When I kicked off the first Brave Women Writers’ Circles in June this year, I had no expectations or attachment as to what would unfold.
My only intention was to offer readers (at no cost to them) an opportunity to engage in the practices of the book with me. The goal was to make the book doable, not just readable. Over 12 weeks on Zoom, each Friday morning at 8am, we explored a new chapter and we wrote together.
It was called a ‘circle’ because a circle has no hierarchies and we are all equals. A circle provides a safe and brave space, a confidential container for women to find their voice and write their stories without fear of judgement or reprisal.
My role was to be the catalyst and a gentle guide to support the women to step over the precipice into the world of writing and storytelling. My aim was to encourage the women to write the stories that matter, about women, for women.
After about six weeks, the same 10 women (of the 33 who had initially registered), continued to turn up each week. They loved the accountability offered and the act of writing with other women with a shared purpose.
To me, this was a sign to take the next step and turn the experiment into a new service-offering. By the end of the 12 weeks, I’d created and launched the next 12-week circle. Without hesitation, seven of those 10 women paid to join, along with two new women. This was all affirmation that I was on the right track.
We’re now in week four of twelve of the current circle. To date we’ve set our writing goals, explored how to write with greater courage, established our writing routines and rituals and discovered how to use journaling as a tool to aid our writing projects. This week we’re exploring the art of storytelling.
While each woman joined the circle for different reasons, each woman stays, not just for themselves, but for each other. As women write together and offer each other support and encouragement, the stories become bolder and braver. We begin to recognise a piece of every woman’s story in the collective story.
In some strange way, the circles feel alchemical and transformational. There’s an invisible and unbreakable thread pulling the women together into uncharted territory too scary to navigate alone. It’s a feeling that will never be found in a DIY online course, a book or a standard one-day workshop on writing.
All this, is a round-about way of saying that this movement of women writing women’s stories is growing—and the next circle is coming real soon. While it kicks off in three months on November 17, it’s not too early to make a commitment now to finding your voice and writing your story. If you’re intrigued, jump on a call and we’ll explore if the circle is for you. If it’s not your thing, then please do share it with the women in your life that you know would love it.
With love
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Join the next Brave Women Writers’ Circle
Commencing Friday 17 November
Are you a woman who yearns to share your story with the world? Do you often find yourself suppressing your inner voice and waiting for that perfect day to start writing? Or perhaps you’ve begun writing and are feeling stuck? If so, the Brave Women Writers’ Circle is the right place for you.
As an experienced author, writer and educator, the Brave Women Writers’ Circle will be led and facilitated by Carolyn Tate. With only 12 places available, the 12-week program is designed to guide you in bringing your writing project to life while connecting you to a courageous community of other women writers.
