Offered in partnership with the Pre-Dead Social Club, DEAD-LINES is an opportunity to reflect on the things that matter most as we explore our mortality. This is the first of a two-part workshop (held on June 6 & June 13, both 5:30-7:30pm) for anyone looking to create an obituary or ode worth reading, worth remembering, and worth sharing, but who struggles to get the words down on paper. Imagine turning the traditional obit/ode on its ear by crafting a piece of prose, poetry or dialogue to communicate what mattered most about that person, the impact they had, and the ripple effect it made. Workshop facilitator, Leslie Pasternack has a bag of tricks to grease the writing skids for all levels of writers and non-writers alike. Participants may choose to bring any character in their life to life—write their own obituary, an ode to honor an important person in your life who is still living or a tribute to a dearly departed pet.
The workshop is limited to 12 participants. Eight spaces are reserved for Village members at a discounted price of $25 until June 2 (first come first serve). These participants should mail their check made out to the Village to:
Seacoast Village Project
400 Little Harbor Road, Mailbox #1101
Portsmouth, NH 03801
After June 2, any open spaces will be made available to the general public at the full rate of $85. Village members wishing to sign up after June 2, or once the eight reserved spots have been claimed, can do so directly on the Pre-Dead Social Club's website.
About The Facilitator
Leslie Pasternack has spent two decades teaching writing and acting at the college level with another ten plus years leading various theater workshops throughout New England. No stranger to tender subjects, Leslie directed the performance and outreach series MAKE SURE IT’S ME, a play about traumatic brain injury in the military. In addition, she is an award-winning playwright and actress who also mentors an incarcerated playwright through the PEN America Center’s Prison Writing Program.
Leslie is excited to help you convey on the page all those bits of goodness about the person (or pet) you adore. She’s got a bag full of tips and tricks and isn’t afraid to use them. And she’s awfully nice to be around. She’s looking forward to welcoming you into this small group in the creative setting of Art Up Front Street’s Gallery to bring your non-traditional obit to life!
About the Pre-Dead Social Club
The MISSION of the Pre-Dead Social Club is to cultivate multi-generational communities interested in having compassionate conversations about death, dying and end-of-life, making it a bit easier, less burdensome, and more tenderhearted long before a life limiting or terminal diagnosis arises. To learn more, you can view the Founder Laura Cleminson’s March 2024 Lunch & Learn presentation on our Lunch & Learn archive page or visit the Pre-Dead Social Club's website.
