Sense Writing

Okay, what’s a less dramatic way of telling you that this class has changed my life?
I took Madelyn’s intro workshop at Kripalu this past March and was initially skeptical of all the woo-​woo (this despite also being a yoga teacher… what can I say, I contain multitudes). But I noticed from that very first weekend that the stuff I was writing in our free-​writes was — how to say this — more my own voice than anything I’d written in years. I have a BFA in playwriting but struggled for years to feel that «flow» where the magic lives. With these focused, low-​key exercises, I was able to access an unstressed, honest (for lack of a better word) voice. I didn’t feel hampered by any idea of what I was trying to write — I just wrote whatever was at the end of my pen. (And then of course later there’s the editing, etc — that’s the fun part!) But it was pretty revelatory to sense that I could write in this unfettered way and work with whatever came out.
Since then, I’ve done Sense Writing 2 and 3, and the way in which I write nonfiction prose has been totally transformed. That is no exaggeration — I feel like I have discovered a whole new tool belt full of tools! I recently got into a nonfiction writing intensive on the strength of work from Madelyn’s classes, and my upcoming grad school applications comprise mainly essays worked on in class and after. I do not know if I will get in – time will tell! — but I can honestly say that the work I’m submitting is the most my own work that I’ve done in the last few years. Certainly I am interested in further developing, polishing, working on new forms, etc. etc. But I can start from a place of authentic expression (ugh, talk about woo woo) and add technique on top of that, rather than trying to shoehorn myself into a form.
Take this class! Whether you call yourself a Writer capital W or are looking for a juicy way to get in touch with all the matter swirling in your mind. Don’t think twice. (And I do recommend the workshop in Kripalu too — they serve really good risotto in the cafeteria!)

I honestly had no expectations when I signed up for this course. After seeing the (characteristically) esoteric Facebook ads pop-​up in my newsfeed, I don’t think any of us quite knew what we were buying into. What I was looking for was something to help me re-​connect with creativity, and I could only imagine what an ad so mysterious could offer.
If unorthodox is what I was looking for, I most certainly found it on that first day of class. We began with some subtle physical exercises – something to encourage tuning-​in to our bodies. I think many of us had never tried such an exercise, and I’m sure most had no idea where it would lead, but our curiosity was piqued. We moved on to free writing, something most writers dread. But I think all of us could detect something felt a little different in ourselves, and the writing flowed out of our pens in a different way. This is how Sense Writing unfolds.
The class certainly isn’t for everyone. I’ve been through only Level 1 but I could tell from the get-​go that continuation would require a degree of patience, trust, and investment of the self. But with all of my self doubt I was reassured by having the chance to meet other current and former students. Experiencing the community of Sense Writers, the openness therein, was all the convincing I needed to continue the journey.
The only criticism I have at this point is that I would have liked a slightly more in-​depth education on the practice (it’s called Feldenkrais) that Madelyn, our instructor, uses during the physical exercises. I think it might help new students understand the aim of how these exercises can tie in to our creative acts of the mind.
The classes are a calming experience, refreshing, and you come away with a lifted feeling. If you’re looking for a weekly ritual to help you hone-​in on your thoughts and creativity, all the while making friends and helping build a wonderful community, look no further. We’d love to have you!

Let me put it this way, before Madelyn’s workshops I did not work on my writing every day, I did not finish most of the projects that I began, and I did not feel I had many options with the work I was working on which often times amounted to just work. After taking Sense Writing 1 – 3 workshops all of that has changed. I am able to write long form prose, experimental poetry, blog articles on any topic, even investigative journalism pieces with relish and gusto. The best part is that Madelyn does not address any of those ‘problem’ areas nor ‘creativity’. The work we do in these classes is very subtle and when you are ‘in it’ it’s hard to know what the lasting out come will be.
It would be useless to describe what the workshops are like because they are extremely experiential. The only thing I am certain of is that my current attitude towards writing, my love for it, I trace back to sense writing. Thank you Madelyn!

