Writing Alone Together: Journalling in a Circle of Women for Creativity, Compassion and Connection - Couverture souple

Wendy Judith Cutler, M.A, is a teacher, writer and lesbian-feminist who has taught Women’s Studies and Writing for more than thirty years. She has been involved in feminist, leftist, social justice and queer politics, community-building and culture for many decades. She was a contributor to The Coming Out Stories, is noted in Feminists Who Changed America: 1963-1975, and has had writings in numerous publications. Through WomenWriting, she facilitates journal writing and memoir workshops and circles. She relishes the opportunity to inspire women to honour the wisdom and power of their own words. Her memoir-in-progress is about lesbian feminism in the 1970s entitled Memoir of an Undutiful Daughter. Lynda Monk is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Life Coach and the founder of Creative Wellness—a journal coaching business where writing, well-being and transformation meet. She regularly inspires and guides helpers, healers, leaders and others to the page for selfcare, stress relief, healing, growth and renewal. Lynda is the author of Life Source Writing™: A Reflective Journaling Practice for Self-Discovery, Self-Care, Wellness & Creativity. Her memoir-in-progress is currently called Wild Abandon: An Adoptee’s Memoir. Ahava Shira, PhD, is a writer, performer, creative mentor and founder of the Centre for Loving Inquiry. Her innovative retreats and mentorship programs support women to develop their confidence, cultivate self-compassion and access their creative power. Author of Weaving of My Being, a poetry book and Love is Like This, a spoken word CD, Ahava has been courageously exploring her own artistic expression for two decades through her poetry, storytelling and dance performances. Her memoir-in-progress about overcoming the limitations of a surgically fused spine is called Curve.

Part memoir, part writing practice, part inspiration, this book is a multi voiced creation of three passionate and committed journal writers. Writing Alone Together reveals the depth and complexity that emerges from going to the blank page, transforming the act of writing into a catalyst for meaningful conversation, storytelling, mindfulness, personal growth, creative self-expression and mutual support. Writing Alone Together is a practice of gathering with other women to write, read and create a sense of community through the transformational power of journal writing. This communal practice creates shifts in consciousness, in our lives and in the world. Each time we meet, we bring the intention of being fully present, listening to ourselves and to one another and sharing our words, thoughts, views, visions, dreams and intuition. While we may not always agree or feel resonance with one another’s ideas or experiences, through Writing Alone Together we cultivate acceptance and compassion. Through writing in journals, we discover and remember the stories and poetry of our lives. As we share and reveal these stories within these pages and within our journalling circle, we begin to see new perspectives, gain clarity, find solutions, celebrate accomplishments, notice and change patterns of behaviour and refine our understanding of our life experiences. In this process, we make meaning through our stories, constructing who we are and who we are becoming.