WritersWeekly University - WRITING AS HEALING: THE POWER OF PERSONAL STORIES

WRITING AS HEALING: THE POWER OF PERSONAL STORIES
cost: $129.00 \|\| prerequisites: have email and world-wide web access, ability to navigate the Internet course length: Six weeks (June 23rd to August 8th) \|\| limit: none
Instructor: Roxanne Sadovsky
HOW THE WRITERSWEEKLY UNIVERSITY CLASSES WORK: When you sign up, your email receipt will contain the date when your class begins. On the Friday before the class begins, you will get an orientation email with more information. A new lecture and assignment is sent to all students every Monday during the run of the class. Students participate at their leisure, anytime that week, via email. We know how busy everybody is, which is why we don't make everybody come to a certain webpage at a certain time on that day. All students correspond directly with the instructor during the course of the class. But, you can always email wwu-support - at - writersweekly.com if you're having any difficulties.
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About The Class: It's not very fun to be stuck in a rut. Chances are the last thing you want to do is write something, let alone get out of bed! Even though we know it will pass, our doldrums tend to get the best of us. One way to fight the unwelcome moodiness is by understanding why it comes and goes, which we begin through creative writing. Creative Writing is well recognized as a powerful tool for encouraging self-awareness, empathy, and personal change. In addition to writers, students of counseling/psychology, health care professionals, and artists alike will benefit from this intimate and relaxed process class of various writing levels and personal backgrounds to discover more about who we are, what causes our pain and joy, and how we can find solutions in the solace of our writing. We will talk about how our "life-scripts" often interfere with happiness and begin to rewrite those familiar scenes in order to bring about change, courage, and insight. We will also draw from memories, photographs, family-of-origin, and childhood in order to rediscover dreams and hopes that were buried a long time ago and how writing about the hidden joys of being alive can bring those sensations back to the surface. About Writing as Healing: "Because there is a natural storytelling urge and ability in all human beings, even just a little nurturing of this impulse can bring about astonishing and delightful results." - Nancy Mellon, *The Art of Storytelling* This class uses journaling, life-writing (stories based on personal experience), short fiction, and visionary creative nonfiction (stories based on what we'd like the future to look like) in order to encourage personal and/or community exploration and healing. What that means for us is that we will be doing a ton of writing exercises, a few revisions, peer sharing, and that you will likely have a lot of fun getting to know your writing self (and those of classmates). You might also encounter some unexpected and powerful feelings (writing tends to do that), as well as an occasional "moment of clarity". Class goals: Get to know your writing self by exploring new forms of writing Address personal concerns (relationships, depression, overeating, anxiety, etc.) and global concerns (war, poverty, homelessness, natural disasters) through writing in order to foster healing and awareness Share/discuss our writing with others Gain fresh ideas and perspective so you can continue to heal as you write on your own What you will get out of it: The idea behind this class is that writing and sharing our life stories in the group context promotes healing. Sometimes "stories" manifest themselves as poems, song lyrics, mythology, short stories, drawings, or diary entries. Together, we will explore some of the many forms and share them with classmates. Understandably, all of us are private about certain things and that will be respected. Occasionally, I may "push" you, but there is no right or wrong way to participate. What matters is that you find the pulse of your writing and run with it! Student Feedback: "Her creative approach to writing-to unearthing great writing material dormant in our hearts and minds-is wonderful." "I loved her class! It was the highlight of my week!" "It was fun, encouraging and challenging. I really liked how Roxanne was so accepting of people's process, as well as her feedback and encouragement." About Roxanne Sadovsky: Roxanne Sadovsky, MA, MFA is a Twin Cities freelance writer and teacher. She holds a masters degree in counseling psychology from Antioch University Seattle and creative nonfiction from The University of Minnesota and currently teaches at the Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, and through Minneapolis Community Education, and is the founder of "Write-a-Life," which blends creative writing and journaling with personal and community healing. She currently writes for *Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Jewish Life, aislesay.com, and has been published in Minnesota Monthly, Twin Cities Wellness, Utne, The Seattle Times, Seattle Magazine, Cafe 80s, Show and Tell, Byline, and many more. She was also a fulltime columnist for the Minnesota Daily* from 2001-2003. Her memoir, *I Love Lucy and She Loves Me, Too: a Hollywood Memoir*, is about growing up latchkey during the 1970s and 80s in Los Angeles.
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