Osha Hayden interviews Marlene Cullen on Writing as a Path to Healing based on The Write Spot Anthology of the same name.

“Writing isn’t about the destination – writing is the journey that transforms the soul and gives meaning to all else.” – Sue Grafton 

Perhaps you are a writer – or maybe there is some part of your life that could use some healing right now. Either way, you’ll want to tune in for this episode.
As a way to explore feelings, memories and trauma, writing is one of many paths to healing and one that requires just paper and pen (or keyboard) and some quiet writing time.  We discuss how to use our writing for healing and how to create a safe container for our explorations into our  memories.

We discuss how doing timed freewrites can lead to discoveries and transformations and how we can use them to dig deeper to find the hidden gems in our experience.  Timed  freewrites can liberate us from judgement, help us overcome fears about writing, and allow us to play on the page.

Marlene Cullen is well known to writers in Sonoma County and is active in our writing community. Since 2003, she’s been facilitating Jumpstart Writing Workshops.  Marlene is the host & producer of Writers Forum (since 2006) and Produces The Write Spot Blog – where you can find Writerly information: Prompts, places to submit, quotes, book reviews. https://thewritespot.us/marlenecullenblog/   She also Edits and produces a series of The Write Spot anthologies. – 7 volumes to date.

Writers Forum offers writing workshops, using inspirational prompts to spark writing. They meet four times a year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter and it's Free on Zoom. Interested? 
Details: www.TheWriteSpot.us Click on “Writers Forum.”

There are seven Write Spot books. Available through Amazon, local booksellers, and at the Sonoma County library.  All of The Write Spot books include prompts for writing and resource sections.

Brief description of The Write Spot Books

The Write Spot to Jumpstart Your Writing: Discoveries:
A compilation of writing inspiring writing and opening doors for self-discovery and transformational writing. 

The Write Spot to Jumpstart Your Writing: Connections:
Writing from mothers and their children illustrate how we relate through stories.

The Write Spot: Reflections:
A treasure chest of anecdotes, vignettes, and poems.

The Write Spot: Memories:
Diverse narratives from fathers and their children embrace a common thread of love, disappointment, discoveries, and revelations.

The Write Spot: Possibilities
A mixture of playful, experimental, insightful stories.

The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing
Illustrates how to write about difficult topics without adding trauma.

The Write Spot: Musings and Ravings From a Pandemic Year
Insightful writing reflection emotions and experiences during a tumultuous year.