Taylor Swift Songwriting Salon
Unlock the storyteller within you and learn to turn your lived experience into powerful, emotionally resonant lyrics.
This is not a traditional songwriting class.
It is a creative empowerment salon — a warm, heart-centered space devoted to helping you break through self-doubt, reconnect with your emotional truth, and unlock the authentic voice that lives beneath overthinking and fear.
In this Unlock Your Muse salon, we’ll work with Taylor Swift as our creative muse, exploring how she transforms deeply personal experiences into vivid storytelling and unforgettable lyrics. Together, we’ll dive into what makes her writing so powerful: specificity, vulnerability, and the courage to give voice to the moments that shape us.
Through grounding conversation and guided writing prompts, you’ll be led to explore your own memories and inner landscapes — accessing deeper layers where meaningful language and authentic expression emerge.
You’ll leave with powerful lyrical starting points, renewed creative energy, and a stronger connection to your unique voice.
What to bring:
Please bring a notebook and pen. You’re also invited to dress in your favorite Swiftie-inspired outfit for a little extra fun!
About the Unlock Your Muse Songwriting Series
These seasonal gatherings are devoted to helping participants access the raw material of songwriting — emotional truth, vivid imagery, and authentic voice — rather than focusing on technical structure or completing a full piece.
Each salon offers a new portal: a chance to reconnect with your creative instincts, break through limiting beliefs, and deepen a writing practice that helps you return to the page with honesty, confidence, and emotional power.
Who is this for?
All levels are welcome. Rooted in feminine creative principles like intuition and emotional expression, this space welcomes anyone who feels comfortable entering a warm, reflective environment.
What makes this different?
Most songwriting classes focus on technique. These salons focus on transformation — helping you access emotional truth, move through creative blocks, and build a writing practice that feels alive and sustainable.
Persephone: An Alchemical Writing Experience at The Women's Wellness Summit
I’m thrilled to have been asked to lead a creative writing workshop at the 4th annual Women’s Wellness Summit!
I will be teaching from 3-4 pm. There are several workshops going on throughout the day that will be very powerful!
PERSEPHONE: An Alchemical Writing Experience
Utilizing the story of Persephone, Dana will guide us through a deeply embodied creative process designed to help you reconnect with your voice, your truth, and the parts of you that have been waiting to be expressed.
Dead Poets Society–Inspired Poetry Reading & Writing Hour
April 7th | 7 - 8 pm | Chicago Location TBD
ALL ARE WELCOME: Bring a friend. Bring a date.
At The Poetry Apothecary, we know the value of putting ourselves in the way of beauty — and in remembering that our voices matter.
Join us for an intimate evening of poetry, presence, and quiet rebellion.
A space to step out of the noise of everyday life… and back into your inner world.
Grab a pint — or a non-alcoholic drink as you walk in.
We’ll begin with a grounding meditation. Then, like a circle of modern-day poets, we’ll read a selected poem together — letting the words land, echo, and stir something within.
We’ll close with a final reading of the poem…and send you back into the night a little more awake, a little more alive.
** When you purchase a ticket, it will be added to your cart automatically. To complete your order, scroll to the header of the website and click the cart icon to check out.
TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT
Inspired by Taylor’s album, this salon is devoted to the art of turning heartbreak, longing, chaos, and confession into poetry.
Together we’ll explore what it means to be a tortured poet — someone who feels deeply and dares to transform those feelings into art.
Even if you’ve never written poetry before.
During our time together we’ll:
• read a few iconic lines from the album
• reflect on the stories and emotions behind them
• write from rich, imaginative prompts
• share and witness one another’s words
Come dramatic.
Come heartbroken.
Come inspired.
All poets welcome.
WHAT TO BRING: a notebook and pen
Unlock Your Inner Muse: Half-day Retreat in Chicago
Unlock Your Inner Muse - Half-day Retreat in Chicago
This Women’s History Month, step into an afternoon devoted to Persephone - the archetype of descent, integration, and feminine sovereignty.
Persephone teaches us how to stop splitting ourselves in two to be loved. How to release the “good girl,” the people-pleaser, the self who learned to hide her depth in order to belong - and instead reclaim our wholeness.
