Our Philosophy
I think, to a poet, the
human community is like the community of birds to a bird, singing to
each other. Love is one of the reasons we are singing to one another,
love of language itself, love of sound, love of singing itself, and the
love of the other birds. Sharon Olds
Portland Women Writers workshops are based on the Amherst Writers and Artists method, developed by Pat Schneider and described in her book Writing Alone and With Others. This method is now used in writing communities around the world.
The foundation of Schneiders approach
is the revolutionary notion that writing is an art form available for
all persons. The Five Essential Affirmations that guide her method
(as detailed in her book) are:
1. Everyone has a strong, unique voice
2. Everyone is born with creative genius
3. Writing as an art form belongs to all people, regardless of economic
class or educational level
4. The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writers
original voice or artistic self-esteem
5. A writer is someone who writes
Building on these principles, our
workshops are designed to help you find your unique and authentic
voice, and freely express your creative power. Experienced writers and
beginners, writers whose creative juices are flowing as well as those
who feel blocked, can all benefit from this process.
Our community of women writers
offers a safe and supportive environment for building confidence,
learning to recognize your strengths as a writer, and making
connections with other creative women.
Workshop Schedule
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