Workshops may have as few as 3 or 4 writers or as many as 12 (more on Zoom). Online workshops are just as rewarding as writing in person. Most workshops last a couple of hours, and are available in all time zones .
Writing Can Heal The method can help participants work through emotions, relieve stress, and discover hidden strengths. Many AWA facilitators work with community service agencies to provide a powerful, non-clinical mode of support for their members
“The AWA method… cracked open my world and spilled it with all of its light and darkness onto paper. It created a safe and supportive haven for my writing to flourish in poetry, in fiction, in memoir.” – from Annabelle Murray, on the AWA website
HOW IT WORKS
AWA workshops inspire and support you to find your authentic voice and to experiment without fear of criticism or judgment.
The Five Affirmations of AWA Workshops
Everyone has a strong, unique voice.
Everyone is born with creative genius.
Writing as an art form belongs to all people, regardless of economic class or education.
The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writer’s original voice or artistic self-esteem.
A writer is someone who writes.
A prompt could be anything – words, an object, pictures
What exactly happens in a Workshop?
Workshops are safe, encouraging, creative places that usually begin with the leader offering a writing prompt – the suggested starting point for a new piece of writing (by hand in a notebook or on your device)
From Memory or Imagination: A prompt could be a word, a sentence, an object, a photo or even a piece of music. But if the prompt doesn’t speak to you, you can write anything you want.
Everyone Writes: Groups are usually no larger than a dozen people, writing together in silence for short bursts (15 minutes) or longer, maybe half an hour.
Invited but not Mandatory: Everyone is invited to share their just written “first draft” writing. You are free to decline and just listen to other people’s writing.
Deeply Listen: We share our thoughts by telling each other what we liked, what remained with us and what was strong about each piece of writing. There are no questions, no critiques and no challenges to what you write.
ESSENTIAL PRACTICES
Everyone’s writing is treated with equal respect and value.
Writing is kept confidential and treated as fiction.
Writers can refrain from reading their work aloud.
Responses to just-written work reflect what is strong and successful.
Responses and exercises support the development of literary craft.
When Listening in an AWA workshop we enter the universe that the writer has created and leave our assumptions behind. We listen without preconceived ideas about what the story should be about, how the poem should sound, or what we might do differently.
Joan is an AWA affiliate with a background in journalism & social work and experience mentoring young people.
A writer since childhood, Joan sees AWA workshops as a way to find equanimity in an off-balance world. She believes writing from the soul without fear of criticism is a path to creative fulfilment.
More than 30 years at major news organizations, including long-time training editor for young journalists. Master’s Degree from the Medill School at Northwestern University in Chicago.
