Writing in Community is a book of inspiration and encouragement for writers who want to reach deep within themselves and write to their fullest potential. There is magic in a successful writing group. This book helps writers tap into that magic, and with gentle wisdom and humor, experience unprecedented breakthroughs in creativity.
Becky's writing group has meant a lot to her. She loves the energy and synchronicity of using the generative process in the writing group to take her creativity to new heights. A longtime educator, poet and essayist, Becky draws the inspiration for her writing from the magic and wisdom of being present in the world. The strength and beauty of people continue to amaze her, and their guidance has been her best teacher. Her book, co-authored with Lucy Adkins, Writing in Community: Say Goodbye to Writer's Block and Transform Your Life, won the 2014 Silver Independent Publishers Award in Writing/Publishing. Visit www.writeincommunity.com to view her blog and find posts about the writing life, inspiring writing exercises, and more.
E.L. Doctorow, a great American novelist, said, "The historian will tell you what happened. The novelist will tell you what it felt like." Writing our stories links us to each other because we all share the same journey. We all suffer insults and disappointments, and, when we can, celebrate the triumphs won. These are all part of the human story. Our storytelling builds a bridge for others to cross, engaging them in what it feels like to be part of the human race. And when our stories are shared, we feel a sense of connection that we are not alone on this big world.
Book Excerpt
Writing in Community
Therefore, when we write, we are working not only for self-expression and to share our side of things—that is, to empower ourselves—but to illustrate the universal nature of the human story and thus empower others. That’s not our intention, of course, when we pick up our pens. We just want to write, to get down the story. But that is the result. Readers discover that others have suffered injustice and lost love, and sometimes have made what seem to be irredeemable mistakes. This is part of what it means to be human—we make our mistakes, accept our weaknesses, and move on. If we as writers write passionately and convincingly about these truths, whoever reads us makes a connection and goes on not only to achieve a greater degree of self-acceptance, but to feel a sense of unity with others who share this amazing old planet.
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