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Matthew Curlewis

@amsterdamwriters

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AWA-certified founder of Amsterdam Writers workshops Writers' Stretch & Tone, and Rainbow Writing. Creator of Bright Side Writings.

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Oh Italia, oh Isole d'Elba, oh Roma... you've done me good!

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In over forty posts I've made at Bright Side Writings, who knew that my most recent one about grief and loss would be my most popular so far?!

I invite you to read on Substack, over at:
https://bit.ly/grief_and_loss

"Something I’ve learned is that death is not something distant, indiscernible or far out in the future; it is something that walks alongside us every minute of every day. So, why not simply hold hands while walking?"

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Grief touches every life, yet it can be difficult to speak about. Our daily social interactions may not provide a place where communicating sorrow feels welcome.

When we write about our losses in these workshops, the AWA method begins to uncover the strength, wisdom, and tenderness that can live within that grief. These workshops invite you, through curiosity and courage, to find words for what matters most, or to discover how your stories might bring comfort and connection. The Art of Loss provides a community where each voice is valued, and where writing becomes a powerful path toward recovery and renewal.

Workshops in the AWA method have been demonstrated to reduce isolation and loneliness through capturing and sharing stories within an affinity group of writers who share similar challenges.

What to expect: These sessions are offered via Zoom and are guided by the AWA Method. During these two hours, you’ll write to a prompt or two provided by the facilitator(s). You will then break into small, facilitated groups to read aloud what you’ve just written (reading aloud is not required, though it is encouraged). If you choose to share, you will receive positive, affirmative feedback from the small group.

Why attend? Because writing for yourself isn't a one-time reset—it's a practice. Each session is different. Each group brings new energy. Sometimes the thing you needed to write is the thing you didn't know you were carrying until you sat down and let it out.

Need-Based Assistance: You know best your own financial limitations. If you cannot afford a workshop fee, many events now have a limited number of bursary-supported registrations available. You can move forward by selecting the “Bursary” ticket level.

https://tinyurl.com/art-of-loss

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Three stories, three insights and three perspectives from Career Story Nights, The Queer Edition. Part one of three.

⭐️ Mike shared a story of leadership and belonging and reshaping preconceived ideas and judgement.

⭐️ Pauline shared a story about questioning conventional ideas of work, careers, creativity and identity.

⭐️ Matthew shared a story of bringing his whole self into the room and his poignant reflections on being both happy and gay in his career.

All stories reminded us that no one should have to separate who they are from the work they do and places they work.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Mike, Pauline and Matthew for trusting us with your story.

Thank you @zokuamsterdam for hosting us and @fidanska for capturing it all so beautifully.

Keep sharing your story 🌈

@silverlining.space
@paulineperrinstudio
@amsterdamwriters
@sarahmasseyinamsterdam
@saskiamina
@danielore.music
@lisa_clairet

#queerstories #queerstorytelling #careerstorynights #careerstorytelling #storytelling

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THIS WEEK AT THE POWER OF STORY (with AWA)

THE CAREGIVER PROJECT with Joyce Cohen & Carla Hanson
Wednesday, July 8
1:00pm - 3:00pm (EDT)
https://tinyurl.com/caregiver-project

The Caregiver Project is open to personal and professional caregivers who are currently providing care, and those who have provided care in the past; to those who provide daily care and those who provide care less frequently; to those who are caring for someone they live with and those who provide care from afar: all caregiving experiences are welcome. Connect, express yourself, and feel affirmed through bearing witness, and having your voice heard: you are not alone.

THE ART OF LOSS with Jill Golick & Beth M. Lehman
Thursday, July 9
1:00pm - 3:00pm (EDT)
https://tinyurl.com/art-of-loss

Grief touches every life, yet it can be difficult to speak about. Our daily social interactions may not have a place where talking about what is so present for us feels welcome. But when we write about our losses in an AWA method workshop, we begin to uncover the strength, wisdom, and tenderness that live within those losses. This workshop is an invitation to turn toward your grief with curiosity and courage, to find words for what matters most, and to discover how your stories can bring comfort and connection. Together, we will create a community where each voice is valued and where writing becomes a powerful path toward recovery and renewal.

AWA Member Free Writes: These workshops are eligible as Free Writes available to annual AWA Writer Members.

Need-Based Assistance: No one will be turned away because of financial challenges. If you cannot afford the workshop fee, this event does have a limited number of bursary-supported registrations available. You are invited to move forward with registration by selecting the "Bursary" ticket level; if all slots have already been filled, please search for an alternate event with bursary slots available, or email powerofstory@amherstwriters.org if you still have questions.

