Sometimes the life situation that is pressing on our hearts or minds can feel like the biggest presence, the thing that takes up so much of our focus; yet it can be so hard to find a place where expressing what is going on for us—the thing that we are completely preoccupied by—is received and held in a way that feels nourishing and helpful.

Writing can have many powerful benefits, particularly in the face of these life challenges. Writing can help us process emotions and experiences. It can help us find clarity and perspective, alleviate stress and know ourselves better. Sharing our writing with others can make the burdens we each carry seem lighter and help us feel more connected. And making art out of difficulty can feel transformative.

AWA’s Power of Story initiative offers all these benefits and more. Each Power of Story workshop is aimed at a group of individuals who share similar challenges, (including caregivers, teachers, survivors of sexual violence, bereaved family members, and people living with chronic illness and invisible disability, to name a few–and the variety of our programs is steadily growing).

Power of Story sessions are writing workshops, held in the AWA method, where participants write together, read aloud from their new work, listen to others and provide and receive strength-based feedback on how their writing communicates and moves others. This simple formula is a powerful tool for reducing stress and feeling better. Participants often arrive as strangers but quickly become a deeply connected community.

You’ll find links to Power of Story workshops geared to a variety of communities below, as well as a list of upcoming events.

Power of Story Writing Workshops are open to everyone. You don’t have to define yourself a writer to join or enjoy the experience.

The workshops are led by facilitators trained in the AWA Method and take place on Zoom. They last about two hours. The first hour is devoted to writing. You can write whatever you want or let the prompts offered inspire you. The second hour is devoted to feedback. You can choose to read aloud from what you’ve just written or not. If you choose to share, you will receive positive, affirmative feedback from the small group. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear what the other group members have written to share with them the impact that the words have had on you.