“Arya's class transformed my understanding of writing. I generated new material beyond the boundary of my own expectations” —Mara K.
“Of all of my teachers in my adult life, Arya’s classes have been the most life changing I have had. I am endlessly thankful for her kind, grounded presence in my life as a mentor and an inspiration for my writing and professional life. Her workshops created such a precious space for true creativity, vulnerability, and deeper realizations about the truth behind the art we create.” — Julia P.
“I've always disliked writing. I berate myself when I write, dreading it and knowing I need to write something that stands out in an application. When I met Arya, I knew right away she could be the one that could inspire me even to want to write, inviting me into her world of words. Arya encouraged me to write like I painted and celebrate the quirky. I had fun! Arya somehow miraculously helped me find joy in writing. Her ability to encourage the class members to share was inspirational. Is it true? Can we all learn to write? Yes, if Arya is your teacher” — Sal S.
“Thank you for creating this opportunity where frequent writers and never-before writers and everyone in between can feel at home.” — Jenn B.
“Keeping The Channel Open was a fun and encouraging re-introduction to writing for me. The daily prompts are approachable in scale, and challenged me to write from new perspectives, and from personal experiences that I didn't even know had something to say! Arya is warm and playful in her approach to the craft, and made the whole group feel comfortable sharing ourselves with each other, which made for a rich and energizing experience. I was sad for it to end, although I feel this is just the beginning.” — Paul J.
"This class was incredible. It pulled me through a 2-month writer's block, and helped me expand my skills as a writer in ways I was not expecting. I was able to reach into myself and pull out unexpected truths about my life experiences that were healing and inspiring” —Ashleigh G.
“Arya is a humorous, articulate, experienced writer and excellent creative guide. She listens deeply, acts compassionately, and brings her considerable knowledge to the table with every workshop participant, with writers both experienced and fresh” —Emily S.
“I knew that when I wrote, something was coming out from inside of me. But now I feel that with a new clarity. And I feel I can wield it deliberately. The class was a right sized container to explore that safely” —Miriam K.
“Taking Arya’s course was a brilliant exercise in building trust, community, and bravery when exploring the stories our bodies want to tell. As someone who has never taken a writing course before, I felt comfortable sharing with others because of the receptive community Arya facilitated” —Bethanie M.
“Arya combined creating a supportive community with providing very practical, concrete techniques for creating and refining beautiful written material. Nothing felt like a requirement, but rather tools in service of helping us connect with our truest and richest stories and selves” —Cara G.
"I would recommend Arya Samuelson's courses to any writer who is haunted by their inner critic. Her class invites words onto the page through hidden doors about which the censors know nothing. Free of the burden of immanent persecution the hand is provided a new strength to write through portals with a renewed sense of imagination, honesty, and responsibility. Arya does not teach how to write, she teaches the way to writing." — Ganzfield B.
"Taking Writing towards Wildness not only once, but twice, led me to trust my body and my memory to begin to write stories about my life. I found that Arya’s writing prompts are direct, yet gentle, eliciting me to consciously enter portals that led to startling insights into my past. By the end of the 8-week course, I wrote a piece that helped me work through an experience in my life that has plagued me for decades. Arya’s kind and supportive interactions with all of the participants of the class helped me feel more courageous about reading my work." — Esther R.
"Arya's class doesn't just help you probe the edges of your writing. It explores the core of you as a person. Her feedback is kind, insightful, and includes actual action items. The community she cultivated was warm and encouraging. I left feeling connected to a group of total strangers as well as myself in ways that floored me. I genuinely shed a tear when the class ended because it was such a fantastic experience." — Charlotte L.