Hi Friends,

Everybody has a story to tell.

The question is—how do you shape it into something that can be heard?

For years, I’ve been helping people do exactly that—take what they’ve lived through and turn it into a compelling one-person show. A story that not only reaches an audience, but transforms the person telling it.

I’ve done this in my own work as well. My solo show Not a Genuine Black Man became the longest-running solo show in San Francisco theatrical history, with over 1,000 performances. My other shows—including The Waiting Period, The Scion, Grandma & Me, The Great American Shit Show, and The Jewelry Box—have each taken deeply personal material and shaped it into something that can be shared and reach people.

If that’s something you’ve ever felt called toward, I’m teaching an online masterclass FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY.

How to Create a One-Person Show from Idea to Opening Night

I’ll be sharing how to take your story from its earliest spark all the way to a finished performance—what works, what doesn’t, and what it really takes to stay with it long enough to bring it to life.

You can learn more here:

Also, my friend Amy Henderson is hosting an in-person writing retreat May 15–17 at the San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, and I’ll be there for the weekend—writing alongside everyone else.

I encouraged Amy to create this retreat because I’ve experienced firsthand the power of her work. She has a way of helping writers get out of their own way and onto the page—whether you’re just starting out or deep into something meaningful.

And there’s something about stepping away from your day-to-day life and into a dedicated creative space that allows the work to go deeper.

Over the weekend, we’ll write, reflect, and spend time in conversation about the craft—what it takes to stay with a story, to shape it, and to tell the truth inside it. I’ll also be part of a fireside conversation, sharing more about my own path as a writer.

If you feel called to write, there’s usually a reason.

This retreat is a chance to listen to that.

Amy asked me to extend a discount to my community—if you decide to come, you can use the code Brian for $300 off.

You can learn more here.

If this speaks to you, I hope you’ll consider joining us.

We need your voice.

—Brian