transformational storytelling intensive

sessions take place on wednesday evenings from 6-8 pm et
from january 14 - march 25

(with breaks on January 28, February 18, and March 11)

. . .

What story are you carrying that’s ready to be transformed?

The Transformational Storytelling Intensive is an 8-session writing and community experience for storytellers who are ready to turn a limiting story into an empowering expression. Inside this process, writers will identify a personal narrative or experience that has shaped them, explore its emotional landscape, and reconstruct it through self-discovery techniques, therapeutic writing tools, and craft elements. Grounded in the belief that being witnessed is part of reclaiming our stories, writers will complete the intensive with a piece ready to share publicly.

TRANSFORM YOUR STORY

*it’s time to rewrite the story…yes,* that *story*
We all have a story we’re carrying that lives in the shadows. In my book, *Story Work*, I wrote about a defeated narrative I’ve carried for most of my life: The belief that my mental health and sensitivity made me broken, destined to struggle no matter how hard I tried. Even with all the time, energy, and faith I’ve poured into healing, reclaiming that narrative is not a one-time breakthrough. It’s a lifelong practice.
Because they don’t disappear. The old stories linger just waiting for a setback, a disappointment (or a series of them!)—anything that will give them the audacity to whisper: *See? I told you.*
But this is where *Story Work* comes in. Not to erase the old stories, but to recognize and reimagine them.
*Story Work* teaches you to challenge the narratives that shrink you, and rewrite the meaning you give your experiences. Choosing a more compassionate, truthful story, even when the old ones try to pull you back.

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

*the healing power of personal narrative*
Time and again, I’ve used writing to face my limiting stories head on. Through my writing practice, I’ve identified memories and experiences, truths and lies, desires and fears, and explored them from different angles on the page. I’ve traced the patterns and storylines that these dynamics have created in my life. And when I felt ready, I followed my urge to publicly share my stories—in writing through essays and books, and orally through workshops and communities. This creative alchemy has helped me process difficult emotions, transform them into artful expressions, and connect with others. This is the healing power of personal narrative.
I’ve found liberation writing about my mental health, family estrangement, career challenges, financial wounds, and more. By facing these stories with compassion and curiosity, I’ve gained not only personal clarity but also the opportunity to build a creative platform that reflects the life themes that are central to who I am. Writing has allowed me to explore the conversations I want to engage in, the topics I want to continue learning about, and the humanity I want to express. What once caused me shame has become a source of abundance, insight, and connection.

The act of telling your story is both a reclaiming of your life and a gift to the world around you.

. . .

When we write our stories,
we transform emotion into meaning

Emotions are internal and fluid, often messy and contradicting. Storytelling takes those raw, internal experiences and gives them shape, form, and language.
It also allows a subtle shift: the emotion itself can be processed, reframed, and released in the act of creation, making it a transformative process.

The Transformational Storytelling Intensive brings together the techniques and tools from several standalone workshops that I’ve taught for years through literary organizations like The Writer’s Center, along with my Story Work self-discovery method. Participants will move from exploration to completion: you’ll choose an inner story to work with, and through the process of discovery, development, and revision with a creative community and guide, you will write and transform that story.

. . .

When we share our stories,
our external expressions create resonance

Art translates what is felt into something that can be seen, heard, or shared.
The stories we write carry emotional truths that have the power to reach out and touch, and move, and activate others. Our stories transform private feelings into shared experiences.

