Brave Space is a safe, intentionally-built/run community where people can show up as they are.
As a neurodivergent person I've been trying to fit into communal spaces all my life and failing, and I don't want people to have to worry about how to show up. Because we're online, everyone has the option of being off camera or on camera when it suits them. Because we're online, there are clear rules about who talks when or when to participate in the chat. We don't ask open-ended how-are-you type questions, or if we do, we apologize! There is very little small talk here.
Brave Space is about people showing up for a purpose, and we achieve that purpose.
BraveSpace.online
Brave Space is about fostering ease toward creativity or healing or both. So while it's not hands-on, there's a lot of heart, there's a lot of seeing and reflecting and recognizing each other and ourselves.
It's a space for growing and for challenging our edges and for celebrating successes and offering each other and ourselves compassion. These are quite abstract ideas, but the visuals tend to be group retreat-like, women and nonbinary folks coming together and lifting each other up. Kindness is probably one of the biggest parts of Brave Space. People come here and learn to be kinder to themselves. We learn to foster a greater internal sense of safety. It's incremental, but it works. We are a cure for writer's block or any kind of creative block, and a path toward healing. Brave Space has healed folks who didn't know they needed any, folks who just showed up to write and found a lot more.
It's also a space for body-doubling. So if you have a hard task to do, you can come to Brave Space and get it done while feeling held in a safe community.
Reach out to sign up for Brave Space >>
HOW IT WORKS
Email me for a LINK to Zoom.
Arriving in Brave Space, you get a grounding embodiment meditation to start. You also get a prompt that will meet you wherever you are, for whatever you're working on, in any genre.
We write (or make art or music) for an hour. I mark the quarters with quotes and inspiration, reminders to breathe, and ways to stay on track. You can CHAT with me privately throughout the session for help starting, for frustrating moments in your writing, for inner critic issues and doubt, and any fears you are feeling. I will help you get through it.
After the creative hour, we have an optional discussion about the process to discover our personal patterns, ways to manage better and ways to show up more deeply for our creative work. If there’s time after the process discussion, we talk craft.
Afterwards I send an email to all participants from that session. It will not show anyone your email address. This email provides details of the session highlighting and reflecting back what we learned. People tell me they tape these onto their walls for added support!
The weekly Brave Space schedule is posted in the Substack, but it’s usually Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12pm ET and Sundays at 6pm ET.
On TUESDAYS (12pm ET) in BRAVE SPACE I offer a workshop of up to a page of work after regular BRAVE SPACE is over. We workshop from about 120pm ET until 2pm ET.
Each month on 2nd Sundays at 730pm ET and Final FRIDAYS at 3pm we have a Brave SHARING SALON where you can share up to 10 minutes of work (typically about 1400 words).
Feedback is always nurturing & based on the person sharing & their needs. I’m happy to discuss how we do this.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
There is no commitment necessary - come when you can, leave when you want to.
For More, Join My SUBSTACK
PAYMENT
I run Brave Space for a minimum suggested payment of $5-25/session. If you are unable to afford any amount, you may make arrangements with me to come for free.
Your payment helps me serve people with disabilities, chronic illness, those w/limited incomes and others who can't afford to pay. It also pays for my time creating, curating and running Brave Space. Please be generous with me. You will find that you get a lot from Brave Space.
I prefer Venmo @Emma-Goldman-Sherman at 8102 if they ask. Or Zelle to Barbara Goldman-Sherman (my legal name) at emmagoldmansherman@gmail.com. I will take Paypal (emmagoldmansherman@gmail.com) if you are outside the United States and pay the fees.
When I see your payment, I send confirmation. If you're not paying, just say so, and I'll confirm that too.
BRAVE SPACE FOR SURVIVORS
If you are writing or creating through personal trauma, I can help you set healthy boundaries around your work. Being in Brave Space helps survivors feel more empowered to create.
Even if you’re working on something that has nothing to do with trauma, if you have a trauma history (as I do), you might not want to work alone. You don’t have to commit to multiple sessions - just come once to see for yourself how brave you might be!
For Wholeness tips on how I survive, check out my SUBSTACK