Section 11: Write Meaningful Nonfiction: Turn Your Personal
Experiences, Knowledge, and Journaling into an Inspiring Book,
Blogs, or Other Writing
Write-by-the-Lake Writer’s Workshop & Retreat
June 26-30, 2017
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. each day
Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison
UW-Madison Continuing Studies & UW-Madison Dept. of English
Instructor: Julie Tallard Johnson, MSW
Write meaningful nonfiction based on your personal experiences and knowledge.
Write a book based on just an idea or theme.
Write on a subject that has captivated your attention.
Write a book taken from your blogs.
Write a book, blog or article based from your field notebooks.
Write transformational nonfiction based on journal entries or letters.
Write a book based on your travels, spiritual experience, encounters or views.
Whether you have just an idea for a book, journals full of notes and stories, a series of
blogs, or, have written a first draft of a manuscript, you will leave this week with simple,
applicable methods for the writing and completing of your book. This means, you will
have a personalized architecture, relevant skills and the means to take your idea and
experiences to a full crafted book. You will leave fully equipped and ready to continue to
write about your life experiences, stories, and wisdom.
I will give you hands-on tools and practices to write compelling and informative
narratives based on your personal experiences and knowledge. This dynamic course has
helped dozens of writers frame their ideas, get their book written and out to publishers.
You too will know how to share your wisdom, ideas and stories in a captivating way.
Write a narrative that reaches readers and gets publisher’s attention. The magic and skill
is in making what is personally meaningful to the writer (you), meaningful and
captivating for our readers. I use transformational writing prompts that inspire you to
write and the reader to be engaged in your stories. We will be writing inside and outside
the class, with every day full of writing prompts, explorations, and methods to inspire
you to write captivating nonfiction.
A couple extra caveats from this class will be your ability to write better blogs, articles,
or any other creative nonfiction piece. (Many of these may end up in your book.) In
addition, all my work with writers includes helping them to identify personalized ways to
make a living from their writing, before and beyond publication of a book.
As an author of 11 inspirational books, a popular blog and several fiction and nonfiction
pieces, I can help you forge your own path to writing and completing a captivating book
that others will want to read. I have worked with writers for over 20 years and have
simplified a book writing process so that when you go home you will have established a
solid foundation for your ideas and writing intentions.
During the week, I can answer any questions you have about putting your work out in the
world, whether it be through a blog, a manuscript sent to a publisher, an article for a
magazine, or even a group email. You will have the basic template of what you need to
take your personal experiences and make them meaningful to readers. If you are ready to
have something considered for publication within 6 months from your time with me at
WBTL (by November 15th, 2017), I will critique up to 10 pages of your piece.
Endorsements from Students and Authors:
“I took a writing workshop with Julie in early 2012. I learned so much from that one day
that I would be hard-pressed to detail all the value I received from it. Both personable and
friendly, Julie is truly an experienced mentor on the writer's craft. With a 10th book soon
to be published, there is no doubt she knows the topic exceedingly well. Where some
might hold back, Julie doesn't hesitate to share what she has learned from her wealth of
experience. During our workshop, she shared loads of tips on moving past writer's block,
staying focused on the purpose of your book, and even a few pointers on selling your idea
to a publisher. I continue to use the tips I picked up that day and would recommend
Julie's workshops without hesitation to any who want to take their writing to the next
level. I look forward to my next opportunity to attend one of her workshops!” –Didi
Densmore, 2014
"Thank you, Julie! Such a fun experience—and, such a helpful experience. I am
confident with my unique writing "voice," but your prompts and creative explorations
gave me tools for finding new voices and new approaches. Most of all, the template
concept was revolutionary in helping me wrap my brain around the story I wanted to tell,
and will continue to be a guide as I approach storytelling in my future as a writer."–Jay,
Write-By-the-Lake student, 2014
“I would not be calling myself a published author if it weren’t for Julie. Her way of
teaching and instructing always leads to success for the fortunate student.” –Lauri
Lumby Schmidt, author of Authentic Freedom, Oshkosh Wisconsin
“I am only just feeling the waves of all that we learned and experienced. I am truly
