ALL NEW STUDENTS WELCOME!!
Instructor: Pat Branning, author of seven bestselling books on the Lowcountry and the voice behind the bi-weekly Substack The Diary of a Southern Author at patbranning.com.
There is a moment—quiet, persistent—when a story asks to be told.
Not a grand story.
Not a polished one.
Just yours.
Our most enduring stories are often found in small moments:
the kitchen table where conversations linger,
a handwritten recipe passed down,
a walk through the neighborhood at dusk,
a front porch where time slows and memories surface.
Writing is an act of noticing.
Of honoring what shaped us.
Of giving our lived moments a place to rest and be remembered.
Through gentle prompts, shared reflection, and thoughtful discussion, participants will learn to trust their instincts, shape everyday experiences into story, and build a writing practice grounded in curiosity rather than perfection.
No prior writing experience is required.
Only a willingness to show up and be present.
Your voice doesn’t need fixing.
It needs honoring.
LESSON : SHAPING SHARING AND SUSTAINING A WRITING LIFE
Focus: Revision, courage, and building a habit
OBJECTIVES
● Introduce gentle revision strategies
● Practice sharing work with confidence
● Help students envision a sustainable writing practice
DSCUSSION TOPICS
● Revision as listening, not fixing
● When to stop tinkering
● Writing for yourself vs. writing for others
IN-CLASS EXERCISE
● Guided Revision
○ Cut one unnecessary sentence
○ Add one specific detail
○ Read the piece aloud to hear rhythm
CELEBRATION READING
● Volunteers read a short piece
● Emphasis on bravery, not polish
CLOSING REFLECTION
● Students write a note to themselves:
“Why my story matters.”
OPTIONAL NEXT STEPS
● Substack, journaling, small writing groups
● Continuing memoir or essay work
● Writing as a form of attention and care