Every Meal Tells a Story…
What does the smell of burnt toast remind you of? Which meal tastes like home? What recipe carries the memory of someone you've lost?
Food remembers things that we sometimes can't.
In this gentle two-hour creative writing workshop hosted by @zoe_araba_adjonyoh of @thecircularpantry, we'll use taste, smell, memory and conversation as starting points for writing short pieces of memoir. Working with sensory prompts and shared discussion, we'll explore how everyday foods can unlock stories about family, migration, friendship, queerness, identity, joy and survival.
No previous writing experience is needed. This isn't about writing “well." It's about noticing, remembering, and discovering unexpected connections through food. Together we'll move through a series of guided exercises before creating a short piece of collective memoir inspired by the memories that emerge in the room. Whether you're a regular writer, someone who journals occasionally, or you've never shared your writing before, this workshop is designed to be welcoming, reflective and playful.
Expect...
• sensory writing prompts
• gentle guided exercises
• conversation and shared reflection
• optional opportunities to read your work aloud
• tea, snacks and a welcoming atmosphere
You'll leave with new writing, practical memoir techniques and perhaps a few memories you didn't know you still carried.
Facilitator Zoe Adjonyoh is an editor, writer, food educator and author of Zoe's Ghana Kitchen. She studied Creative & Life Writing at Goldsmiths and is currently completing a memoir exploring memory, identity and inheritance. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, Epicurious, Splendid Table, Daughters of Africa and Black Food. Her workshops explore food as a shared emotional language and use sensory memory to open new approaches to memoir and life writing.
QueerSwap Studio is a non-profit community creative space. All proceeds for this activity go to the facilitators . If you’d like to support QueerSwap Studio, consider making a donation.