Writing the City

Writing for wellbeing is a simple and powerful way to draw on your inner wisdom. Make space to hear yourself think and develop your self-resilience as you practise mindful descriptive writing during this course and feel less stressed, more present.

When we identify old stories and understand past experiences with a fresh perspective, we can rewrite our future and flourish. Your words have power – use them!

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This course is for anyone who wants to feel less frazzled and more creatively satisfied. You will learn how to develop greater self-awareness and self-compassion. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced writer or a first-timer. There’s no homework and no deadlines.

If you’re suffering or recovering from burnout, if stress is manifesting in your physical and/or mental health or affecting your relationship with yourself and others, then get the words out of your head and onto the page. If you’re creatively stuck, make a small change and find inspiration everywhere.

COURSE CONTENT

This three-week course starts in March 2019 and includes:

• 2 emails per week with links to latest content with an invitation or prompt to help guide you
• a total of 21 lessons and worksheets
• weekend interviews (written, audio or video) with an urbanite whose perspective will inspire you to reconnect to your body, mind and dreams
• more than 13,000 words of course content available in PDF downloadable format
• weekly office hours on Zoom where you can chat with me, Clare Barry, and fellow course participants
• access to a private password-protected page with all course content.

FAQs 

How much writing is involved? As much or as little as you wish. This is your course. There are observational exercises, creative writing reflective practice, expressive and mindful writing, journalling techniques and more. Do what feels good for you. 

Help, I’m not a writer! Whether you’re an experienced writer or just starting out, Writing the City is shorthand for pleasure and self-discovery, not for publication or a deadline – it’s for you. However, it may ignite an idea you pursue or fuel a passion for sentences. and your city in a way you could never have imagined.

Will Writing the City help teach me how to write for publication? No. It will give you tools to welcome more peace and calm into your days. It may inspire the seed of a story or essay, blog post or website copy.

What if I can’t keep up with the emails? There are two emails per week and all content will be available to participants for download and printing via a password protected page. Go at your own pace. 

Is this course a replacement for working with a psychotherapist, psychiatrist or counsellor? No. Writing for Wellbeing is not a replacement for professional mental health support. I am an experienced writer, group facilitator and creative writing mentor. I am a member of Lapidus International, the words for wellbeing association. I am a member of the National Association for Writers in Education, the sole organisation supporting the development of creative writing of all genres and in all educational and community settings throughout the UK. Membership of these professional bodies helps me stay current with best practices and the latest research into writing for wellbeing, group facilitation and learning styles. In 2019, I contributed a personal video case study to the Creative Writing and Wellbeing MA at Teeside University. Find out more about me here. 

PRAISE

Writing the City is an inspirational course that encouraged me to actually look at the world around me! Clare shares her own stories alongside lots of juicy writing prompts that helped me see my city, and myself, with fresh eyes.

– Terri

The e-course was a great thing to witness with soul-searching exercises. I loved the honest presence of you and your personal stories throughout.

– Ursula

I went across the road and bought a book to fill with the ideas that flowed as a result of Writing the City. The next few hours were spent happily writing away in a local park in my complete element.

– Natasha

This was exactly what I needed I wrote more than I imagined possible and had the absolute pleasure to connect with other creative ladies who I now consider friends.

– Aimee

Thank you for creating such a generous and warm welcoming space for us all. So much of what I realised then is still sinking in for me – I feel like the curtain has been pulled back in so many ways. It was a privilege to get to know you.

– Philippa

So much juicy material to work with – loved this session. Come back and do another workshop with our volunteers soon!

– Laura