Once the goddess of spring, Persephone became Queen of the Underworld by facing what had been buried. In doing so, she learned to walk in both worlds: light and shadow, innocence and power, softness and strength. Her medicine invites us to do the same.
Together, we’ll move through a curated arc of embodiment, creation, and reclamation, including:
A Persephone-inspired embodiment and creative writing workshop with Dana Marie
A grounding, sacral sound bath activation with Ashley Logan
A playful DIY boudoir photo workshop with Maggie Rife Ponce, reclaiming your gaze and your image through your own eyes
This experience is about reclaiming the parts of you that were never wrong, only hidden.
Come ready to descend, to create, and to return crowned.
Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 1–4 pm
Le Loft
2418 W North Ave #2
Chicago, IL 60647
What to bring:
A journal + pen or pencil. No devices, please.
A yoga mat, blanket, + pillow.
What to wear:
For the photo portion, we’re channeling major Persephone energy. ✨
Maggie’s putting together a custom set just for the workshop—complete with a few props and layers you can play with. But we also love the idea of starting the magic before March 15th: use this as your excuse to build a look that makes you feel inspired, powerful, and totally you.
Need a second opinion or help narrowing it down? Reach out anytime—Maggie’s always happy to help.
The Spring Thaw: Skeleton Woman Writing Salon
March 12th | 6:30 - 8 pm | Pink Couch Books
1161 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, IL
Crack open your frozen parts. Invite warmth back into your heart.
Join us for an intimate feminine salon inspired by the powerful myth of The Skeleton Woman from Women Who Run With the Wolves — a story of thawing the frozen heart, reclaiming aliveness, and allowing warmth to return after seasons of loss, survival, or silence.
In this Unlock Your Muse gathering, we’ll explore how to write from the depths of you - the most instinctual place within — the part that longs to soften, to be seen and to return to life after a long winter.
Through grounding, reflective conversation, and guided writing, we’ll move into themes of emotional thawing, vulnerability, tenderness, and the wild courage it takes to stay present with our own truth.
Together, we’ll tend to the places within us that may have grown guarded or numb, while making space for what is ready to awaken, open, and breathe again.
Whether you are healing, creating, or simply longing for deeper connection with yourself, and your community, this salon offers a gentle pathway back to your inner authority, your creative vitality, and the warm, living pulse of your own heart.
Come as you are.
Leave feeling softer, lighter, creatively awakened, and more deeply connected to the wild, tender truth within you.
Poetry Reading & Write-in in Chicago
March 10th | 7 pm | Kibbitznest (2212 N Clybourn Ave)
At The Poetry Apothecary, we know the value of putting ourselves in the way of beauty.
Join us for a cozy poetry reading & write in at Kibbitznest.
We’ll begin with a gentle centering meditation, then read a selected poem together. From there, you’ll have space to reflect, write, and (if you’d like) share. We’ll close with a final reading of the poem and a closing meditation — sending you back into your day nourished and inspired.
** When you purchase a ticket, it will be added to your cart automatically. To complete your order, scroll to the header of the website and click the cart icon to check out.
Songs & Stories Tour: Pink Couch Books
February 19th | 7 pm
Pink Couch Books
Wilmette, IL
Experience an intimate, acoustic evening with Dana Marie as she shares her original music and the moments that inspired the songs. Bring someone you love and make it a special night out.
Journal prompts, conversation & community sharing (optional!) to follow the performance.
Write Your Own Love Song
Saturday, February 7th
11 am - 12:30 pm
Old Town School of Folk Music
In this cozy February workshop, we’ll explore how to write an honest, heartfelt love song inspired by contemporary folk music. Through gentle grounding, creative prompts, and guided discussion, you’ll learn how to turn real memories, feelings, and images into lyrics that feel true - not cheesy.
Whether you want to write to a partner, a friend, your future self, or the world itself, this class will help you find your own voice and shape it into a simple love song.
Bring a notebook and pen. Instruments aren't necessary for the class, but very welcome if you want to use them during writing time.
All levels welcome - no musical experience needed. Just bring your heart.
