The Art of Storytelling on the Page and on the Stage: 

A Transformative 6-Month Writing Journey with Nina Wise
Thursdays 4:30pm–6pm Pacific Time, on Zoom
October 2024 – March 2025
Applications deadline extended: October 14

Unleash your creativity and master the art of storytelling with renowned author, performer and teacher Nina Wise in this exclusive 6-month writing workshop. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just beginning to explore your literary talents, Nina Wise’s unique approach will inspire and guide you every step of the way.

WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE

Personalized Guidance: Benefit from Nina’s decades of experience as she provides personalized feedback and mentorship tailored to your writing goals.

Elements of the Craft: Gain invaluable insights into the basic yet profound elements of storytelling: how to develop characters, move through time, structure plot, deepen into a scene, create a spine, find the heart of your story, write dialog, enliven setting, and more.

Creative Exercises and Prompts: Break through creative blocks with Nina’s carefully curated exercises and prompts designed to ignite your imagination.

Diverse Writing Techniques: Explore a variety of writing styles and techniques — memoir, fiction, auto fiction, nonfiction, performance storytelling —empowering you to find your authentic voice.

Community and Collaboration: Engage with a supportive community of fellow writers, sharing insights and fostering connections that extend beyond the workshop.

Registration is accessed through the Motion Theater website.

"Nina created an atmosphere of trust, authenticity, connection, and warmth which enabled each of us to become more aware of our truth, to be brave, and to overcome shame and shyness."

— Emilie Zauberman, Paris

PRIVATE SESSIONS

Nina is available to anyone interested in creating a performance work, editing writing, developing skills and confidence in public speaking and presentations, enhancing creative expression … whatever your project or goal may be, Nina will help you see it through.

Registration is accessed through the Motion Theater website.

Approach

We at Motion believe that every writer, from absolute beginner to award winning published authors, deserve to experiment in a safe and supportive environment in order to develop their craft. So Motion writing workshops follow the guidelines and principals of the Amherst Writers and Artists, which is outlined below and is fully described in founder Pat Schneider’s book Writing Alone and With Others (Oxford University Press, 2003)

The AWA method is based in the following philosophy. These affirmations rest on a definition of personhood based in equality, and a definition of writing as an art form available to all persons.

  1. Everyone has a strong, unique voice.

  2. Everyone is born with creative genius.

  3. Writing as an art form belongs to all people, regardless of economic class or educational level.

  4. The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writer’s original voice or artistic self-esteem.

  5. A writer is someone who writes.

Essential Practices

The following practices establish a safe environment where everyone is free to explore within their own writing and listen to each other with respect.

  1. Everyone’s writing, including the leader’s, is treated with equal respect and value.

  2. Writing is kept confidential and treated as fiction.

  3. Writers can refrain from reading their work aloud.

  4. Responses to just-written work reflect what is strong and successful.

  5. Responses and exercises support the development of literary craft.

Learn more about Nina’s writings — book, stories, and articles — here.

Refund Policy

We do our best to keep our fees very affordable and hope you understand that there are many administrative hours and costs that are involved in running our programs. We also understand that things come up for people and want to accommodate your change of plans as best we can. So here is our refund policy:

The registration fee for Motion’s online and in person events is non-refundable. If you withdraw within two weeks prior to the first session, the fee you paid can be applied to a future Motion Theater workshop within one year (less 20% processing fee).

* All ONLINE workshop sessions are recorded and available for 4 weeks after the final workshop session. The links will be sent to you each week (only for those registered for a multi-week series).

* Motion will consider refund requests due to an extraordinary circumstance or emergency on a case by case basis if you withdraw within one week prior to the first session. To request a refund of this nature, please contact us and explain your situation.