Bethany Hegedus and The Writing Barn: Craft and Community

     My introduction to the work of Bethany Hegedus came in the form of a picture book: RISE! FROM CAGED BIRD TO POET OF THE PEOPLE, MAYA ANGELOU. The story, beautifully written and poetic, inspired me. I googled Bethany’s name to see if she offered writing workshops and discovered another aspect of her work: The Writing Barn.

This is the book that led me to The Writing Barn. It’s one of my favorite picture books.

     Located in Austin, Texas, The Writing Barn, situated on 7.5 wooded acres, provides a retreat for anyone with a creative spirit. In addition to their physical presence, The Writing Barn offers a wide range of virtual workshops for fiction and nonfiction, as well as two programs designed to guide writers at various stages of their careers: Courage to Create, and The Verge.

     I got on the mailing list and signed up for their workshops that focused on writing for nonfiction, which led me to Rob Sanders and Candace Fleming, two talented and prolific writers who will be featured in future blog posts.

     I also signed up for Courage to Create – twice – and I am currently wading through The Verge. A recent cancer diagnosis, surgery, and subsequent treatments, have been a speed bump in my progress, but the support of my writing community has been most welcome during each phase.

     Not only has The Writing Barn provided top notch classes in writing craft, they also offer community. While in The Courage to Create program, we were matched with other writers, and I am in two critique groups where I can reach out anytime I need a critical eye, or just a word of support. The Writing Barn strives to encourage and accommodate the diverse needs of writers, including those who are neurodivergent. For more information, you can contact thewritingbarn.com. It’s one of the best google searches I ever did.

     These are a few more books written by Bethany Hegedus. ALABAMA SPITFIRE is another one of my favorite picture books about Harper Lee. Some writers just know how to get at the heart of a story, and Bethany is one of them. What I sincerely appreciate, is how she shares her rejections with us as well. Knowing that a revered author knows the pain of being rejected helps soften the blows.