Improv for Writer's Block
Description
You’ve done all your writing, court-the-muse rituals: wiped down your desk, sharpened your pencils, dipped your quill pen five times into your inkwell, went for a mind-freeing walk – to no avail. You’re stuck. You could repeat the rituals. Buy another book on writer’s block. Put up a few more Post-it note affirmations. Or you could come to Improv for Writer’s Block!
Using your dialogue, your characters and your plot lines, Diane Sussman will lead participants through a series of improv exercises with a view toward disrupting ingrained patterns of thought about your work. We may not solve everyone’s short- term or long-term impasses, but we will have 90 minutes of playful exploration together.
“An improviser is someone who believes in transformation . . . and sees obstacles as openings for creative, collaborative solution of a scene, idea or worldview.” — 2026 Global Improvisation Initiative
No prior improv experience is required. To ensure we have a chance to work from everyone’s writing projects, class is limited to eight people. Please note: the class will be held on the second floor of EJC, which is only accessible by stairs.
About the Instructor
Diane Sussman
Diane Sussman was a long-time journalist in the Bay Area, a sometimes teacher of college and adult writing classes and an off-again, on-again student of improv. She also is a community service devotee. You can find her working at the PSU farmers market on Saturdays and volunteering for various cultural and service events.
FAQs
- Do I need improv experience to participate?
Not at all! Workshop activities will be geared for people with no prior experience, though experienced improvisers are welcome to bring their talent and expertise.
- Do I need to be a writer? And do I need to be blocked?
A project of some kind will form the basis for many of our exercises, but people with and without writer's block are welcome to attend. You might think of this workshop as a way to generate ideas for your next project.
- What if I have other questions?
Reach out to us at info@ejcpdx.org.
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