Writers' Block Party: Resistance!

A day of micro workshops on writing for social change.

About this Event

What do we want? Writing for activists! When do we want it? Now! Writers’ block can stem from feelings of overwhelm and disempowerment in times of upheaval, but social change begins with how we wield our words. On Sat, Oct 18 join LitArts RI for a special edition Writers Block Party, designed to inspire us to engage with the issues that matter most as citizen writers.

Explore the connection between writing and activism through hour-long micro workshops on op-eds, oral and written testimony, flash and hybrid forms, and protest signage. Between sessions, take time to network and brainstorm, write postcards to elected officials, enjoy a potluck lunch, and participate in a closing community discussion on next steps and submissions.

Opt for one workshop, or take four workshops for a discount. All tickets include admission to the day’s opening and closing discussions, participation in the potluck lunch, and time to write in the LitArts RI Creative Workspace between workshops.

Health Safety Guideline

If you have tested positive for Covid-19 within a few days of attending an event at LitArts RI, please contact Staff so we can let others know of possible exposure. We ask that you wait 14 days or until testing negative to return to the Center.

Accessibility

LitArts RI is wheelchair accessible. The organization is actively committed to cultivating a community that values and reflects diversity, equity and inclusivity and to providing programming that is accessible to all attendees. Please let us know about any accommodations we can make to allow you to participate fully in this event.

This activity is made possible in part by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, by a Project Fund grant from Providence Art, Culture and Tourism, and by the Awesome Foundation.

Agenda


🕑: 08:45 AM - 09:00 AM
Coffee & Registration
Host: Salon

Info: Check in with LitArts RI staff, find your workshop, and take a tour of the LitArts RI Center as you fuel up with complimentary coffee.

🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Opening Discussion: Finding Your Voice
Host: Nancy Agabian

Info: All participants are welcome to join this community discussion around writing for social change in the Salon. Explore how words and images have shaped progressive movements in the past, with an opportunity to examine your background and interests in writing for resistance.

🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Writing for Social Change: Op-Eds & Commentary
Host: Ethan Gilsdorf

Info: In this workshop, we will explore the myriad ways you can craft compelling, topical essays and op-eds that speak to the political and social issues of the day, with an eye for publication. Exemplary essays will provide formal models for our writing, as well as inspiration during these challenging times. Respond to current events by honing your ideas and opinions into rhetorical appeals.


This 1-hour workshop is open to writers of all levels and genres.

🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Time to Write
Host: Writing Nooks

Info: Settle into a writing nook or armchair to reflect on a workshop and get some writing done.

🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Propagan-Do's and Don'ts: Hybrid Forms
Host: Erin Vachon

Info: Participants will learn how to access archival material and sharpen their close reading skills, studying how word choice steers historical narratives. We will (re)write history by repurposing archival material into subversive writing, creating zines and erasure poetry.


This 1-hour workshop is open to writers of all levels and genres.

🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Potluck Lunch
Host: Salon

Info: Bring a lunch item to share with fellow participants and teaching artists. Please clearly list any potential allergens (gluten, nuts, dairy, etc.).

🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Giving Testimony: Breaking Down the Barriers
Host: Phoenix Polaris Wheeler

Info: The biggest barrier to testifying in front of lawmakers is fear. In this session, we’ll learn to turn that fear into personal storytelling that can change hearts and minds in 2-3 minutes. By exploring the behind-the-scenes workings of committee hearings, we’ll discuss the lens in which testimony is experienced, demystifying the process and helping your testimony cut through bureaucracy. The goal of this workshop is to increase your comfort level and motivation when engaging with the government, showcasing just how powerful one person can be.


This 1-hour workshop is open to writers of all levels and genres.

🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Time to Write
Host: Writing Nooks

Info: Settle into a writing nook or armchair to reflect on a workshop and get some writing done.

🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Flash Against Fascism
Host: Erin Vachon

Info: Read and write flash that speaks truth to power. What does the tiny story offer to writers in this particular cultural moment? Participants will learn the elements of flash, then try their own hand at crafting these tiny powerhouses. This 1-hour workshop is open to writers of all levels and genres.

🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Writing and Creating Impactful Signage
Host: Axel Radikas

Info: Learn how to both write and create impactful signage through printmaking. We will brainstorm and design a linoleum block print that we will then ink and hand press to create our own signage. Learn both impactful writing through signage as well as basic linoleum print making through the lens of historical progressive signage.

This 1-hour workshop is open to writers of all levels and genres.

🕑: 04:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Time to Write
Host: Writing Nooks

Info: Wrap up your writing and discuss the day over complimentary refreshments in the Salon.

🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Closing Discussion: Submission and Next Steps
Host: Ethan Gilsdorf

Info: Join a closing community discussion on next steps, including how to submit testimony, pitch work to newspapers, magazines, online publications and literary magazines, and use your words to create change in your community.

Also check out other Arts events in Providence, Workshops in Providence, Literary Art events in Providence.