Tag: Viva Institute

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“Over Everything” (Short Fiction)

My most recent piece, “Over Everything,” is up at Corporeal Writing. Read the full essay here.

Coming on Monday: If you’re a writer and you’ve been looking for feedback and community, join me online for “Transformative Storytelling” at Viva Institute. Class begins July 17.

“I’d studied with Leigh before and found her as kind and compassionate as she is industrious, witty, and gifted at bringing out the best in everyone around her. Interesting, thoughtfully-planned lessons led to assignments that hardly felt like work at all. As I participated, it was fascinating to discover not only that my story had a way of telling itself and I was just its ‘keeper,’ but that my voice seemed to simply be awaiting my call for it to venture out. I was truly surprised at just how uplifted and inspired I felt receiving the positive, helpful comments and feedback – and respond with a very heartfelt thank you.” – Kelly, Minnesota

Excerpt: “Over Everything”

She rolls over. Summery skin soft and dark against the curved line of shirt sliding beneath sheets. Before morning pulls me under lushdelicious, I push my mouth against her shoulder, wrap an arm and drape a leg.

“Morning,” she mumbles. Her skin shimmers warm in the morning light.

“You glow,” I sigh, and go under.

When I open my eyes who knows how long later, the dog has weaseled his way onto the bed, curled between us. At the low rumble of thunder, he gives a convulsive quiver and tucks his nose beneath his back leg. I scratch his ears and Kabob untucks and gives me a grateful look. Before he tucks back in, I notice a bright smudge, glowing on the bridge of his nose. I rub my eyes and lean forward, spreading the thin fur on his snout with my fingers, like I’m looking for ticks. Where the fur separates, the glow follows. [Read more]

 

Publications

Test Tank, Corporeal Writing.

You say, write something hopeful, Corporeal Writing.

Make a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul, Corporeal Writing.

You Can Do Anything, Corporeal Writing.

The Right to Bare Arms, ENTROPY Magazine.

Still Gonna Do (#ShePersisted), The Manifest-Station.

Upcoming Classes

Online Writing Workshop: The Illuminated Narrator – begins July 17

Postage

LeighHereNow

PO Box 27771

Philadelphia, PA

19118, USA

 

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Postage from Anne

Anne, yesterday I saw my first robin, so imagine the happy discovery of your card! You sent it long ago, and I received it just in time for spring. Thank you for sending it. My only excuse is that I’ve been writing, writing, writing. If it’s possible to read too much, I’ve been doing that, too. Letters get slipped inside books and between manuscript drafts, the happiest places I know. If you’re reading this, leave me a comment and tell me what you’ve been up to, and please – come back and visit us at Viva anytime. It’s full of feathers over here.

New here? Are you wondering, “What’s Postage?” Write to me here.

There are just 2 spots left in my Online Writing Workshop here.

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Online Storytelling Workshop – class begins tomorrow

Instructor: Leigh Hopkins
$125 for 3 weeks
Begins March 20
If you’re a blogger, memoirist, or storyteller and you love community, join us. Using a simple new online platform, you’ll blend creative writing and storytelling with the mystic traditions of other cultures. Join us for this supportive and dynamic online workshop, including:
  • weekly writing prompts
  • guided journeys and meditations
  • videos and TEDTalks
  • weekly “critiques” (feedback from instructor and peers)
  • an open discussion forum
  • private community
  • suggested websites and magazines for submitting your work
“Sometimes telling the story is the thing that saves your life.” – Lidia Yuknavitch, author

About the Instructor

Leigh Hopkins is a writer, educator, and seminar leader. In 2010, she left a career in social policy and education reform to move to Brazil, where she launched Viva Institute by rigging a satellite dish to a boulder in a banana field. An avid blogger, essayist and poet, you can find Leigh’s work in Elephant Journal, ENTROPY Magazine, Manifest-Station, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Today, Leigh lives and writes in Philadelphia, where she is completing a novel.

 

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Would you like to make a comment?

Every woman I’ve met carries a story inside her. Stories about loss and love, of adventure in far-flung places or the longing to create new ones, of the ache to return home or to make a new one. Stories of shame and rage and desire – the kinds of stories that climb the walls just to make themselves heard.

Stories that carry whole worlds.

I carry them, too.

I’m a woman who has to sit on her hands to keep the stories in, because that’s where I carry them. In my hands.

Sometimes our words don’t know the stories they’ll tell until our hands let them speak.

Put them on the page. Speak them or sing them just to find a place of truth outside yourself. Loose them to the wind.

Sometimes the very brave act of telling gives a thing new meaning.

Make a new story.

Words welcome change.

Writing Workshop: Transformative Storytelling – begins March 20, 2017.

Would you like to make a comment? Write to me or make your mark below.