Excavate the Wound is a five-week deep dive into developing fiction projects rooted in personal experience, designed for writers who want to alchemize lived histories into compelling narratives.

Excavate the Wound

Spiral Inward…

Excavate the Wound is a series of workshops inviting writers to dig inward through memory, obsession, and imagination to uncover what gives their stories depth.

Each session blends craft with psychological and mythical self-inquiry, guiding you to clarify your creative voice, build rich characters, and shape living story worlds.

Each session weaves together guided exercises, presentations, and open discussion.

This offering is designed for storytellers—particularly narrative writers—who are interested in learning how to meaningfully transmute their personal experiences into resonant fiction while receiving support in the vulnerable work of self-excavation.

The fall 2025 semester of Excavate the Wound runs virtually on Sundays from October 5 – November 9, 3–5pm PT (6–8pm ET).

Series Overview

  • Our characters live within us.

    In this session, we’ll explore how to draw from archetypes, personal history, and subconscious patterns to create vivid characters who feel alive on the page.

    By excavating the inner selves we carry, storytellers will learn to craft characters with emotional depth and narrative purpose. This workshop uses parts work to create an inner archetypal character web.

  • Every story takes place somewhere and those places carry memory, weight, and voice.

    This workshop invites participants to treat landscapes, both real and imagined, as characters in their stories.

    By learning to “story” a place, writers will develop immersive worlds that shape their characters and reflect emotional undercurrents.

  • Every story takes place somewhere and those places carry memory, weight, and voice.

    This workshop invites participants to treat landscapes, both real and imagined, as characters in their stories.

    By learning to “story” a place, writers will develop immersive worlds that shape their characters and reflect emotional undercurrents.

  • Stories move one beat at a time.

    This session focuses on outlining — breaking down narrative arcs into connected moments that flow with intention.

    Writers will learn how to connect emotional truths to story beats, ensuring that plot is always tethered to purpose and character.

  • The scene is where everything comes alive.

    In this final session, we’ll practice writing scenes that embody character, place, and story movement.

    Participants will also have the chance to share and workshop their own material in a supportive space, applying everything from the series to real pages.

Register for Individual Workshops
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Register for the Full Series

  • Excavating the Wound gave me the ability to name what it is I write and who I am with deep intention and understanding. That foundation has informed the way I approach "story" in the most meaningful way and I credit that a great deal to the generosity and knowledge you sacredly poured into the workshop. Thank you for a wealth of information and techniques to support the journey of being a storyteller.

    Marjan

  • The Storywell is a deeply intentional and thoughtful offering for artist, writers, and filmmakers alike who are ready to excavate the most powerful parts of their personal story. I personally have never experienced an offering like this and that is a testament to Zandashé's brilliance, authenticity, and connection to her work. I feel extremely confident in my ability to produce work that is compelling and honors the deep sacredness of story.

    Nana

  • Writing has always guided my visuals and (Excavate the Wound) has helped strengthen the crafting of them by pulling from a deeply freeing personal space.

    Tyronecia

  • The Storywell is a crucial space to connect with other creators and nourish your artistic ideations and creative desires. It reminded me to keep dreaming, keep fertilizing and keep contemplating our inner topography.

    Amada

FAQs

  • The Storywell is an online platform dedicated to helping emerging writers and storytellers develop their creative practices through workshops, resources, and community support. Workshops are designed for new or emerging fiction writers for the screen, but select workshops are also beneficial to creatives of other mediums endeavoring to transmute personal stories and experiences. Learn more here.

  • We offer a mix of pre-recorded short courses available for download and live online (and in-person) workshops. Short Courses can be treated like an at-home artist date or a podcast, digested in privacy and revisited as much as you’d like.

    Live workshops provide the opportunity for real-time feedback and interaction with other storytellers. They are hosted either online via zoom or in-person at select venues. The typical format includes a lecture, a series of exercises, and an open forum for discussion.

    Pre-recorded workshops typically last 45 minutes, while live workshops run 2 hours.

  • Live workshops are scheduled seasonally on a rotating basis to accommodate different time zones. Please check the specific workshop page for dates and times or subscribe to our Substack to stay updated on upcoming sessions.

  • A specific project isn’t necessary for our short courses “Artist Development for Storytellers”, and “Wellness Practices for Personal Storytelling.” In fact, the first can even help you bring a project to mind.

    But you’ll get the most benefit out of our Live Workshops if you already have a project of interest at any state — even just the gestation state. You’ll receive a recording of the workshop to playback for future projects as well.

  • Yes! All live workshops are recorded and sent to all registered participants afterward, so you can rewatch them at your convenience.

  • Once you’ve accessed the content, we can no longer offer a refund for pre-recorded workshops.

    If you are unable to attend a live workshop, you may receive a full refund if you cancel your registration less than 48 hours after booking.

    You may receive a partial refund if you cancel your registration at least 48 hours before the session.

    No refunds will be issued after the session has taken place, but a recording will be provided to all registered attendees.

    In cases of extenuating circumstances, we may consider a refund outside the standard policy. Please contact us to discuss your situation.