Opportunity to Learn More about Mindful Writing (Event in January and February 2021)

New Hampshire Residents: If you're looking for a way to mindfully manage pandemic stress or learn more about mindful writing to benefit your writing practice, you're invited to an upcoming mindful writing webinar!

This January & February, the National Council of Teachers of English is hosting a sequel of my Mindful Writing Series. The sessions are designed for anyone (no need to be a teacher) dealing with pandemic stress or curiosity about mindful writing/mindfulness. See site for non-member registration fee and for videos of the September webinar:NCTE Mindful Writing Series

In each session, participants will be invited to do a guided meditation and then a restorative activity that combines writing with mindfulness, including already-perfect meditation, working with preconceptions and story lines, caricature of our internalized critics, and mantra for self-compassion. We will revisit and practice a few of the mindfulness activities from the September series. Some sessions will include guest speakers and experts on mindfulness with an opportunity for Q&A; guest speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.

By writing in the moment, we can relax into the present and take care of ourselves.

Mindful Writing Sessions for English Teachers

   Three Saturdays this September, I'll be offering mindful writing sessions online for the     National Council of Teachers of English. The purpose is to help reduce stress in U.S.        instructors' lives as they return to teaching in the face of COVID-19. Below is the             description and registration information. Please relay the info to English teachers you know (teachers working in New Hampshire or in the rest of the United States).

DESCRIPTION:

It can be hard to stay in the now these days. We long for a time not long ago when our colleagues’ faces weren’t covered by masks and for a future day when our classrooms return to normalcy. This series will help teachers find calm and balance in the present.

In each session, participants will be invited to do a guided meditation and then an activity that combines writing with mindfulness, including loving-kindness meditation, yoga for hands, bowing to difficulty, and moment writing. As part of these restorative writing experiences, we will discuss mindfulness strategies for detachment, compassion for self and other, and openness to possibility.

By writing in the moment, we can relax into the present and into ourselves.

REGISTRATION INFO:

https://ncte.org/rsvp-mindful-writing-series/

REALM Contest for Middle and High School Literary Magazines

If your New Hampshire middle school or high school runs a student literary magazine, here's a wonderful opportunity to possibly receive national recognition for your school's creative writing:

REALM: Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines. 

Last year, three New Hampshire schools were recognized for achievement with their student literary magazines: Pelham High School, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Portsmouth High School. Congrats to you three!

This year's deadline is July 31, 2020. For more information go to: https://ncte.org/awards/program-to-recognize-in-student-literary-magazines/