What Former Participants Say About Joyce's Workshops

I knew this day would be a difficult one for me, and had hoped to keep my emotions in check, but obviously I wasn't terribly successful. I could not have mustered the courage to do this with anyone BUT total strangers... and I have to say, you were the BEST group of total strangers I could possibly have encountered. I so thoroughly enjoyed reading your amazing manuscripts and essays. Like Lorrie, I feel incredibly enriched by all that we shared together today. I hope we can all continue to stay in touch... we shared a very special day together.

-- Ann Jewett, Mill Valley, California

Today's workshop was one of the richest and most fun times I've ever had. Even though it was by the clock a long day, it felt so quick and refreshing. It was a privilege to spend time with such a talented and authentic group of women. A special thanks to you, Joyce, for creating the arc of the day so beautifully, and with such astuteness and generosity. Thanks again,

-- Lorrie Goldin, San Anselmo, California

Words cannot describe my first writing workshop. I was moved by each one of your life stories, and they evoked in me, some kind of parallel story-telling. Thank you, Joyce, for creating a beautiful writing workshop.

-- Vijaya Nagaran, Berkeley, California

I learned (and re-learned) so much from you at the workshop. Your ability to tune right into the heart of the matter was amazing and appreciated. Your workshop has prompted me and given me permission to write my truth in memoir form about my childhood and life My tears shocked myself... but at this point in my life, I just accepted them... you (and others) touched my heart... and I responded.

-- Mickey Fernandez, Santa Rosa, California

It was fabulous! The next morning I bolted awake at 5:40 a.m., rolled out of bed, tip-toed to the computer and began editing my piece. That to me is the mark of a good workshop! Thanks to all for the feedback, and to Joyce especially for bringing together all these fabulous women, then feeding, nurturing, and mentoring us. Truly a holy day.

-- Alicia Rouverol, Santa Rosa, California

I've taken two weekend seminars from Joyce. I found her to be one of the most unusual, talented, and amazing people that I have ever met. Her wit and sense of humor make her one of the funniest people I've ever met as well. One of the qualities that is so endearing is that she is unassuming-she is not remotely arrogant, and she is very, very kind.

When she teaches it is like watching a work of art under construction. One time last fall as I watched her take us through writing a story spontaneously, I kept thinking that the whole scene could have been set to a Mozart piece. Pure poetry in motion, to use a trite phrase, which by the way, Joyce hates.

She has an unparalleled talent at showing us, as aspiring writers, how to access the emotions that underlie the things about which we are writing.

She reminds us to tell our stories, but to do that we have to KNOW our stories. She taught us that telling our stories is practically a birthright, because our stories are so profoundly ours, and no one can alter that-no matter how powerful they are.

The weekend classes that I took were total emotional tour de forces because almost everyone who writes a personal essay writes about something devastating in their life. Joyce is so gifted at orchestrating the class through the emotions that I kept wondering if she had a degree in counseling.

There is so much good energy and such a tremendous and unforced joie de vivre in Joyce. Anyone who has an opportunity to take a class from Joyce should take it. I can't imagine that it could be replicated anywhere.

— Roxanne Kontzer, San Jose, California

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