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Alumni Spotlight: Michelle Babian Publishes Chambers of the Heart – A Poetry Collection Born from Transformation
by Writing Workshops Staff
A month ago
We're thrilled to celebrate WritingWorkshops.com alumna Michelle Babian, whose debut poetry collection, Chambers of the Heart, has been published and is now available for order. This remarkable achievement represents not just a publication milestone but a profound journey of discovery through our writing community.
From Discovery to Publication
Michelle's path to publication began with a simple but powerful realization. Before taking our workshops, she describes her writing life as "interested and narrowly aware of the range of small/flash," but through her work with us, she discovered she was "aware of infinite forms a writer may create." This expansion of creative possibility proved transformative.
Over the past two years, Michelle immersed herself in four of our workshops, each contributing a unique thread to her artistic tapestry:
- Writing Poems: Between the Divine & the Profane (6-Week Zoom Workshop with Zeina Hashem Beck) – This course, Michelle notes, particularly impacted her approach to poetry
- Writing Flash Fiction: A One-Day Zoom Intensive with Robert Anthony Siegel
- Writing From the Body: A Fiction and Nonfiction 2-Week Class with Shze-Hui Tjoa
- The Story Only You Can Tell: Finding Your Most Powerful Personal Narrative Zoom Seminar with Sage Tyrtle
The Breakthrough Moment
When asked about the specific moment that still influences her writing today, Michelle points to a revelation about craft: "the sparseness and imbued meaning in small moments came across in the workshops." This understanding of how economy and depth can coexist became foundational to her poetic voice.
What Michelle enjoyed most about her classes was direct and telling: "I enjoy the instructor's verve" – that infectious energy and passion our instructors bring to every session, creating an environment where creativity thrives.
A Poet's Heart
Living near the ocean, she found space for silence and language to intertwine. Her feverish journaling evolved into symbolic spaces, creating what she calls "a lyric poetic head and ever expanding heart in an alignment of head, heart, spirit and soul."
Michelle writes from a deep well of heritage – Russian Jewish and Turkish Armenian ancestors who experienced exile, war, illness, and betrayal. But her poetry transforms these legacies, moving toward "beauty, humility, tenderness, gratitude, surrender, and leading with the heart." As a practicing deep transformational coach, she believes we are all capable of aligning with our hearts, "thus creating comets of love."
For Michelle, poetry serves an essential purpose. She writes poetry to keep her heart beating in synch with the guided direction and power of the cosmos.
When Writing Gets Tough
Every writer faces moments when the work becomes difficult. Michelle's secret weapon? "The sense of peace on the other side of the tough end." This wisdom – keeping your eyes on the resolution, the completion, the peace that comes after pushing through – is advice worth heeding for all writers.
Currently, Michelle is working on finishing a small fiction piece, wrestling with the question: "How to get the character across the known space to meet the mentor." Even as she celebrates her poetry collection, she continues to grow and challenge herself with new forms.
A Message to Fellow Writers
When asked what she would tell someone considering one of our workshops, Michelle's response was simple but profound: "fully worthwhile."
She adds: "I am grateful for this space of learning, guidance, respect, care, motivation, and excellence."
Join Our Writing Community
Michelle's journey from workshop participant to published author is a testament to the power of dedicated craft study, community support, and the courage to explore new forms. Whether you're interested in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or discovering the story only you can tell, our online writing workshops provide the guidance, structure, and inspiration to take your writing to the next level.
Our experienced instructors bring verve, expertise, and genuine care to every class, creating spaces where writers can expand their awareness, sharpen their craft, and find their most authentic voices. From one-day intensives to six-week deep dives, we offer workshops designed to fit your schedule and meet you where you are in your writing journey.
Ready to discover what forms you might create? Explore our upcoming online creative writing workshops and join a community of writers committed to excellence, growth, and the transformative power of the written word.
