FREE

Free Write with
Sophia Ma

Writing the Human Condition in
Speculative & Climate Short Fiction
*** All Times are listed in EST ***

“Utopia or dystopia is up to us,” says Jeanette Winterson, while Ted Chiang maintains, “Science fiction is about using speculative scenarios as a lens to examine the human condition.” Yet, how exactly does speculative fiction (particularly the sub-genre of climate fiction or cli-fi) allow the writer to explore the human condition, if it’s not even real? Join me as we closely read and discuss excerpts from the speculative short fiction of Ken Liu, Ted Chiang, Aliette de Bodard and others. Together, we will analyse and discover elements of the human condition that drive and deepen their ‘what if’ stories, making them not only almost universal but also memorable for their readers. We will write our own ‘what if’ speculative/ cli-fi scenarios that delve deep into our most urgent concerns about human nature: why are we here, what are we here to do, and how much can we do? We will also share and support each other in our writing. After all, if not now, then when…?

Sofia Mariah Ma is a Singaporean writer. She was the Regional winner for Asia for the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, and placed second in the 2021 Golden Point Award—Short Story Category. She holds an MA in English Literature examining the works of Kazuo Ishiguro and his experimentations with genre, and will be embarking on her PhD in Creative Writing next year. She was recently involved in the Singapore Writers Festival 2022 as a panellist, presenting her new climate fiction that will be published in an anthology next year. Currently, she is working on a young adult novel inspired by her Javanese origins. More about her can be found athttps://sofiamariahma.com.

Workshop

Find Your Voice Through Journaling

**Please note all times are listed in EST**  

“My journal became a mirror in which I could see and hear my truth resonating in my own daily experience.”  Marion Woodman

“Over time you get enough practice that you can then trust your own voice.” Barak Obama

In this workshop, we will first look at the practice of journaling. Then what is voice? How do we strengthen it? And finally how do we share our voices in today’s world. Come join!

Susan Tiberghien is an American writer living in Geneva, Switzerland. For over 25 years she has been teaching creative writing at IWWG, C.G. Jung Societies, and writers’ centers, in the U.S. and in Europe. She's the author of four memoirs and the acclaimed One Year to a Writing Life. Her two recent books, Writing Toward Wholeness and Circling to the Center were published by Chiron, 2018/2019. She has recorded online courses for the Jung Society of Washington, the Jung Platform, and JungatPlay. An active member of International PEN, Susan founded the Geneva Writers’ Group and directed it for 25 years.

Workshop

Remembrance of Things Past:
A Memoir Workshop
**Please note all times are listed in EST**  

In this  90 minute workshop we will write down a vivid memory. Then, we will make a written connection to our lives today. Poetry handouts will accompany and inspire participants writing. There will be time to share. 

June Gould, Ph.D., is the author of The Writer in All of Us: Improving Your Writing through Childhood Memories (EP Dutton), Beyond the Margins: Rethinking the Art and Craft of Writing, and the novel In the Shadow of Trains; and the co-author of Counting the Stones, a book of Holocaust poetry. June has given readings at The 92nd Street Y (NY), The Holocaust Museum (Washington, DC), the Jewish Museum and Yeshiva Museum (NY), and libraries, synagogues, churches, universities, and bookstores throughout the U.S. and in Greece and Canada. She has been an IWWG workshop leader for over 25 years.

FREE

Self-Publishing Panel

*** All Times are listed in EST ***

IWWG Panel on Self-Publishing: Self-published authors Batoul Ajlouni, Anne Eston, and Andi Penner lead a discussion, moderated by Cathleen O’Connor, on navigating the publishing industry as an independent author. We’ll be getting real about the many hats we wear as indie authors, including reflection on our experiences as women writers, and invite you to share your lessons learned and triumphs achieved in the process of publishing and promoting your own book. 

Moderated by Cathleen O'Connor

Cathleen is a writer, speaker, teacher, coach, and intuitive who offers developmental editing, publishing, book layout, and marketing services to other writers. Books include The Everything Law of Attraction Dream Dictionary, High Heels on the Hamster Wheel - A Fable for the Modern Woman and The Collection: Flash Fiction for Flash Memory. She successfully developed a book launch plan for her 2014 book, 365 Days of Angel Prayers, keeping it at number 1 in its category on Amazon and eventually selling the rights in 2017. She is currently at work on her first romance novel. www.cathleenoconnor.com

Panelists:

Batoul Ajlouni is a writer, and the award-winning author of Ditching Success? She is an architectural engineer by education, a business professional and strategist by experience, and an entrepreneur, artist, hiker and nature enthusiast at heart. Prior to embarking on her writer’s journey, Batoul belonged to the corporate world. She’s a former business executive with thirty years of experience in fifteen of the world’s toughest markets. She co-founded her company at twenty-four, before serving as a senior executive at an IT firm, helping it grow into a multinational corporation. Batoul is now following her heart; exploring life and sharing her findings with those searching for answers, hoping her writing and coaching can help improve people’s lives. Her self-published memoir Ditching Success?: A Career Ventured; A Life Regained has won multiple awards, and is available on Amazon.com.

Anne Eston is a writer of magical realism, poetry, and nonfiction. She is a mentor to women writers of all ages and teaches for the International Women's Writing Guild. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing, and lives in Los Angeles.

Andrea (Andi) Penner’s essays and articles, stories and poems have been published in academic and literary journals, local rags, chap books, and anthologies. She has also published two collections of poetry, When East Was North (2012) and Rabbit Sun, Lotus Moon (2017), both with MercuryHeartlink. Formerly a college professor English professor (PhD from the University of New Mexico), Andi has also developed curriculum for the energy industry, run a trade school, and done tech writing and editing for a national laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She served as president of the New Mexico State Poetry Society, 2015-2017, and has been a member of IWWG for three years. Retired now, and not looking back, Andi is working on a third poetry manuscript and a memoir, and planning a trip to Prague.

24-Hour Global Open Mic
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Join writers from around the world for IWWG’s inaugural 24-hour global open mic. 

Sign up to read during one of the following time zones, volunteer to host a time zone, or join us to listen in and celebrate women's voices and solidarity around the world. Feel free to read in your own language.

To register as a reader, pick a time slot during registration.  There are 10 reader slots available per time slot.  If you want to register as a listener, simply choose the listener registration option.

You may register with a suggested donation, or attend free of charge.  Suggested donations are available during the registration process.