The Art of Storytelling:
A Monthly Speakeasy Journey
Spend the hour before the speakeasy begins learning to tell your story with confidence on stage!
Dates: Feb 5, Mar 5, Apr 2, May 7
Four 1-hour classes at 5:30p at TheRuins.
Each session precedes the Speakeasy storytelling event.
Participation Options:
- Full Series Enrollment ($40)
- Individual Class Drop-In (early registration: $15, At the door: $20)
Spend the hour before the speakeasy begins learning to tell your story with confidence on stage!
Are you ready to take your storytelling to the next level? This 4-month series is designed to help you craft, refine, and perform captivating spoken-word stories. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned storyteller, each one-hour session provides practical tools and feedback to get your story stage-ready for the Speakeasy. Sign up for all four sessions for just $40, or register for individual classes at $15 in advance ($20 at the door). Space is limited—reserve your spot now and reach out to Ash with any questions!
Monthly Themes:
February: Crafting Your Story
Identify the core narrative and create your compelling opening
Takeaway: A clear story idea with a strong hook
March: Building Characters and Setting
Develop memorable characters and vivid settings that immerse your audience.
Takeaway: A story enriched with relatable characters and sensory detail.
April: Emotional Arcs and Resonance
Create emotional connections and craft a satisfying arc for your story.
Takeaway: A story that resonates deeply with your listeners.
May: Polishing and Performing
Delivery techniques, story pacing, engaging the audience, and more!
Takeaway: A polished story ready for the Speakeasy stage!
If you:
are ready to take your storytelling to the next level,
want to pick up some new tricks of the trade from a seasoned storyteller,
desire something community-filled and creative to fill your cup,
want an affordable way to grow your storytelling skills
then the The Art of Storytelling: A Monthly Speakeasy Journey was designed for you.
Are you ready to take your storytelling to the next level?
Fall in love with your muse during some of the darkest and coldest winter nights.
SCHEDULE
*In-Person at The Ruins in Hood River, OR*
February 4th, 5:30pm — Crafting Your Story
March 5th, 5:30pm — Building Characters & Setting
February 4th, 5:30pm — Emotional Arcs and Resonance
February 4th, 5:30pm — Polishing and Performing
MEET ASH WYLDER
Ash Wylder is a published author who integrates the cross sections of a deep passion for neuroscience, skill development, and mind-body connection into all of her coursework and uses her history working with team leaders and CEOs to help neurodivergent and highly sensitive writers build creative writing processes that work. She is a life-long lover of language with a run-amok imagination and believes that the art of writing something reader-ready should be a curious and joyful experience. No matter where your blocks come up, she can teach you how to demystify and move beyond them in trauma-sensitive and neuroscience-backed ways.
FAQs
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Sign up for one class!
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Not at all. Over the course of the four months, we’ll work on building a complete and beautiful story-telling method that works for you, but each class can be taken as a stand-alone. If you can’t commit to all, come for one!
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In Hood River, Oregon at The Ruins. This class takes place immediately before the Speakeasy Storytelling event, and I encourage you to stay and listen, or sign up to tell a story of your own! It’s a great time—I pinky swear.
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Yup! In partnership with Angie and The Gorge Speakeasy team, we cooked up this fun offering to encourage new storytellers to take the stage, and empower old hats to pick up new tricks.
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Who doesn’t get stage fright…? Seriously—I would like to meet them.
But a more serious answer is; this class builds over the course of an hour to story-telling to the group at the very end with exercises pulled from the improv comedy world, standup, theater, and storytelling. If at the end of the class you still don’t want to share a quick story, that’s fine! Come for the candy. (There actually won’t be candy, but I encourage you to bring a snack.)
Do you have a different question? I’m not unavailable and mysterious. You can book a chat and get your questions answered here.
Client Testimonials
“Deeply intuitive and caring, heart-centric, wise. Someone who understands how to transmute pain/broken-ness into precious resources for creative expression and strength.”
-Aaron Shori
“I’ve been in awe of Ash’s storytelling for a while now. She always blows me away at the Gorge Speakeasy! When the opportunity came up to do her story workshop, I jumped at it. Thanks to her skills, humor, and easygoing demeanor, she made the experience fun and easy to open up and get creative. She has a real knack for developing stories and building structure, and is incredibly useful in helping you find and tell your own story. Would highly recommend!”
-Jeni Stembridge
“Ash is an unstoppable coach. She is doing the right thing before you want it to happen. Like an expert surgeon, she will ask you contemplative questions yet soothe you with humor which helps you move forward. I love how she holds you accountable as you want and celebrates with you. I recommend working with her.”
-Madhura