Women Writing for (A) Change: A Guide for Creative Transformation

by Mary Pierce Brosmer

Book Overview

In her insightful debut book, Mary Pierce Brosmer shares the unique method of writing that she developed as founder and director of Women Writing for (a) Change, a nationwide organization that teaches... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933495189
• ISBN13: 9781933495187
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Sorin Books
• Length: 277 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.5" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Helped Me Find A More Powerful Voice

I absolutely loved reading "Women Writing for (a) Change: A Guide for Creative Transformation." As a woman who is truly trying to make changes in the world as an activist, speaker, and lobbyist for better healthcare for everyone, more accessibility for the disabled, and the elimination of hunger in the USA I found this book quite valuable. Perfect for me, you might say. The exercises helped me to both think and look at things a little differently than I have. They were at times quite challenging as they forced me to open doors and windows in my mind I was unaware of before. Not only will this book be a valuable resource for general writing, as it has found a space to live on my handy writing reference shelf, it will aid in my writing more powerful speeches, testimony to present to legislative committees, and preparation for one on one meetings with legislators. Even if you aren't politically or socially active, consider yourself a feminist or not (feminist is just a word...if it fits wear it and if not, just don't fret so much about it you've got other things to wear) this book will still help you find your voice. A stronger voice that will transform you. Keep writing, even if it is only for yourself, and one day people will start noticing a change in you, probably before you notice it yourself. Words are powerful. Short, long. Small, big. Words can hurt, if words can heal, if words can sooth or make you smile. And yes, they CAN transform you. If words can transform you, they can transform anything, including the world. But write and write often and discover the you in you.

Deep and meaningful

For me, this book is part of David Korten's "Great Turning"; a model of feminine-led consciousness-creation. Mary Pierce Brosmer's visionary search for an alternative to the patriarchal values that define worth in human expression caused her to start a writing group of 11 women in Cincinnati, OH. A group that wasn't based on competition or a narrowly-defined framework of what constitutes "good" writing. A place where the voices of all women were treated with respect. Where women felt safe to express their deepest truths without fear of being judged or shamed. Little did she know that this way of eliciting writing through the rituals and practices she developed which assured each woman was valued equally and each woman's voice was honored, would feed a great hunger in a culture still so dominated by masculine values of competition and head-knowledge over heart-knowledge. This writing group which started so humbly has grown into a movement that has helped thousands of women nationwide, in seven Women Writing for (a) Change affiliate schools in six states in addition to the "mother school" in Cincinnati, find their voices and live more conscious lives. The deeply feminine rituals and practices that Mary developed to ensure safety and respect and which allow women to express themselves truthfully are indeed transformative and could be applied profitably to all our institutions: healthcare, corporations, education, to create group-processes that could create more conscious decision-making and relationship building. Women need to lead the way in this transformation, and Mary Pierce Bromer's book is a wonderful tool for doing so.

Women Writing for a Better World

Mary Pierce Brosmer, a poet, teacher, and author, believes that women can change the world with their writing. (And how well we know our violent, unjust world needs changing). Her efforts created "Women Writing for a Change." a nationwide organization that offers workshops where women and girls feel safe to write "what's in their hearts". In the preface (p.vii) she asserts, "I grieve that our attention-deficit culture has driven us to the brink of disaster on so many fronts, with leaders and thinkers lacking the courage and the wisdom to engage the very real and quite beautiful complexity in both nature and culture". She also notes that our culture has now evolved to measuring certainty, and reducing complexity, to bullet points and sound bites. While the book is rather academic in nature, it offers many aspects of writing, such as poems, dreams, journal entries, and writing prompts and exercises. Brosmer writes (p.viii) "I encourage you to value both interior and exterior life, background and foreground, the action-driven masculine and the reflective feminine". She states, "It requires much fierceness to name what is new and protect what is still fragile and vulnerable," and then offers May Sarton's beautiful poem for thought: As I learn for myself we must be hard To move among the tender with an open hand, And to stay sensitive until the end Pay with some toughness for a gentle world. The author gives her reason for writing the book in the Introduction (p.8). "What this book intends to do in the world is connect the powerful body of writing for personal growth to writing for transformation of culture and nature ... Pete Seeger, that musician-sage-change agent, has said `Participation. That's what's going to save the human race'". When Brosmer notes that this book does not fit any particular genre, she also observes, " `Learning to follow the path the words point to'" is the real genre." The book weaves several threads: · A vision emerging and becoming manifest in a particular life. · The transformative power of conscious writing in community. · The necessity of connection for the healing of culture and nature. · A passion for just saying what is happening, from multiple perspectives. I think this is a book that has more depth than what is apparent at the first reading. As a writer myself, I think it is going to be helpful to me in many ways. For broadening my perspective, and introducing me to other womens' stories. The writing suggestions may lead me on a different path than I would normally take. And it might lead some women to start their own writing groups. It's a valuable addition to womens' studies, and has something to offer novice, as well as serious writers. Highly recommended.

Extraordinary Food for The Muse

I have an entire library of writing books and I was intrigued by the subtitle of this one, 'A Guide for Creative Transformation'. I found the book to be inspiring, practical and informative. I like the writing prompts and the examples most of all. The journal entries, quotes and poems were powerful---pure food for the muse. I have countless pages dog-earred and highlighted to refer back to. I'd have to put this book in with my top ten favorite writing books along with Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life and Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within among others. The best part was the feeling of camaraderie I came away with, that other writers fight the same demons as I do and come away rejuvenated and transformed for the better.

Fascinating Read and great writing exercises

This book with its focus on the feminine energy has the power to change our thinking about our writing and the role it plays in our lives. I surely can understand why their workshops are so popular! I particularly liked the writing exercises and writing prompts in this book. I feel that it would be very useful to anyone who has contemplating writing but has wondered about what to write about or where to start. This book is more like a compassionate companion guiding your writing rather than a stern exacting teacher.The story of how Women writing for a change began and has taken shape over the years is a fascinating read. I loved the personal stories and anecdotes.