Writing for self-expression

The Royal Literary Fund is a British charity that has been supporting authors since 1790.  In this series of guided sessions, a collaboration between Arts & Minds and The Royal Literary Fund, we will explore the value of writing for self-expression with a professional writer.

Expressive writing is about self-expression - focusing on thoughts and feelings rather than getting the ‘details’ right.

At times, expressive writing may resemble a story that swells to crest and resolves itself on firm ground.  However, it can also be turbulent, unexpected and unpredictable, and that is OK.  This form of writing encourages you to reflect on your experiences and putting thoughts, feelings, hopes and ideas into words. 

In this series of four guided sessions, you will have the opportunity to write and reflect in an informal and friendly space. No prior writing experience is necessary; the exercises and discussions aim to foster conversation and capture your thoughts.

Conversation and reflection are part of the process, and we’ll ask participants to keep their camera’s on, and be able to attend all 4 sessions, if possible.

Whether you produce a few lines of a story, a brief list or a poem, each session will be facilitated with the featured writer, sharing selections of published work – both poetry and prose – inviting you to reflect on if, and how, those words resonate with you.  

You’ll then be invited to take part in some short exercises aimed at connecting your perspectives, thoughts and feelings to a specific piece of work.