Your Write Path

I have to say I’ve never considered myself a teacher and I use the term “facilitator” in my workshops. I don’t see attendees as students, but as participants, and my role as encouraging their exploration and bringing-forth (I cringe at the word “manifest” for some reason) their own creative desires.

BUT … in the fiction writing  and self-publishing workshops I am teaching. There’s no flash writing or exercises, it’s all “how to” material. So yes, I’m a teacher. I’d never imagined it, until I did!

This one is special for me: a monthly journaling group I’ve been asked to facilitate for New Hope Celebrates, a LGBTQ community organization in New Hope, PA. The first gathering is March 12, and I’m very excited. We have legacies, too, and this will be a safe space for us to write about and explore our lives at a time when our government would rather we fade away in silence. That’s not going to happen.

From the most recent 2 hour autobiographical writing workshop:

“I had a blast! Mr. McNease’s workshop was a revelation. His ability to quickly break through writer’s inhibition and get you to simply write is refreshing.  He quickly set my mind at ease! Highly recommend him.” – Al

“I thoroughly enjoyed your workshop for Guided Autobiography. The exercises were fun, and I enjoyed sharing with others in the group. I came away feeling less daunted about this sort of writing. It does not have to be a huge work. It can be fun and entertaining, a way to tell stories about life, that in the telling may unearth new thoughts and perspectives.” – Val

“As someone who isn’t a writer, I was a bit nervous about attending this workshop. I needn’t have been, because the relaxed and convivial tone Mark set had me feeling like I was at a retreat rather than a classroom. He employed thought-provoking prompts which stirred something within me, and I not only did some writing but I thoroughly enjoyed the process. I’d happily recommend his workshops to anyone looking for an out-of-the-box way to connect with themselves or others.” – Randi

I conducted another 2 hour autobiographical writing workshop and they loved it! I’d donated this to the Uniteraian Universalist auction held several months ago for our congregation. It was at our friend Doris’s house. Our other friend Kathi, who only comes to visit once a year, was completely surprised: she had no idea we were doing this, and I even doubly suprised her by saying I was meeting with a client and had to go out for awhile when in fact I went to Doris’s house to prepare.

I keep getting very positive feedback on the workshops and my ability as a facilitator. My third (or fourth or fifth) act is going very well.

And yet, he persisted

This is the space at Bucks on Bridge Coffee Shop in Lambertville where I can now do in-person workshops! The collective Soupcon took it over and I joined. This is going to be a busy and exciting year for me. This was today’s 2 hour guided autobiography introductory workshop. They liked me (they really liked me)! But seriously, I learn so much from doing this, and it’s a privilege to have people share their lives in this process.

All times are eastern (New Jersey) – 2 Hours in most cases
Register at the links below

NEW FOR 2025!

IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS IN LAMBERTVILLE
NEW HOPE ADULT WRITERS GROUP
CLINTON ADULT WRITERS GROUP

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7 (COMPLETED!)
Guided Autobiography 2-Hour Complimentary Introduction (free)
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Soupcon at Bucks on Bridge
25 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
Please specify the workshop or group in your subject line!
RSVP (LIMIT 8)

EVERY 2ND  AND 4TH TUESDAY
Adult Writers Group
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: New Hope Free Library
93 W. Ferry Street, New Hope, PA
Please specify the workshop or group in your subject line!
RSVP

LAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH
Adult Writers Group
6:00 – 7:00 pm
65 Halstead St, Clinton, Clinton, NJ
Please specify the workshop or group in your subject line!
RSVP

5 Week Guided Autobiography ($100 – $20 each week)
Every Wednesday in April 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Soupcon at Bucks on Bridge
25 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
REGISTER / RSVP

THERE’S MORE! THREE WORKSHOPS COMING IN MAY

CLINTON, NJ LIBRARY
Self-Publishing with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
North County Branch Library
Thursday, May 22
6:00 – 8:00 PM
REGISTER AT THE LIBRARY WEBSITE

