Labyrinth Fall Writing Courses
I’m excited to welcome author and writing teacher Katherine Grace Bond to Dreamwalks. Katherine’s here to give us the inside story on her Fall Writing Courses and her ongoing One-on-One Coaching that has brought many writers (including published authors) through the delightful/yet harrowing novel writing process.
Janet: Welcome to Dreamwalks Katherine. Shall we get started?
Katherine: Absolutely.
Janet: Since your Labyrinth online Fall Writing Courses and One-on-One Coaching sessions are about to launch, let’s talk shop. Many writers hit a point in their novels when the story feels unwieldy or distant. How do you help writers rediscover the beating heart of their stories when that happens?
Katherine: It’s definitely a kind of “Trees, meet Forest” situation, and I’ve encountered it myself many times. A novel is a many-armed monster. A lovely monster, but you know what I mean. What you ultimately want is a story that is unified — where all the moving parts are connected. First drafts are a mess most of the time, and that’s not terrible. That’s your discovery draft. But even pantsers in their first draft need some kind of navigation tool. I focus students—and myself—on the core elements of the story—brainstorming to distill down its theme and conflict: How does X overcome Y? Who fights whom over what? And I have some simple plot structures I use to create a scaffolding—one of them is only five milestones. And that gets you started on the dig.
Janet: Yes. That kind of clarity is essential and can save months of meandering. You’ve developed something you call a “dynamic story model.” Can you share what that looks like—and how working with structure in a playful, physical way can spark new creative discoveries?
Katherine: I have little theme and conflict sticky notes hung up around my desk like Christmas stockings. But I started to think, What if I could build a miniature of my story, where the core elements were distilled into a physical form? That’s where the Story Builders (link) course came from—my own desire to have a tangible mnemonic for my story. One I can change as I go, but something that allows me to navigate through to the end.
Some students just take the essentials we work through and put them in a 3-ring binder they can grab as they write. But the more adventurous ones make a model—maybe objects arranged on a shelf, or a map, or a diorama. I’m going to make one of those book nooks for mine—you know, with the lights and little people? I am absolutely terrible at visual art, but this is appealing to my inner fifth grader. The binder works fine, though. The idea is to have something you can physically hold.
Janet: Ah . . . Story Models. That’s such an interesting way to make the invisible Visible!
On Community & Creative Space
Janet: You’ve spent decades creating spaces where writers can dive deep into their work—through retreats, master classes, and coaching groups. What makes a truly nourishing creative learning community for you?
Katherine: Authenticity is key. I used to teach middle and high school, and I found that the authoritarian model that has favor in institutional education does not work for me. I find it inauthentic. I adopted a mentor model, where I met the kids as I would adult peers, and we learned together. The same thing goes for teaching adults, of course. We all have expertise, and we learn from one another. My role as a leader is to provide a framework and introduce new approaches to the topic.
Beyond that, I like to ensure there is space and silence for everyone—that each person gets a chance to share uninterrupted or to remain quiet as they desire. And also that people have time for solitude or for connection with just one or two others. I also want time for hilarity. Laughter is such a vital part of creating and being human.
I’m picturing our Full-Bodied Writing Retreat as I talk about this—a thing we do every summer at this awesome retreat center.
But it’s also true in the Labyrinth Group Coaching, which we do online. People truly connect when they share their work and take the time to deeply listen to the work of others. We write in isolation; we need peers and we need readers.
Janet: I love the community you’ve created, Katherine. So much of our writing work happens alone. Can you tell us more about why it’s important for novelists to have spaces where they can write in community?
Katherine: I am very much in favor of solitude, as I’ve mentioned. We all need it to summon the Muse. But there can be too much solitude, and it’s bad for the spirit. We can get discouraged. Something I’ve noticed lately about discouragement is that it dissipates in authentic community. When I’m feeling like I’m not only a terrible failure, but a uniquely terrible failure, being with creatives who share honestly gives me back my perspective. Also, there’s just that vibe you get with other writers—the excitement of making things, making stories. (Cue inner fifth grader.) That’s why Labyrinth has a free Write-In every Thursday. (Find the link to the Write-Ins at the top of the web page)
On the Journey & Invitation
Janet: We’ve talked about how you’ve watched many writers bring their stories to completion. What kinds of transformations have you witnessed in that process—not just on the page, but in the writers themselves?
Katherine: Even before there is completion, there is transformation. What I witness is relief at actually getting the thing said. That sounds like it would be strictly a nonfiction thing, but it’s especially true of fiction. When you go on the dig to find the buried secrets of your characters, when you discover the surprise twists you’d never have planned, when the words that flow from your fingers are so emotionally resonant that your own eyes are wet—there’s just a deep satisfaction in that. I’ve worked with people who have had locked parts of themselves all their lives and find that the stories released the locks.
And when a writer brings the story to completion? It’s just a thrill. If it’s the first book they’ve finished, there’s a feeling of “I can do anything now. This was the thing I never thought I could do but look!”
It’s sublime.
Janet: Yes. I’ve often said Story is Transformation. It frees us, and it can transform us. You have so much to offer writers as you encourage them to find that place of change. As you head into this new season of classes and gatherings, what are you most excited to explore with the writers who join you?
Katherine: I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of fun. I’ve always loved creating games, which was especially nice when I worked with teens. But adults need fun as well. We need whimsy and delight—things to stoke our curiosity. One of the hard things about writing a novel or memoir is that monster thing I was talking about. It’s just so gosh-darn complicated, and then you’re trying to meet word counts and put everything neatly into plot beats, and it can become a thing you dread. Many writers fall out of love with their novels and give up. They may have a dozen unfinished books because it just wasn’t fun anymore.
I always keep my classes lively, but this season I’m exploring how to infuse more fun into the process. This means tiny mysterious objects that come in the mail.
Janet: How cool is that!
Katherine. Yeah! People receive a small envelope of cards with turning points for their book. I always tell people they can swap out their objects or cards if they don’t work for the story, but nobody ever does. Everyone likes a puzzle—finding a way to interpret the object or the words on the card that would be meaningful for the story. And then they’re off and running!
I want to come up with more ideas like this.
I’m actually revamping my whole One-on-One Coaching program around it. Stay tuned.
Janet: I will! We just finished your Master Class Series and enjoyed joining in as the last presenter. (See the earlier Dreamwalks post “Let the Story Speak” for more about the online Master Classes you can view for Free.)
I saw firsthand how gracefully you bring the writing community together. I’ve also been privy to some of your amazing and refreshing writing tools you’ve honed over the years to encourage writers, whether they are just beginning or have a number of published books.
I encourage anyone looking for a writing course to try the Labyrinth Writing Courses.
It’s been lovely having you here on Dreamwalks, Katherine.
Katherine: Thanks, it’s always fun to pop in here and share.
Janet: Just for fun, here’s picture of us in costume at my In the Time of Dragon Moon book launch, where you played “the Mad Queen” with panache.
Katherine, This sounds good, using almost all the senses to create prompts aimed at helping the novel finish itself, with a little or a lot of help from your friends. Next time I need a novel-completion-instigator, I’ll know who to contact!