April 27, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m., $30 suggested
Writers’ workshop with Ren vanMeenen
The origins of personal writing as a therapeutic tool have been traced back to ancient Greek mythology and Apollo, the god of both poetry and medicine. More recent scientific studies have affirmed the efficacy and healing power of writing about one’s life experiences.
This workshop will focus on expression first and craft second as we work from provided texts and prompts and share our stories (through poetry or prose or even song) in a safe, supportive space. Ultimately, participants will assemble a treasure trove of seeds for later planting and will also take home a variety of strategies for establishing a regular practice for personal writing in various forms.
Presenter: Ren vanMeenen teaches in the Department of English at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she offers courses in creative writing, graphic novels, literature and media studies. She is the longtime Editor of Afterimage: The Journal of Media Arts & Cultural Criticism and has written for numerous other publications including Art Papers, Art New England, The Journal of Applied Arts and Health, Source: Ireland’s Photographic Review, and Writers in the Mountains. She holds graduate degrees in Transformative Language Arts and Media Studies, and is a certified writing therapist. She is also a longtime Executive Board Member of the National Association for Poetry Therapy, where she serves in numerous capacities including as Publications Chair.
Cobblestone Springs Retreat Center 