HUNTERDON CO. MAIN LIBRARY
Fiction Writing Essentials
314 RT-12
Flemington, NJ 08822
Thursday, May 29
6:00 – 8:00 PM
REGISTER AT THE LIBRARY WEBSITE

BRISTOL PA GRUNDY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Fiction Writing Essentials
680 Radcliffe St., Bristol, PA 19007
Saturday, May 3 – 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
(Registration will be at the library website once it’s in their calendar)

BOOK EVENT JUNE 14

I’m arraging a book reading/event featuring the poetry of Tara Elizabeth Benedetti
Saturday, June 14 – 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Soupcon/Bucks on Bridge, 25 Bridge Street, Lambertville
PLEASE EMAIL ME HERE IF YOU’D LIKE TO ATTEND – SPACE IS LIMITED

About Wildflower Within Her Heart and Tara Elizabeth Benedetti

Tara Elizabeth Benedetti has written poetry since she was a young girl. Tara wrote a poem when she was 10 years old, in the 5th grade, and it was published when she was 12, in the 7th grade.

Tara was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was 28 years old, while teaching English in Boston. It has been 16 ½ years of a struggle for Tara. She is now 44 years old. All of her poetry was written before Tara was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

You can see workshop descriptions at YourWritePath.com, address any questions to YourWritePath AT Outlook. com.

CHAPTERS 1-10

CHAPTERS 11 – 20

CHAPTERS 21 – 32

NOTE: This audiobook was made using a synthetic male voice (AI). If you don’t like that or it troubles you, skip it! No professional audiobook narrators were harmed in the production of this audiobook, since I can’t afford to hire them anymore. This is for people who enjoy the story regardless, and for me because … writing is hard work.

Narration provided by Wondervox.

I am so excited to bring one of my favorite stories to life for your listening pleasure… a novella, actually, that had an incredibly long gestation in the recesses of my imagination. I’d put it off as an audio option because the voice technology I use wasn’t quite good enough. Now I think it sounds terrific. Yes, it’s AI/synthetic voice. I would never pretend otherwise. So fasten your headphones, and let’s get this dark, dark party started.

About Fatal Mistake: A Harry Hell Novella
Buy the eBook Direct and Save! 

The year is closer than you think. The world has collapsed under the weight of its own insatiable needs, leaving shattered cities where those who still have anything fight to keep it that way, and those who don’t are a constant threat. It’s a danger that must be contained through a tightly controlled society where everyone is observed and everything is kept in its place. Harry Hellerman and his twin brother, Elliot, enter this world three minutes apart. By the time they’re teenagers, they’ve been surrendered to Control to be molded into the perfect assassins. A boy named Harry Hellerman enters, and a man named Harry Hell emerges: a killing machine of the highest order.

Actually, we can

(Photo: Clinton, NJ, library writers’ group)

Among the many talismans spread around my work (sacred) space is a simple wooden block with the words, ‘Actually I Can’ on it. It’s been a reminder every day that life isn’t over till they put a small hand mirror under your nose to make sure you’re dead. Until then, as Saul Bellow said (and Anne Sexton quoted in her Pulitzer Prize winning book of poetry ‘Live or Die’), “Live or die, but don’t poison everything.”

I’m living as fully as I can. The photo is the Clinton New Jersey Library adult writers group I just started facilitating last night. I don’t call them students. I prefer ‘participants’ for everything I’m doing. I even said last night, “I’m not a teacher. I’m a facilitator.” I want to facilitate other people’s creativity and desire to express themselves. That’s what I hope to be and do. This past year (2024) the universe showed me a different road to take if I was willing to let go of some of the baked-in ideas I had about who I am and what I can do.

I love to teach (I’ll allow myself to use the word in this context). I love sharing my 50+ years of experience and skill. And I love being good at it! My favorite part of book readings was the conversation with the audience afterward. People kept telling me I had a talent for talking to people, that I become animated and enthused speaking about writing, and they were right.

It invigorates me. It challenges me. It humbles me (as much as I’m willing to be humbled), and it reminds me that I have something to offer even now.

Let go, let goodness, and don’t be afraid of being someone new … that person, with those talents and gifts, was there all along.