Fun is not a word most people would associate with writing. I don’t deny that some do, like me and the tens of thousands aspiring authors desperately trying to grab the attention of aloof and over-solicited publishers around the country. But many more look upon the act of writing as an occupation firmly wedded to school, learning, exams, or dull and unpleasant work or administrative tasks, and what is the fun in that? In the distant past, public scribes offered their services to undertake the pen work most were unable to perform on account of a lack of education rather than willingness. Today’s ghost writers lend their talents to those self-promoting celebrities marketing executives have decided the audience most wants to hear from but are without art or skill.
Enter generative AI.
It is now easier than ever to delegate the, at best boring, at worst arduous, task of producing reports and essays, to a fast, compliant and tireless machine immune to spelling mistakes, dyslexic confusion and writer’s block. General sigh of relief.
But. Here I want to make the case for picking up the pen
again, and fearlessly, joyfully discover or re-discover the blessings of writing. I want to offer a chance to experience writing as empowering: a facilitator, an ally, a friend in the search for wellbeing and authenticity.
Move over generative AI!
Making sense, self-discovery, creativity, desire, and of
course…. Pleasure! But also agility, flexibility, courage, all delicious words that come to mind as I let my imagination lose and follow the string of ideas I associate with writing. A common entry point to the world of words is an irresistible longing to express oneself. And in so doing, to understand, discover, clarify, explicate hunches and barely unfolded thoughts: by committing
words to paper, carefully selecting them or allowing them to emerge unbidden, meaning, revelations, surprises, confirmations appear. The act of writing enables a distillation process which mingled with the time we apportion to the task, allows thoughts and feelings to finally coalesce. An alchemical transformation
of sorts occurs. Writing helps us wake up to ourselves, sometimes meet ourselves for the first time. We can write our own story, bear witness to our wounds, and maybe even re-write our own story, discover a new narrative, follow an alternative journey we didn’t even know existed. Little by little, inhibitions and tentativeness make way to play and curiosity. Out of the understanding emerges a deepening and a growth, a new sense of mastery and achievement and why not, fulfilment and freedom. As much as words can take you anywhere, you can take them wherever you want, walking down your own unique path.
Writing, like any other creative endeavour, exists at the intersection of being and doing. So join me.
10 sessions of one-to-one writing mediated therapy
Duration: 1h30 per session
Fee: £650 (£65 per session)
Check out this page for details of upcoming and future group
workshops.
Say again? Group workshops? It may seem counterintuitive to
offer group writing workshops. After all, isn’t writing the most intimate, solitary, individual activity? Not so. Writing in a group opens up the possibility of an encounter and an experience of connection, of acceptance and challenge, of giving and receiving in a safe environment. Sharing your writing with others, although
sometimes terrifying, is often a tremendously gratifying event, an experiment in relating differently. And after all, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!
Workshops welcome up to 10 participants, they take place
once a month over 3 hours on a drop in, open-ended basis, or weekly for a 10
session block.
Group Session Fee: £50 per session