. We look at the archetype of
The Shadow “to destroy” |
Week 12: Return with the ElixirWe investigate the gifts of the struggle. This is the place where the hero has earned the right. The Elixir can be a great treasure or magic potion. It could be love, wisdom, or simply the experience of surviving.
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