Saturday, October 17, 2026
10:00am - 4:30pm
$195
About the Workshop
A one-day workshop on spells, incantations, chants, blessings, and other forms of literary enchantment.
What if writing itself is a form of magic? What happens when we write from the part of ourselves that seeks to protect, heal, change, or call something into being? In this generative one-day workshop, participants will explore the tradition of spells, incantations, chants, blessings, and curses as inspiration for creative writing. We'll read a range of examples from folklore and ritual language to contemporary poems that borrow from the structures and music of spell craft. Participants will spend much of the day writing. Through a series of free writes and guided prompts, we'll generate material drawing from internal sources such as intuition, memory, and a desire for transformation. We'll also devote time to early revision, considering how sound, structure, repetition, and image can strengthen a piece's intent. The workshop will conclude with sharing and feedback. All writing genres and experience levels welcome. Come ready to make a little word magic. Bring writing tools and a willingness to conjure.
About Sherry Antonini
Sherry Antonini is a multigenre artist and writer whose work is rooted in and driven by text-based forms. She has taught creative writing and interdisciplinary art workshops for several years, including seminars on essay writing, poetry, and the archetype of the witch in literature and other art forms. These courses have been offered at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, and through her independent workshops.