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The concept for “The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing” began soon after I started facilitating writing groups in 2002. I noticed how much better everyone felt after shedding their fears and writing about personal events.
January 2020, I emailed invitations to potential participants, explaining that I wanted to illustrate how writing can contribute to healing.
The first submission arrived in my email inbox and I started editing. Then, the third week in March, we were struck with the devastation of Covid-19.
At first, I thought sheltering in place wouldn't be a problem. I'll just keep working with the participating writers. But the fears, the anxiety, and the uncertainties took their toll. At times I felt like I was walking underwater, slogging through the days.
At the start of this project, I wasn’t sure if the participating writers would understand and be able to produce the type of writing I had in mind. I didn’t need to worry. They got it. They went deep and authentic and wrote their stories with honesty and genuineness even though it was sometimes painful to revisit what happened.
Each writer responded to the question: What scares you about writing? As you read their responses, perhaps you will find yourself nodding, in a “me, too” moment of recognition.
The Resources section contains information about freewriting, tips for self-care when writing about difficult topics, how to manage stress, calming techniques, ideas for recharging, and recommended books.
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing is a work of non-fiction by Marlene Cullen. As Christine Falcon-Daigle writes: “The safety of the blank page has been where I go to find myself whenever I feel lost and alone or spiritually bankrupt. It’s a channel, a mirror, a magic wand.” These words speak profoundly to my own writer’s soul. There is no writer’s block in my life, nor fear of a blank page, only the fear of running out of time before all those words bottled up inside me can find their way to that blank page. We writers all have our fears, however; some are more distinct and seemingly insurmountable than others. But, we are writers, first and foremost, and it’s through our writing that we can find our sense of place, of belonging, of being alive.
Marlene Cullen’s book, The Write Spot, is an anthology of sorts. Collecting ramblings and thoughts from a broad spectrum of writers (including herself), the author brings forth many concepts and fears that we writers face on a daily basis. Each entry is a first-person account that studies a pivotal point in the author’s writing career and is accompanied by a prompt, like an event that marked the writer’s life, a walk on the beach, or someone who saved you. This is the prompt that inspired the contribution and it can (and should) be used by other writers perusing this book for inspiration. Following the prompt is the question: “What scares you about writing?” Here the author/contributor shares their thoughts on the topic which may help and/or encourage other writers. The entry is completed with a short biography of the author who made the contribution, highlighting some key points in their writing career that put them where they are today. All these entries are focused on the poignant theme of healing, something we need a good dose of, especially after over a year of lockdowns and restrictions. In the end, the author provides a list of additional resources to further the writer’s healing through the writing process. The Write Spot is an engaging read and a useful tool to enlighten us and help us progress with our writing goals.