Wild Love // Unlock Your Muse x Jane Goodall
🐶 January 28th | 6:30 pm
🐈 Berglund Animal Hospital
1815 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
🐒 Join us for a creative evening dedicated to curiosity, wildness and deep connectedness.
In this special Unlock Your Muse workshop, we’ll take inspiration from the late and wonderful Jane Goodall -- renowned primatologist, conservationist, and beloved voice for animals around the world.
Through her life and work, we are reminded that every creature has a story and every relationship between human and animal is a doorway into empathy, wonder, and love.
🐶 In this Unlock Your Muse Workshop, we'll explore:
What animals teach us about presence, loyalty, intuition, and joy
Our own personal connections with the animals in our lives
How to write from a place of curiosity, compassion, and awe
How storytelling and poetry can help us honor the non-human world
You’ll receive guided writing prompts, a space for reflection, and the option to share your words in a supportive circle. Whether you’re a lifelong writer or simply animal-obsessed and curious, this workshop is a space to play, express, and connect.
No prior writing experience is required — just bring a journal, a pen, and your love (or even a photo!) of the creatures who make life brighter.
🐒 Bonus points for bringing a photo of your beloved creature and dressing in a way that connects you to your wild side... whatever that means to YOU!
Unlock Your Muse x The Alchemist
Unlock Your Muse x The Alchemist
January 13th | 6:30 pm | Pink Couch Books
1161 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, IL
A Writing Workshop on Destiny, Desire & Reality Creation
Start your year with magic.
This special January edition of Unlock Your Muse is inspired by The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho’s timeless tale about following your heart, trusting the omens, and becoming the creator of your own destiny.
In this workshop, we’ll explore the book’s most powerful themes through writing, reflection, and group conversation:
🌙 Personal Legends — What is the life your soul is quietly calling you toward?
🔥 Alchemy of the Self — How do we transform fear, doubt, or stagnation into gold?
🌬️ Listening to the Omens — What signs, synchronicities, or inner whispers are guiding you?
🌞 The Soul of the World — How does your creativity help you shape your reality?
Through guided prompts, poetic exploration, and supportive sharing, you’ll reconnect with your inner seeker and leave with a clearer sense of your path for 2026—rooted in intuition, wonder, and self-trust.
This is a space to remember that your dreams aren’t random.
They’re invitations.
And like Santiago, you’re meant to follow them.
Come write with us, connect with other creative souls, and begin the new year in alignment with your own Personal Legend.
Price: $25
Hallmark but Make It Feminist: Holiday Romance x Poetry Workshop
🎄 Plot twist: she fell in love with herself.
Join us for an evening of poetry, power, and unapologetic self-expression. Whether you’ve been writing for years or are just starting to find your voice, this workshop is a space to explore your inner world through the healing power of words.
Together, we’ll draw inspiration from the cozy magic of holiday love stories—with a twist. This is Hallmark if the heroine ditches the man and falls wildly in love with herself. We’ll reflect, write, and gather in circle to reimagine romance, joy, and what it means to come home to you.
🎄 In this Unlock Your Muse Workshop, you’ll:
• Explore the holiday romance archetype through a feminist lens
• Write from themes of self-love, belonging, and inner celebration
• Receive guided poetry prompts to unlock your truth
• Share in a supportive circle of women reclaiming their voices
Leave with new writing, a warm heart, and your own feminist love story. No experience necessary—just bring a journal, a pen, and a willing heart.
🎄 Bonus points for dressing like you just stepped out of a Hallmark holiday movie!
Price: $25
Wild & Holy: Mary Oliver x Poetry Workshop
🍃 Poems of praise, presence, and the sacred ordinary.
Join us for an evening of poetry, power, and unapologetic self-expression. Whether you’ve been writing for years or are just starting to find your voice, this workshop is a space to explore your inner world through the healing power of words.
Together, we’ll draw inspiration from the quiet wonder of Mary Oliver—a poet who taught us how to love the world and ourselves with reverence. We’ll reflect, write, and gather in circle to praise the sacred ordinary and rediscover awe in our everyday lives.
