The Joy of Personal Writing
What is personal writing?
What's so joyous about it?
What are we doing with it at Ethical Culture?
When we began the first writing workshop at New York's Ethical Culture Society in March, 2004, we defined personal writing as any non-fiction, non-journalistic work done from a writer's own point of view. We have kept the definition as loose as possible to let each participant develop his or her writing in a unique and self-determined way.
That September, we added a second workshop. Now, classes meet regularly on Mondays and Thursdays for ten-week semesters. Many of the writers in the two groups started at the beginning and have been writing all this time. Each semester, a few spaces open up and society members and non-members join. (Click for more info.)
The workshop writers range from people giving writing a try to professional writers enjoying a new form to accomplished academics. For all, the workshops are places for sustaining a focus on writing, learning how to find and grab the impulses that make writing a joy and, week-by-week, developing mastery of skills that help make a piece of writing active and compelling.
Each workshop writer listed below has a page on this space. Most are current participants; some are alumni. When you click on a name, you will get that writer's page. Pieces are being posted as writers get them ready and this space will become increasingly rich with the fine work of the writers at the Ethical Culture Society.
Writers Space editor: Eva Yachnes
Workshop leader: Elaine Berman
The Writers:
- Karen Contreras
- Jennifer Ellen Frank
- Eileen D. Kelly
- Arthur Cerf Mayer
- Paul A. Metzler
- Mort Norman
- Eva Yachnes
For information about the workshops, please contact Suzy Frazer.
