Beyond the Page: Live storytelling workshop for queer & gender expansive AAPIs

Register by April 6, 2026

Beyond the Page is back! Slant’d’s live storytelling development program centers, affirms, and celebrates our lived experiences as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This Spring, we’re holding space specifically for AAPIs who identify as LGBTQIA+ and gender-expansive. At a moment when queer and trans lives and rights are under direct attack, your stories deserve to be nurtured, held, and heard. That’s exactly what this space is for.

Drawing upon traditions of family lore or entertaining friends over a shared meal, participants will craft true stories from their lives for performance. Over 6 weeks, you’ll join instructors Miyo Tubridy and Dani Huang to build confidence, craft your story, and ultimately perform it live in front of the Slant’d community. Sessions include games, model stories, brainstorming, sharing story drafts and receiving personalized feedback.

Program dates: Monday evenings 5-8pm PT/8-10pm ET from April 13, 2026-May 18, 2026

• Week 1 - The Power of Live Storytelling
  Gather ideas for stories through a sample story, generative ice-breakers, games, and sharing 1-3 minute stories.

• Week 2 - Hear Your Voice
  Brainstorm with a sample story, generative activities and prompts, and share 3 minute story drafts in small groups with shout-outs.

• Week 3 - Craft & Draft in Community
  Practice giving positive and constructive feedback with a sample story, craft a strong story arc, add specific and sensory details, and share 5 minute story drafts in small groups with feedback.

• Week 4 - Witness & Be Seen
  Discuss a sample story, craft scenes and dialogue, last chance to try out a new story, and share 5 minute story drafts in small groups with feedback.

• Week 5 - Performance as Risk Play
  Performance prep strategies, practice being in the spotlight, and “dress rehearsal” with final feedback.

• Week 6 - Celebration in Community (Virtual Story Slam!)

Who is this program for? This program is for writers who want to move beyond the page, stage-shy folks who want encouragement to enter the spotlight, or anyone who has the yearning to tell their story out loud in community.

Slant’d especially wants to invite AAPI writers who identify as disabled, neurodivergent, trans, mixed race, adoptees, West Asian, South Asian and Pacific Islander.

In the spirit of accessibility, registration fees for Beyond the Page are offered on a sliding scale ($120-300, $84 student fee). Slant’d is a fully volunteer-run AAPI nonprofit publishing house; ticketed programs and events support Slant’d in building financial sustainability so they can continue the work they do here.

Image credit: Beyond the Page hand-carved stamp by Mailé Nguyen (program manager for Slant’d’s Blank Page Revival)