The Transformational Storytelling Intensive combines self-discovery, therapeutic writing practices, and craft elements to help you get to the heart of your story. You’ll challenge yourself, expand your use of language and literary tools, and build the courage to be seen and feel more confident in your expression. This workshop nurtures your healing, your personal growth, and your creative voice. You’ll gain practical tools for writing, and leave with your heart full and a story ready to share.

sessions take place on wednesday evenings from 6-8 pm et
from january 14 - march 25

The eight sessions are spread across eleven weeks, with a built-in break after every two sessions.
There will be no sessions on January 28, February 18, or March 11.
These pauses create space for reflection, incubation, and the unhurried creative rhythm that writing (and healing) truly needs.

session 1 — january 14
✦ Foundations & storyteller identity ✦

In this first week, you’ll name the limiting story you may want to transform and explore what drew you to the workshop, keeping in mind that this intention may change as we move through the process. We’ll discover your storyteller types, clarify your creative needs, and learn the four-step creative process through examples tailored to developing story ideas. This foundation sets the stage for reflective storytelling that is fueled by your unique needs and deeper why.

session 2 — january 21
✦ idea generation & Connective Threads ✦

Week two focuses on generating ideas and uncovering recurring themes in your life.
You’ll build a bank of memories, identify your connective threads, and use Story Work prompts to confirm the story you feel ready to transform.
You’ll also learn a variety of idea generation methods that provide you with different pathways for gaining insights about your story.

session 3 — february 4
✦ Story Craft & Structure ✦

This week dives into the structures that support transformational storytelling. You’ll explore storytelling forms, transformational narrative arcs, and literary examples, while experimenting with outlining and prewriting techniques to begin shaping your concepts into a loose structure. At this stage, the focus is on idea development and gaining clarity. Using Story Work tools, we’ll explore the inner shifts and outer events that shape your transformation and ways to bring them to the page.

session 4 — february 11
✦ Intentional Storylines & Emotional Meaning ✦

Week four goes deeper into meaning-making and clarifying your story’s arc. Through reflective exercises, you’ll explore the old narrative versus the reclaimed narrative, refine the themes that speak through your story, and begin drafting with a focus on curiosity and honesty. Therapeutic methods like expressive writing will help your story open up and reveal more layers.

session 5 — february 25
✦ Vulnerability on the Page ✦

This week, as you continue drafting, the focus is on writing bravely without self-avoidance. You’ll learn techniques for emotional regulation, discovering deeper truths, working with limited memory, and practicing vulnerability on the page. The goal is to let your story unfold organically while cultivating creative courage, self-compassion, and radical acceptance, both toward your experiences
and the way you express them.

session 6 — march 4
✦ Review, Revision & Momentum ✦

You’ll look for opportunities to utilize literary devices as well as break rules, make the piece uniquely yours, and begin considering your ideal audience and the impact you want to have. You’ll troubleshoot parts of your story where you feel stuck, strengthen clarity and structure, and receive feedback and Q&A support to get through the murky middle and maintain momentum toward completion.

session 7 — march 18
✦ Small Group Feedback & Sharing Paths ✦

In week seven, you’ll participate in breakout sessions to gain thoughtful input from peers and from me, the facilitator. You’ll learn strategies for giving and receiving
constructive feedback. There will be more time for Q&A and wee will also discuss publishing and sharing pathways for bringing your story into the world.

session 8 — march 25
✦ Showcase & next steps ✦

The final week is a celebration of the creative journey we’ve taken together. Writers will share their completed pieces in a live reading, reflect on the personal growth and healing that emerged through the process, and explore their intentions for how to share or continue developing their work. You’ll leave with a polished story and a clear sense of next steps in your writing and creative practice.

The true transformation happens on the inside:
you’ll walk away with new language to honor the wisdom you’ve reclaimed,
and a fresh, empowered perspective on the old story you’ve been carrying.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

. . .

is this the right
OPTION for you?

If you are seeking support for writing your story or growing creatively, your needs and areas of focus may vary.
I offer three different intensives, each designed to help writers explore, develop, and share their work in unique ways.
Below, you can review the options to see which one best aligns with your creative journey.
You can express interest in another program here.

. . .

creative courage writing intensive

“I need a creative reset. I want to reclaim my voice and build a creative practice that’s sustainable, meaningful + aligned with who I’m becoming.”

