Inspirational Writing

Lesson 1: Never Fear, Inspiration's Here!

Writers in Prison

In Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul, Claire Braz-Valentine contributes a personal story titled "Writers in Prison." It involves her conducting a guest writing workshop at Susanville State Prison in Northern California. She explains men there are in for drugs and have no quiet time for contemplation.

A young, handsome man in the workshop declines to show her his writing or share in group discussion. However, a miraculous event occurs, evidenced on the last day of workshop when students are invited to share what they've spent days focusing on.

The young man again refuses to share. But his peers encourage him to do so, promising they won't judge. So, he shares. He tells Valentine and his classmates he is dead. He "died" when he came to prison as a drug addict. He also explains that during the course of the workshop he wrote from the heart, discovering he could write well. He resolves his story (and life) with, "I died a drug addict and I was reborn as a writer."

The power of self discovery and worth through writing instead of negative influences like drugs is evident, along with the promise of a bright future - even for a man who thought he was "dead" inside.

This story shows how writing a piece and its resolution can do wonders for a life. By writing with hope and purpose, the young man discovered his regrets over doing drugs and his subsequent need to do something healthy - to write. When he formulated a resolution within his essay, he was doing so within his life as well.

With this knowledge in mind, it should suffice to say all writing has the power to uplift. Knowing how to write an uplifting work is half the battle. The following exercise should help you learn how.

EXERCISE:

Write about something that evokes a numb, or "dead," response of defense within you. Why does this happen? What can you do to prevent it?

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