Logo with text "Story Forest" above a leaping fox on a background of leaves, flowers, stars, a tiny frog and bear. Below a subtitle reads, "Follow the tale and find your path"

Welcome to the woods…

Gorgeously painted illustration by Jessie Wilcox Smith of young Little Red Riding Hood in a scarlet cloak clutching her basket as the wolf circles from behind her, showing his teeth, wild eyes, and red tongue.

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.
— On the Little Red Writing Hood Path

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.
— On the Little Red Writing Hood Path

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.

[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.
— On the Vasilisa Path

Story Forest continues…

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