You’re ready for a foundational process that helps you recover your creative rhythm and use it as a tool for courage, clarity, and deeper purpose. Through a personal narrative project and weekly homework assignments, you’ll learn how to develop your ideas through a 4-step creative process, and walk away with a toolkit of discovery exercises, lifestyle habits, and mindset shifts that support your writing. While there is a writing project assigned, the heart of the intensive is process discovery—learning how you create, what motivates you, and how to build courage and confidence from that awareness.

Length: 6 sessions across 12 weeks

story work healing intensive

“I want to learn various ways to use writing to heal, make sense of my experiences, and reclaim my narrative using creative storytelling exercises.”

You’re ready for a gentle, guided process that transforms limiting beliefs and past wounds into healing narratives. Participants explore their inner stories through creative self-discovery, uncovering new pathways to more empowering personal stories. Participants learn one story work approach each week and have the opportunity to apply it to their writing and share it with the group. The focus is on therapeutic writing, building a toolkit of practices for your ongoing creative work, and engaging in supportive community discussion and sharing. Participants leave with the beginnings of new material.

Length: 6 sessions across 7 weeks

transformational storytelling intensive

“I want to identify a heavy story I’ve been carrying, transform it, and express it in a way that feels empowering, authentic, and creatively fulfilling.”

You’re ready for an immersive, guided process that blends self-discovery, creative courage, and craft development to transform a limiting story into an empowering expression. Participants explore their inner and outer transformations, experiment with a variety of writing techniques, and move step by step from idea generation through drafting and revision. The focus is on writing to heal, deepening emotional and narrative clarity, practicing self-care while writing sensitive material, and leaving with a finished piece ready to share, pitch, or publish.

Length: 8 sessions across 11 weeks

express interest in another intensive or coaching program

There are 10 spots available for writers of all levels
and backgrounds who want to use writing to heal.

. . .

✦ session dates ✦

Sessions take place on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 pm et from January 14 - March 25.
There will be no sessions on January 28, February 18, or March 11.

✦ WORKSHOP structure & MATERIALS ✦

Each session will include a combination of instruction, discussion, selected readings, and Q&A. With every session, you’ll receive a detailed guide, any resources we mention, and a full recording. Video replays are sent to you the next day so you can revisit the material at your own pace.

✦ registration dates & cost ✦

Early Bird: December 15 - December 22 | $385 (no payment plan)
Regular: December 23 - January 9 | $480 (payment plan available)

✦ time investment & homework ✦

Each week, writers will use the course material to develop the personal narrative that serves as the final goal of the intensive. The piece should be no longer than 1,000 words. While each writer’s process will be unique, you may spend around 1–2 hours per week on this creative work in addition to our scheduled sessions.

✦ inner story writing circle ✦

Transformational Storytelling participants will also have access to the Inner Story Writing Circle during their time in the intensive at no additional cost. This includes cowriting sessions, workshops, office hours, and more. Members of the Inner Story Writing Circle can participate in the Transformational Storytelling Intensive using the member discount.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

Your Facilitator

GG Renee Hill is an author, creative coach, and workshop facilitator whose work centers writing as a tool for healing, self-discovery, and creative expression. Her mission is to help others enrich their lives and communities through the transformative power of the written word. She is the author of *Self-Care Check-In: A Guided Journal to Build Healthy Habits and Devote Time to You* (2020) and *A Year of Self-Reflection Journal: 365 Days of Guided Prompts to Slow Down, Tune In, and Grow* (2021). Her most recent book, *Story Work: Field Notes on Self-Discovery and Reclaiming Your Narrative* was published by Broadleaf Books in November 2025. When she’s not writing, GG facilitates writing workshops for a diverse list of corporate and non-profit clients and literary organizations. She lives in Maryland with her family. You can learn more about her background and experience here.

FAQ’s

There are no refunds. I pour a great deal of love, focus, and intention into this program, so I want to work with people who are also committed to the process.
All workshop sessions are recorded and are delivered to all participants the day after each session along with the workshop materials and resources.
No. This workshop is open to writers of all experience levels. This workshop is designed to meet you where you are, offering guidance, tools, and support whether you’re just beginning or advanced. It’s for anyone interested in writing to heal.