Welcome to the woods…
Art by Jessie Wilcox Smith
Story Forest is a place where writers work with the old tales to deepen and re-enchant their writing process. It is a liminal space between the imaginal world and your personal imagination. In each offering we walk through an old, often familiar story in new and unfamiliar ways to gain insight into our own writing practice.
“It made me rethink why and how I am writing. To go deeper.”
In 2008, I studied Enchantivism under Dr. Craig Chalquist at Pacifica Institute. During the pandemic lockdown of 2020-2021, I delved further into deep storytelling, earning certificates in Applied Mythology (Pacifica Institute) and the Art of Fairy Tale Archetypal Analysis (Assisi Institute). Each of these studies looked at ways of applying old stories, myths, and dreamwork to better understand (and withstand) modern living. What better place to apply imaginal learning than to our writing lives? And thus Story Forest was born.
When you enter the Story Forest, you will find a path in the woods and a cottage. Smoke rises from the chimney. A kettle is on the fire inside, and a cup of tea is waiting. That is where all of our adventures begin. Deep in our imaginations. It’s a wonderful place to be.
“Sherri was a wonderful virtual guide through the Story Forest. The material she guided us through forced a deep level of introspection, and we became very close as a group as we shared our responses. This program was different from any that I have taken before, and approached story structure, writing practice, and the layers each of us individually bring to our writing while also showing us how to vanquish the many wolves attempting to stop our progress. To say the program was deep and impactful sounds too trite; I’m still digesting the material and I’m not exaggerating when I say that it has changed the way I look at my own motivation to write and the material I am creating.”
Story Forest Paths
To date there have been two Paths— Little Red Writing Hood and Vasilisa the Beautiful— and one Story Forage experience, gathering tales from the African American culture with Written in the Blood. As we uncover stories, paths continue to unfold.
To learn when a new path opens, join the mailing list below.
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Are you a writer beset by distractions? Are you seeking clarity and purpose?
Then this path is for you.You already know the story of "Little Red Riding Hood," about the little girl in a red cape who meets the wolf on her way to her grandmother's house. But did you know that her journey mimics your own? That her lessons can teach you?
If you believe…
• Stories can heal
• That you write for a reasonIf you struggle with:
• Committing to a project
• Protecting your writing timeIf you want to:
• Reconnect with your writing practice
• Tap into the depths of your creativity…then this might be the path for you.
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Currently Closed
How do you carry your creative spark?
Vasilisa the Beautiful blazed the second path first online and then in person the 2022 Grove Retreat. This path follows Vasilisa the Beautiful into the woods to face the Baba Yaga and bring back her fire.
This path will reopen. Join the mailing list at the bottom of the page to be notified, or to request a private group event.
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Currently Closed
A month-long exploration of African American folktales.
This path might reopen. Join the mailing list at the bottom of the page to be notified, or to request a private group event.
“[I] feel like I gained some clarity for my character — and I have been getting myself out of bed a little earlier to reserve some morning writing time. ”