Writing your 'breast' storyOnline Writing Workshop with Jane Bissell
For women experiencing a diagnosis of breast cancer. On Zoom Saturday 6 May 2023 1pm to 3.30pm. Koha $20 - $60 Supported by Breast Cancer Support Aotearoa (BCS). A donation from koha received will be made to BCS in support of their community work. |
What's your 'breast' story?A diagnosis of breast cancer changes lives.
How has it changed yours? Writing can be 'good therapy', helping us make sense of what is happening. Join author Jane Bissell for an afternoon of creative discovery and begin writing your best 'breast' story. Women of any age and at any stage of their breast cancer experience are welcome to join the workshop. |
Writing your 'breast story'.
An online workshop with Jane Bissell
Saturday 6 May 2023
1pm - 330pm
Sliding Koha $20 - $60
The cost of the workshop is $60 however we are grateful for koha of $20, $30, $40 or $50.
Please choose whatever you can afford to pay at checkout.
A Zoom link will be emailed to you after booking.
The workshop
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin
Writing your story may benefit you.
Sharing your story may benefit others going through the same experience.
Writing is ‘good therapy’, especially when we’re dealing with a traumatic life event such as a cancer diagnosis.
Everyone experiences cancer differently – so what is your story?
Join author and workshop facilitator Jane Bissell for this online workshop to explore creative and practical ways to get your best ‘breast’ story onto the page.
Through a connected series of writing exercises and discussions, participants will explore their experiences during the workshop session, with time for writing, discussion, and sharing (there is no pressure to share however participants will be given opportunities to read their work to the group and receive feedback).
Note: With guidance from Jane, participants will have the opportunity to publish their stories on the BCS website if they choose, however this is entirely up to the writer and is not the purpose of this workshop.
In this workshop we will:
- write our stories using guided prompts and exercises.
- discuss permission, truth and allowing yourself to tell the story you want and need to tell,
- discuss how writing can benefit you and others,
- explore ways to get started with your writing and to keep going,
- look at the breast cancer journey and the continuum, writing about diagnosis day, treatment, recovery, and adjustment to 'a new normal',
- share stories as we write (no pressure to share!)
- talk about the writing discipline needed to keep working and complete your stories after the workshop.
This workshop is limited to fifteen participants so book early to secure your place.
About Jane
Jane is a well known Auckland-based writing workshop facilitator, writing mentor, and ghostwriter and is a member of the NZ Society of Authors.
In 2001 she experienced an event that changed the course and direction of her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"My first thought was, 'This is horrible', the second was, 'I'll write about it' and the third was, 'It may be too painful to write about.'"
But she did it anyway because it was too painful to keep it in.
The result was her book 'Welcome to the Amazon Club' published in 2004 and the follow up 'The Pink Party' in 2006.
Jane edited Oysters for Lunch, a collection of stories written by women living with metastatic breast cancer who participated in one of her writing workshops.
"I hope you will join me for this workshop day. It will be insightful, motivational and inspirational, and we will all enjoy the unique privilege of sharing stories that have meaning for us. This workshop is limited to fifteen participants so book soon to secure your place."
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Saturday 6 May 2023, 1pm - 3.30pm
Cost: Sliding koha based upon what you can afford to give: $20 to $60
An online workshop with Jane Bissell
Saturday 6 May 2023
1pm - 330pm
Sliding Koha $20 - $60
The cost of the workshop is $60 however we are grateful for koha of $20, $30, $40 or $50.
Please choose whatever you can afford to pay at checkout.
A Zoom link will be emailed to you after booking.
The workshop
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin
Writing your story may benefit you.
Sharing your story may benefit others going through the same experience.
Writing is ‘good therapy’, especially when we’re dealing with a traumatic life event such as a cancer diagnosis.
Everyone experiences cancer differently – so what is your story?
Join author and workshop facilitator Jane Bissell for this online workshop to explore creative and practical ways to get your best ‘breast’ story onto the page.
Through a connected series of writing exercises and discussions, participants will explore their experiences during the workshop session, with time for writing, discussion, and sharing (there is no pressure to share however participants will be given opportunities to read their work to the group and receive feedback).
Note: With guidance from Jane, participants will have the opportunity to publish their stories on the BCS website if they choose, however this is entirely up to the writer and is not the purpose of this workshop.
In this workshop we will:
- write our stories using guided prompts and exercises.
- discuss permission, truth and allowing yourself to tell the story you want and need to tell,
- discuss how writing can benefit you and others,
- explore ways to get started with your writing and to keep going,
- look at the breast cancer journey and the continuum, writing about diagnosis day, treatment, recovery, and adjustment to 'a new normal',
- share stories as we write (no pressure to share!)
- talk about the writing discipline needed to keep working and complete your stories after the workshop.
This workshop is limited to fifteen participants so book early to secure your place.
About Jane
Jane is a well known Auckland-based writing workshop facilitator, writing mentor, and ghostwriter and is a member of the NZ Society of Authors.
In 2001 she experienced an event that changed the course and direction of her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"My first thought was, 'This is horrible', the second was, 'I'll write about it' and the third was, 'It may be too painful to write about.'"
But she did it anyway because it was too painful to keep it in.
The result was her book 'Welcome to the Amazon Club' published in 2004 and the follow up 'The Pink Party' in 2006.
Jane edited Oysters for Lunch, a collection of stories written by women living with metastatic breast cancer who participated in one of her writing workshops.
"I hope you will join me for this workshop day. It will be insightful, motivational and inspirational, and we will all enjoy the unique privilege of sharing stories that have meaning for us. This workshop is limited to fifteen participants so book soon to secure your place."
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Saturday 6 May 2023, 1pm - 3.30pm
Cost: Sliding koha based upon what you can afford to give: $20 to $60

About Breast Cancer Support Aotearoa (BCS)
BCS is Aotearoa New Zealand's only national peer support-based registered charity providing practical advice and emotional support to those experiencing a diagnosis of breast cancer. Support is given by trained volunteers have 'been there too' and a donation from the workshop proceeds will be made to BCS in support of their community work. Read more about BCS on their website.
BCS is Aotearoa New Zealand's only national peer support-based registered charity providing practical advice and emotional support to those experiencing a diagnosis of breast cancer. Support is given by trained volunteers have 'been there too' and a donation from the workshop proceeds will be made to BCS in support of their community work. Read more about BCS on their website.