🍃 In this Unlock Your Muse Workshop, you’ll:
• Study the life and work of Mary Oliver
• Write from themes of presence, nature, and radical gentleness
• Receive guided poetry prompts to unlock your truth
• Share in a supportive circle of women reclaiming their voices
Leave with new writing, a deeper connection to the earth, and a heart full of quiet wonder. No experience necessary—just bring a journal, a pen, and a willing heart.
Price: $25
Unlock Your Muse: Songwriting x Spells
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Spells & Sonnets: Witchy Women x Poetry Workshop
🕯 Write like a woman on fire. Poems as spells, hexes, and homecomings.
Join us for an evening of poetry, power, and unapologetic self-expression. Whether you’ve been writing for years or are just starting to find your voice, this workshop is a space to explore your inner world through the healing power of words.
Together, we’ll draw inspiration from the archetype of the witch—wild, wise, and unapologetically herself. Through spellbinding language and soul-rooted truth, we’ll write poems that hex the patriarchy, bless our inner child, and call our power home.
🕯 In this Unlock Your Muse Workshop, you’ll:
• Study the archetype of the witch in poetry, myth & your favorite witches (think Practical Magic + Elphaba!)
• Write from themes of transformation, fire, and feminine magic
• Receive guided poetry prompts to unlock your truth
• Share in a supportive circle of women reclaiming their voices
Leave with new writing, fierce insight, and a poem that feels like a spell. No experience necessary—just bring a journal, a pen, and a willing heart.
🕯 Bonus points if you show up in your best witchcore look.
Price: $25
Big Hair, Bigger Heart: Dolly Parton x Poetry Workshop
💋 Writing with rhinestones, tenderness, and unapologetic truth.
Join us for an evening of poetry, power, and unapologetic self-expression. Whether you’ve been writing for years or are just starting to find your voice, this workshop is a space to explore your inner world through the healing power of words.
Together, we’ll draw inspiration from the rhinestone-studded heart of Dolly Parton—a storyteller of sass, tenderness, and radical compassion. We’ll reflect, write, and gather in circle to honor our sparkle, our softness, and our truth.
💋 In this Unlock Your Muse Workshop, you’ll:
• Study the lyrics and legacy of Dolly Parton
• Write from themes of resilience, self-worth, and unapologetic femininity
• Receive guided poetry prompts to unlock your truth
• Share in a supportive circle of women reclaiming their voices
Leave with new writing, a fuller heart, and maybe a few glittering tears. No experience necessary—just bring a journal, a pen, and a willing heart.
💋 Bonus points if you wear a Dolly inspired outfit!
Price: $25
Heartbreak Song Club: Emo Songwriting Workshop
This is a FREE event with Guitars Over Guns, open to ALL! Come check out what we are doing, meet the community and get your emo on!
Free street parking available
Community Nights at Haven Studios: a quarterly series of creative, healing-centered gatherings hosted in our Haven recording studio. These events will feature songwriting workshops, mental health and educational resource-sharing, hands-on studio experiences, guest-led artistic development sessions, and college career guidance. The goal is to offer a space for reflection, artistry, and connection for youth, mentors, and the broader GOGO community.
Summertime Sadness: Lana Del Rey x Poetry Workshop
💔 Heartbreak, longing, and the poetry of beautiful melancholy.
Join us for an evening of poetry, power, and unapologetic self-expression. Whether you’ve been writing for years or are just starting to find your voice, this workshop is a space to explore your inner world through the healing power of words.
Together, we’ll draw inspiration from the cinematic sadness and vintage glamour of Lana Del Rey—a modern muse of heartbreak, longing, and sultry melancholy. We’ll reflect, write, and gather in circle to honor the beauty of feeling deeply and the poetry of being undone.
💔 In this Unlock Your Muse Workshop, you’ll:
• Study the lyrics and persona of Lana Del Rey
• Write from themes of yearning, nostalgia, and feminine mystique
• Receive guided poetry prompts to unlock your truth
• Share in a supportive circle of women reclaiming their voices
Leave with new writing, new insight, and a deeper connection to your own beautiful ache. No experience necessary—just bring a journal, a pen, and a willing heart.
💔 Bonus points if you dress up in a way that represents Sad Girl Summer to you!
Price: $25
