Writing for self-expression
Expressive writing is about self-expression, and putting your thoughts, feelings and experiences into words.
Description
The Royal Literacy Fund is a British charity that has been supporting authors since 1790. In this series of guided sessions, a collaboration between Leeds Recovery College and The Royal Literacy Fund, we will explore the value of writing for self-expression with professional writer.
Each course will be a collaboration with a featured writer who will bring their own insight and perspective to the sessions. Working alongside a Recovery College co-facilitator, each course follows a similar format, but the work, discussions and experience will benefit from the feature writer's expertise.
Expressive writing focuses on self-expression, emphasising thoughts and feelings over detailed descriptions of events, objects, or characters. Similar to narrative writing, expressive writing can follow a structure that includes a beginning, middle, and end.
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. 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.