I can’t write! I’ve never done any writing! I wouldn’t know what to write! Definitely not for me, I’m hopeless with words!
These are some of the statements I have heard from people who would like to write.
You can write! Do you write lists, messages to friends, on social media? We listen, we feel, we observe, we question, we wonder. We all have words inside us!
The events page on this website provides information about my regular writing groups. These will be added to from time to time and venues may vary. I am also open to holding Writing for Wellbeing workshops on request for groups, and also individual sessions.
The workshop themes vary. Some of them are linked, but all concern aspects of the changing nature and stages in our life-cycle, exploring different issues within our life experiences.
Memories feature strongly in the Writing for Wellbeing process as we leave behind our every day lives to sit, reflect, and write. To assist this process, we start off with simple breathing exercises to ground us in the present moment, to actively allow ourselves to reflect and address our inner thoughts and emotions. These may be recent or in the far distant past.
The atmosphere in the groups is supportive and we agree between us to keep it confidential. There are opportunities to be still and quiet, to allow creativity to appear as we observe our inner selves.
No prior writing experience is required as we all have stories to tell and the skills within us to write in whatever form we would like. Some participants have written before, either for themselves, in professional capacities, or in academia; some may keep a journal or diary, some for years, others more recently; some participants may never have written. There is no right or wrong, there is no competitiveness, we all have the necessary creative skills within us, our life experiences, ourselves.
Also, most of us are familiar with lists! I always offer prompts and suggestions to assist with the writing process. To begin with, lists of words may appear on the page in connection with the theme. Gradually these lists will develop and grow.
Whatever writing skills are present at the outset of the groups, all or none, Writing for Wellbeing practices will not only enhance them but provide valuable insights into who we are as human beings and our place in the world. Self-knowledge is a great tool in the journey of our lives, helping us to understand ourselves and benefit our wellbeing. We all have so many thoughts, feelings and emotions within our bodies and being able to release them onto the page is not only healing but enlightening for our bodies and minds.
We do not have to share what we have written, but we can if we would like to. Reading out loud is a wonderful way to liberate unwanted lost memories, or to reconcile ourselves with them, reframing them, being in control of them and thus, if need be, to act upon them. To do this, we do not have to concern ourselves with spelling, punctuation or academic research. We can simply allow the words to speak for themselves, with the desire to look deeply inside ourselves. This allows insights and understandings to emerge.
For those who would like to look further into these concepts, there are lots of books and papers to confirm the wonderful benefits of Writing for Wellbeing, too many to mention here but I can always recommend books if participants would like to research this further.
On a personal level, I was drawn to Writing for Wellbeing later in my life. I kept a journal with Tai Chi, Chi Kung and meditation training years ago, I have written academically and latterly have taken many courses in writing, a post grad diploma in Creative Writing and an MFA in Creative Writing taking the publication route. I wrote a novel; a novel which, unless you know my life, you would not be able to discern the fiction from the fictionalised facts.
While I was writing this novel (as yet unpublished as I have been busy engaged with and studying/researching Writing for Wellbeing!) I found certain sections incredibly cathartic. As I had always been drawn to alternative medicine and studied it in many different forms, the thought of Writing for Wellbeing seemed to me to be the next part of my life journey. It was calling me. I researched it further and further, and consequently it is a large part of my life now and I enjoy taking it to others.
Participants in groups, and individually, work with the creativity within themselves; I am simply the facilitator who offers the prompts, suggestions, responses and guidance to assist this process.
“Words from our hearts, memories and lives are recognised as they spill out onto the page. If the words and experiences are reframed and insights are achieved then a revitalisation of self can take place”
Sandie Day, July 17th 2024