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Last Thursday evening, we came together for the ninth edition of Career Story Nights at @zokuamsterdam

The stories shared reached beyond our careers, because as we know, work doesn't happen in a vacuum.

It's woven together through experiences, the expectations placed on us, and choices we make.

For our ninth edition, we celebrated queer stories. Each storyteller shared a different perspective on identity, belonging, resilience, leadership, creativity, and hope.

For this recap, I've included the reflective question each storyteller posed to the audience, a question that continues the conversation beyond the stage.

Perhaps you'll recognise yourself or perhaps you'll recognise one of these questions as your own?

Stories at Career Story Nights, connect us ✨

Thank you again to our wonderful storytellers:

@valentin.bvd
@luiztories
@abramovdima
@thereal.bodine
@silverlining.space
@paulineperrinstudio
@amsterdamwriters

Thank you @fidanska 📸

Thank you @danielore.music for your musical brilliance.

Thank you @zokuamsterdam for being the best venue host.

Thank you for collaborating @sarahmasseyinamsterdam and @saskiamina

#careerstorytelling #careerstorynights #queerstories #lgbtqiaplus #careeerandlife

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Tonight, seven LGBTQIA+ professionals will share the moments that shaped who they are in their careers and beyond at @zokuamsterdam

Singer-songwriter Daniel Nguyen joins us, too, and will weave his musical brilliance into the night.

As always,
Seven stories,
Seven minutes,
One room.

With @sarahmasseyinamsterdam as my co-host tonight, we’re ready for a great night 🏳️‍🌈

#careerstories #queerstories #queerstorytelling #careerstorynights #lqbtqia+

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I'm peeking out of the closet for Pride! Come out and join me, six other wonderful storytellers, and hosts @lisa_clairet and @sarahmasseyinamsterdam at the fabulous: Career Story Nights, The Queer Edition, this Thursday 2nd July at Zoku Amsterdam. Happy Pride y'all!

@yourcareerspace @silverlining.space thereal.bodine @paulineperrinstudio @valentin.bvd

#celebratepride #queerpride #queerstorytelling #queeramsterdam #rainbowwriting #amsterdamwriters A photo of Matthew Curlewis on a purple background

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The unexpected moments that shape you,
and become the plot twist in your career story.

Our fifth storyteller at Career Story Nights, The Queer Edition, is Matthew and will share his own plot twist.

In a split-second moment, Matthew decided to approach his career in a completely different way.

His story is about trusting that your experience, creativity and identity all belong in the room.

Sometimes the biggest shift in our careers comes from changing how we show up.

Join us on 2 July at @zokuamsterdam
Link in bio to join.

We look forward to seeing you there ✨

#careerstorynights #careerstory #queerstories #lgbtqiaplus #storytelling

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The Art of Loss
(with Meadow Jones & Matthew Curlewis)

When: Monday, June 22, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm EDT

Cost: $20 USD (bursaries available)

Register at https://tinyurl.com/art-of-loss

What to Expect

Join us for a Power of Story Workshop focused on writing through grief. In this 2-hour generative workshop, we will come together in community to write to prompts with invitations to share, listen, and give strengths-based feedback on what has been shared. Bursaries are available for those who need financial assistance to attend.

Facilitators:

Meadow Jones received her doctorate from the University of Illinois. Her dissertation, Archiving the Trauma Diaspora: Affective Artifacts in the Higher Education Arts Classroom, is an interdisciplinary investigation and extended case study into the role of material and artistic practices in the redress of trauma. She has participated in and facilitated arts and writing practices and groups in both formal and informal education environments and has worked with undergraduates, artists, activists, teachers, teenagers, trauma survivors, prisoners, physicians and friends. Her words have been published in literary journals, peer reviewed research journals, and poetry anthologies and chapbooks. She became an AWA certified affiliate in 2011. She writes with others because she must. Some work doesn’t happen unless others are close.

Matthew Curlewis’s best friend was killed instantly when a train hit that friend’s car at an outback Australian level crossing. At 22, he barely escaped his own death during a three-day coma brought on by hepatitis, salmonella and typhoid fever, all caught while travelling. These experiences, plus fighting in the trenches of the ‘80s/’90s war against AIDS, taught him that “loss” is not something distant, indiscernible or far out in the future; it is something that walks alongside us every minute of every day. So why not simply hold hands while walking?

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An idyllic afternoon, cruising the Vecht with the Amsterdam Writers Co-op @storyhouseworks @monicahayauthor @amsterdamwriters and @thestoryloungeamsterdam ⚓️

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Upcoming events at the store! Part I 🎉
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#amsterdamevents #amsterdamevenings #amsterdambookclub #expatsinamsterdam

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