amazed at how deeply this affected me--something about the group, the safe space, the
passion within everyone and the personal stories--it was truly a beautiful week. And
challenging! Thank you Julie for creating a space where we could each arrive with
whatever was in our bowls and then with words and tears empty them in each other's
presence only to begin filling them again. –Margaret Jankowski, The Sewing Machine
Project, 2014 WBTL
"The likelihood that this book would have taken any shape at all without Julie Tallard
Johnson’s skillful writing coaching seems very, very small. I think of Julie as a book
doula, and her combination of skill and experience as a coach and editor on the writerly
side of things and as a clinician on the conceptual side were a perfect match for the
development of this project. This book is not my first, but with Julie’s coaching and
support, this is the project that has, at long last, crystallized a piece of my identity as a
writer. For all of that magic, I am grateful. Taken from acknowledgments in "The
Lesbian Guide to Getting Free of Crazy-Making Relationships" " – Amber Ault, Phd,
MSW
"Thank you Julie, for all your encouragement, feedback, support. You are a great, loving
soul and writer...and so generous and inspiring in your commitment to the word and to
other writers. I have benefitted on many levels." –Greg Newman, writer, relationship
coach
Julie Tallard Johnson, MSW is the author of The Zero Point Agreement: How to Be
Who You Already Are https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Point-Agreement-HowAlready/dp/1620551772/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381068697&sr=11&keywords=the+zero+point+agreement “In this beautiful book, Julie Tallard Johnson-a gifted teacher and writer--brings fresh insight to an ancient truth: each of us must live
from the inside out. This book--full of resources that range from heart-deep insight to
helpful, practical exercises--can help us reclaim the treasure-trove of our own experience
and being.” (Parker J. Palmer, author of Healing the Heart of Democracy, Let Your Life
Speak, and The Courage to) “The grounded writing in Julie's books makes for an
appealing invitation to self-discovery.” (Mothering Magazine) “For me the highest
plane of creativity is found in one’s practice, and Julie offers the reader a real means to
follow through on one’s creative and spiritual intentions. The read is straightforward and
gratifying; the pilgrimage itself a worthwhile, even required engagement for the spiritual
hero.” (Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art and The Legend of Bagger
Vance, endorsing The Wheel of Initiation)
Syllabus
For mainstream/self-help/autobiographical & instructional/inspirational/
memoirs/personal experience/books
Write-by-the-Lake Writer’s Workshop & Retreat
June 26-30, 2017.9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each day Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison
UW-Madison Continuing Studies & UW-Madison Dept. of English Instructor: Julie
Tallard Johnson, MSW, LCSW, UW-Madison,
[email protected]
Workshop Description
I will help you to shape your stories and narrative. You will know how to use description
and details to bring out your story and meaning. You will leave with the architecture to
continue to write and complete your book. You will understand and communicate your
theme. I use my Rainbow Theme Arc, stealing like an artist, the craft of details, the
power of personal and universal myths and narratives, and the magic of metaphors. I help
you to write your truth and not get lost in the “facts” of your story through the various
skills needed to write and publish personal stories of your experiences. We will cover
every step in the writing process, from brainstorming to researching to writing to revising.
You will consider this one of the best five days you have had as a writer.
Come with just an idea leave with a fully blossomed template for a book. You will leave
with simple and constructive ways to write about your experiences and knowledge in a
uniquely creative way.
I will be sending out a few questions and writing prompts beforehand to get us started.
“I cut the cord. I said, I will do only what I can do, express what I am–that’s why I used
first person, why I wrote about myself,’ I Decide to write from the standpoint of my own
experience, what I knew and felt. And that was my salvation.” –Henry Miller
• Each day we begin with an overview of our evenings explorations and some sharing
points. You will have time to read some of your writing as well.
• I will offer the basics of turning your personal experiences and knowledge into a
compelling narrative. This first day includes an introduction to a couple of templates to
use or borrow from in bringing together your ideas. You will choose and create your own
template to work with by the end of the week. This will create a foundation and template
for your book or book concept that you can rely upon. (I used a different template for
each of my 11 books.)
