The Imaginative Storm Writing Community

A Global Creative Writing Community

What started as a single workshop has grown into a thriving community of writers who join us online when they can, at all times of day and night: midnight in Japan and Manila, early morning in Hawaii, evening in London or Spain or South Africa or Rwanda.

And they join us in person, traveling to retreats in Taos, Nova Scotia, and other beautiful places, to get one-on-one coaching and critique, share insight, laughter, and inspiration, and write side by side.

Our writers describe Imaginative Storm as the place where they feel most themselves: welcomed, respected, and appreciated. Whether we meet virtually or in person, we achieve something that none of us could achieve on our own: a supportive, welcoming, diverse community.

Some of our writers have been with us for decades, consistently expanding their range and keeping up their writing momentum. New voices arrive every week, and the room makes space for them too.

If we gave you 10 minutes to write about this image, what would you write?

The Community Circle

After we meet for our Saturday Writing Circle, we share our work (if we want to). The Community Circle holds all the prompts we’ve offered since April 2021, along with the community word lists and many extraordinary pieces of writing done in just 10 minutes. It’s an opportunity to build creative courage in a safe space, and a place to appreciate one another’s writing.

Imaginative Storm writing is not about polish. It’s about truth, voice, and exploration. On the Community Circle, you’ll find an inspiring archive of writing prompts—and a rich archive of the imagination.

Go To Community Circle

If we gave you 10 minutes, what might you write about the girl with the rose?

Local Workshops & Groups

The Imaginative Storm method has been used in various places and languages. Here are some current workshops:

Webster’s Grove, MO: “Creative Writing the Imaginative Storm Way.“ Led by Heather Sparks. Contact heather@webster-arts.org or find out more on Facebook.

Los Angeles / Zoom: Jill Schary Robinson/Jazz Lion Writers Workshop. Focusing on memoir, and incorporating Imaginative Storm method and prompts. Led by Levy Lee. Contact Lyn Rothman for more info.

In Spanish: La Paz, Baja Cal. Sur / Zoom: Facilitated by Maru Ortega, Wednesdays, 9 pm PST. Contact Maru to join.

Interested in becoming a facilitator?

We’ll train you and support you with a Facilitator’s Guide and downloadable prompts. All you need is the desire to make a difference.

Become a Facilitator

What Our Facilitators Say

"My goal was to simply share this process with some friends, but it ended up being an even more transformative experience than I had imagined. I left the workshop with my rational mind stunned into quiet for the first time. It had seen what damage unbridled internal criticism could do. I felt as though my rational mind was apologizing to my creative mind, vowing to be kinder. I experienced an internal shift that was like fresh air after rain. Now, I feel that I have more space for creativity."

Sandi Dittmer, writer
"The “Write What You Don’t Know” workshop I facilitated was a fantastic success! Twenty-seven participants attended over two days. A wide range of professions, including community leaders, business promoters, producers, social media influencers, and songwriters. I’m deeply grateful for the experience and the opportunity to inspire creativity, support mental health, and open the door to new possibilities through this mind-expanding method."

Kathleen A. Wilson, visual artist