The Writer’s Journey Seminar 2009
March 12th, 2009Tuesday 5th May 2009
The Reich Hotel
1 Hagai Street, Beit Hakerem, Jerusalem
Something special to look forward to after Pesach- Treat yourself to a day of writing insight, instruction and inspiration.
One-day writing seminar in Jerusalem for Jewish women. Practical workshops, writing sessions and discussions to enhance both personal and professional writing. For aspiring and experienced writers and women working in the publishing world.
With a bracha for hatzlachah from Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, The Bostoner Rebbe shlita.
Please note this year all workshops include writing time and sharing of readings.
The Day’s Schedule:
| 8.15 am 9.00 am 9.30 am 10.20 am 11.10 am |
Registration and refreshments on the veranda Welcome & warm-up exercise with Leah Kotkes Gila Green: The Taboos of Telling; the Sins of Silence Leah Kotkes: You are The Storyteller Sarah Shapiro: Writing Dialogue |
| 12 noon | Simultaneous 50 minute workshops/private one-on-one sessions: Workshops Yaffa Ganz: Finding Your Own Voice. Every writer “sounds” different. Each creates her own music through a delicate blend of talent, ego, halachah and her own inner world. How do we find our own voice? Bassi Gruen & Yael Mermelstein: Building Powerful Plots: Tools and Tips Shifra Devorah Witt: The Courage to Tell Your Story. Private one-on-one sessions with: |
| 1 pm 2.30 pm 3.30 pm 4.30 pm By 5.30 pm |
Dairy Lunch Esther Heller at Targum Press Tamar Ansh on Publishing with Q & A Round the table readings/questions: Leah Kotkes Seminar Closes |
For details and registration contact:
Michelle Borinstein, reservations assistant at mbmb613@gmail.com
or
lifework@012.net.il for registration and scholarships
From Leah Kotkes, 7.30 pm, May 5th 2009
I just arrived home from our fifth annual Writer’s Journey Seminar; a one-day event of nine workshops attended by 140 women keen to enter, or already working in the field of magazine and book publishing. This endeavor helps a women on her journey of life as well as her writer’s journey; it helps uplift her self-esteem, it inspires her to tap into her true potential as a Jewish woman by teaching her how to give to others through her gift of language; it helps her to earn a livelihood for her family; it encourages her to use her writing to form a closer relationship with Hashem, her family, her community and women the world over; it helps her to be a giver of her time, her talents and her ideas to inspire other Jewish women and in turn strengthen the Jewish family and Klal Yisroel. On this day also we release the annual Writer’s Journal; a showcase of Jewish women’s writings from 85 writers from around the world. I checked my emails; here are some goodwill letters from seminar participants, seminar workshop leaders or Writer’s Journal readers; the first flow that usually includes hundreds upon hundreds of letters over the year.
Praise for the Writer’s Journey Seminar
Dear Leah, These annual seminars, Leah, have become such a central event in our society. I have always wanted to be part of a community, but in my life this is the first time – these past few years that you have been doing this – I feel part of a community, the community of Orthodox women writers. I don’t know how to thank you adequately for organizing these seminars. It brings us together.
There was a widow there today, whose husband died two months ago; she said the day at the seminar, being with all these people, relieved her of her mourning for the first time since she lost him.
With gratitude and love and respect for what you have accomplished,
Sarah Shapiro
Author & Writing mentor
Thank you for a marvelous and extraordinary seminar yesterday. It helped me tremendously; I am much more focused and directed now. It is not even 8 am and I already did one writing exercise, all from your inspiration! Leah: Lots and lots of Hatzlacha.
Chana Zelasko
Ramat Beit Shemesh
Hi Leah,
I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful, inspiring seminar. I am so glad I was able to be there. Thank you again for the scholarship, and for subsidizing the car service for eight of us from Neve Yakov.
Yasher koach and hatzalcha rabba,
Chaya Silverstone
Dear Leah,
Yasher Ko’ach; thank you for today’s seminar! It was excellently organized, given with love and encouragement, and in a very attractive setting. I picked up several usable pointers, too.
You should be proud of yourself for today’s accomplishment. And such a kiddush Hashem!
Warmest regards,
Ayalah
Leah,
What a superb day you created for so many women! It was something to see so many women interested in writing.
Gila Green
Published writer & writing teacher
Dear Leah, There aren’t words in my vocabulary, English or Hebrew to thank you for my fantastic day, yesterday. Lately, I’ve felt as if I were drowning, so overwhelmed by circumstances. Yesterday I felt as if I’d come back to life. The whole day, spent with these incredible women, every year I find another group of
them, convinces me I have made the journey from the desert to a garden of the most beautiful flowers of every color and every scent. And the babies are the butterflies hovering everywhere.Leah, I hope, in the near future to be able to send you the money for this most marvelous gift (of the full scholarship) and to be able to renew myself at your June workshop.
Mrs. B