Writing Practice workshops are based on the Amherst Writers and Artists method developed by Pat Schneider, and Schneider's "Five Essential Affirmations," as outlined in her book Writing Alone and With Others: 1. Everyone has a strong, unique voice. 2. Everyone is born with creative genius. 3. Writing as an art form belongs to all people, regardless of economic class or educational level. 4. The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writer's original voice or artistic self-esteem. 5. A writer is someone who writes.
Writing Practice workshops are ideal for both
experienced and beginning writers. Sometimes writers come with their
creative juices overflowing and sometimes when they arrive they feel
blocked. We meet our writers wherever they are at in their creative
process.
The facilitator provides writing prompts to inspire the
imagination and encourage experimentation with different styles and
genres. Pictures, words, writing samples, music, objects, tastes,
smells, visualizations and creative exercises can lead a writer to
places they would ordinarily not go. Participants are also always free
to ignore a prompt and write whatever they choose.
After writing for a
specified period of time (usually between 5 and 25 minutes), we read
out loud (always optional), and give each other feedback. The
group responds to this brand new writing by saying what we like and
what we remember. By focusing on what's working in our writing, we
build on our strengths and allow what's not working to naturally fall
away.
In some workshops, there is an opportunity to bring in works-in-progress for more in-depth feedback. In other workshops, time is spent
focused on writing and sharing only. All writing in the workshop is
assumed to be fictional, to protect the safety of each writer and to
keep us focused on the writing.
Each
workshop provides a safe space to know our own voice better and to
share this voice with others. Voicing our stories and hearing
the stories of other women also creates a tremendous network of
community that each writer takes as a gift into the rest of her life.