This workshop will teach you that you ARE a writer — and it can be fun, without hurting a single bit. I learned that the less I try, the more I tapped in to. I’ve been working with Madelyn and taking sense writing workshops for two years now. They’ve changed my perspective on writing and have made me feel so connected to my work that I’m starting an MFA in Fiction program at Columbia this fall so I can keep exploring. The workshops are very process-​oriented with a focus on story prompts, questions, deep relaxation, and other exercises that encourage you to think about the scenery of your life (past and present, imagined or memoir) very slowly, and carefully, with all of your senses. The best part of the experience is the work that was produced — I was completely surprised by what I was able to access and remember and articulate through the workshop. Everyone in it produced stacks of work by the end of our weeks together and not everyone came in to the workshop calling themselves a writer (even seasoned writers were humbled by their output). I’ve also made a lot of incredible friends with people taking the workshops. Sense writing is a huge bonding experience. We organized a reading series and started a literary magazine for our work. There’s no ego or pretentious expectations — but the processes we practice have taught me more about writing and the different ways one can enter the story-​writing process that I never knew about before or experienced in prior more conventional writing workshops. I’m a sense writer for life and I think, like with yoga, the philosophies practiced here lead to other gentle ways of thinking and operating through life. Madelyn works with Sudanese refugees in the Middle East and immigrants in New York, and cancer patients, and runs all kinds of retreats. She’s a healer and works intuitively but is also incredibly smart and sharp and really well organized. She believes in her methods and is very transparent and reflective about them.
Also: We’ve met in a variety of different spaces including the Old Stone House, the Brooklyn Cottage, canal street lofts, the Open Center, and eventually started working out of a beautiful brownstone with other neighborhood writers (and non writers). I’m not sure why the negative review about the class at Jalopy’s (I’ve taken fiddle lessons there and it’s a fun space. I also know a few sense writers who are musicians and had a blast workshopping in that space and integrating music with the writing) but Madelyn offers sense writing classes all over the city so don’t pick that location if it’s not ideal for you, you’ve got options :-) And that, too, fits in with the sense writing philosophy. Give yourself this gift. Seriously. I feel so lucky for it. Feel free to message me if you have questions.

Sense Writing is incredible. Madelyn offers a space to explore and experiment with your writing. She’s a great writer, teacher, and listener. You will learn new ways to approach the written word and walk away with a greater understanding of yourself and your writing.
I’ve attended two classes with Madelyn. I’m hooked on the Sense Writing pedagogy and would recommend it to anyone looking to expand and deepen their writing practice.

I took this class last summer. I was so stoked b/​c I dropped out of so many writing classes. And as this had a different approach I was sure it was the answer. First the place was upstairs in this dusty dive bar in Bklyn, about a 20 minute walk from train, in the blazing summer heat. The instructor told us the bathroom was knarly and just by the looks of the place itself, I wasn’t going to find out. Who thinks when they take a writing class they have to ask about the bathroom. It’s summer you are going to be drinking water or some other cool beverage and you can’t use the bathroom for a 2 – 3 hour class. Why would you have a class there? The other two ppl. in the class lived in Manhattan as well as the teacher, why we had to go to Bklyn I sure don’t know. If it was the price of the place, trust the park under a tree would have been better, than this dark, dingy, disgusting bathroom place. I should have known to ask about the refund policy first. I only went for the first class, but we spent the entire time doing the same ad nauseam writing exercise and then taking breaks to stretch. It didn’t feel like a well tested concept, nor well integrated. The instructor was a bit distant and aloof, which would explain her choice in venues. No one concerned for others would choose such a place. I wanted my money back. Unfortunately, I did not ask about the refund policy beforehand. There were no refunds! However, the instructor to her credit, gave me an exchange of services. She agreed to read my script in lieu of the class. I believe her reading fee was like $ 70 or $ 90 and hour, which meant my script was going to be read but not really evaluated. Although that is still less expensive than a lot of readers. However, I will say the little feedback she did give me, helped a great deal. I had coverage on my script once many moons ago, when I first started writing, and just felt the coverage was bad and the reader didn’t get me. I can’t say this instructor did, but for some reason I could see her criticisms and felt they were definitely astute and legit. The coverage I rec’d before was from a very young man, not too far out of film school I imagine and probably interned at a bunch of production companies, now selling his services, limited perspective, and not so great insight. And I do not know if he was a writer. I would never go to a script analysis who isn’t a writer again. I really feel there is a difference. The class was an experience I would never want to repeat. However, you may want to consider the instructor for coverage and story analysis. I gave her two star b/​c of the feedback on my script, but the class itself for me was one star.