• We begin with moving through a major point of resistance—Who are you to write this
book? We begin to build the confidence and momentum in your writing. We will go over
the Ten Methods of Writing From the Zero Point. These describe how to write
masterfully from your own experience and knowledge.
We will practice a variety of methods throughout the week to further develop your
theme(s), voice and the structuring of your book.
• This process will introduce you to your book’s “voice”. (Or develop it more if you
already have it). You will discover the storyteller’s voice and the voice of the “expert,”
and how to weave those in together throughout your book. The expert voice is the voice
of personal experience. You will also explore who your book is for – the general public
or a special audience of readers.
To prepare for Day 1:
Please read the handout: Writing from the Zero Point that I will send to you once you
register for my class. And send me your introductory piece and response to my questions
I sent you after you signed up for the class.
SYLLABUS
DAY 1
Beginnings and Introductions. Themes, Pivotal Moments, and some UNrules for the
week. We will identify subject and theme and how to write on both. Exploration and
Writing Prompts: Explorations and writing prompts around subject, theme, Pivotal
Moments & Who Am I To write this book? Use of the Streamline technique to bring forth
your ideas and narratives.
DAY 2
We have Everything We Need and Writing the New Autobiography
Using a template (the architecture of your idea) and field notebooks. Hunting and
Destroying Clichés. Choose a Template for your Book. This will be the core of the
day’s lesson and explorations. There are a multitude of templates to choose from, and you
will choose one that is uniquely yours. Steven Pressfield used the game of golf for his
book Bagger Vance and, for his popular book, The War of Art he borrowed from the
Chinese classic, The Art of War. I used the medicine wheel and Buddhist mandalas for
my Wheel of Initiation book & basic principles of metaphysics for my Zero Point
Agreement book. I will present several templates and invite you to consider one you
could use to explore and develop your book’s ideas more deeply and to apply in the
writing of your book. Exploration and Writing Prompts: Transforming Your Writing
by Transforming Clichés; Exploring with your template; Using Your Field Notebooks,
and, Seeing Your Theme Everywhere.
DAY 3
The Mythical Journey of the Writer: The Third Thing and The Power of Myths and
Re-mything Writing your narratives in ways that are meaningful for the reader. “Fairy
tales, as G. K. Chersterton once said, are more than true. Not because they tell us that
dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be defeated.” –Neil Gaiman,
Smoke and Mirrors Using your Thematic Arc Writing with your Thematic Arc;
exploring the promise that your narrative presents, and harvesting thematic words.
Explore a symbolic meaning in your book. Practicing the basics, the craft of writing: 13
reminders. Exploration and Writing Prompts: Find a favorite poem, teaching story,
myth, lyric, sutra, koan or quote to share tomorrow Explore a symbolic meaning in your
book.
DAY 4
Writing Our Truth in Meaningful Ways, Using Writing Prompts, and How to Steal
Like an Artist (and write something worth stealing). “There are many truths to a story
and many versions of the same story.” Lee Gutkind, You Can’t Make This Stuff Up.
Differences between facts and truth. Exploration and Writing Prompts: Use of and
creating your own writing prompts; Stealing like an artist, using poetry, how it all gets
down to the details. Identifying writer invasion and to stop hitting our readers over the
head. Who are You?: Identifying yourself to your readers. Writing our Truth in
Meaningful Ways, handout.
DAY 5
Coming Full Circle with our Subject and Theme. A little about dealing with resistance
and how to keep writing. Completing Our Rainbow Arc. 10 Reminders to Integrate this
weeks material into your writing life. What You Need in a Dynamic Book Proposal.
Getting out there and getting published. Exploration and Writing Prompts: 10
Reminders for the Writer, and some writing prompts for the road.
* You will also gain methods of creating your own writing prompts to keep you writing
to completion!
Credit Option: Participants earn 1 credit by attending class and completing the assigned
work for the week: daily reading, writing at least five pages of original work, and
critiquing of own and others’ work. To earn 2 credits, participants submit an additional
five pages of their work. Participants earning 3 credits complete all of the above
requirements supplemented by another five to 10 pages of creative work or a short paper
synthesizing how the material covered during the week applies to their own creative
projects and/or teaching. The work must be handed in within two weeks of final class
date.