“Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It’s our birthright. And it’s for all of us.”
-Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way to Being
Wild Writes workshops are conducted using the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) philosophies and practices. Whether you’ve been writing for years or you’re just getting started, this powerful writing method can help you grow as a writer and as a person. The ability to express your creativity in a supportive group of risk-takers is nourishing for the soul.
The AWA Philosophy:
1. Everyone has a strong unique voice.
2. Writing as an art form belongs to all people.
3. Everyone has creative genius.
4. A writer is someone who writes.
In an AWA Workshop, all writing is treated equally and all writers are treated with respect. The facilitator is not an expert, but rather a fellow writer taking risk alongside everyone else.
We write together using prompts as a way in. The invitation with all prompts is to write whatever is sparked from memory, imagination, or both - following wherever inspiration leads. After writing, each person gets a chance to read their words and hear responses from others. We always respond to just-written work with positive feedback, and all writing is kept in confidence.
Learn more about the Amherst Writers & Artists method as described in Pat Schneider’s powerful book, Writing Alone and With Others (Oxford Press 2023).
Here’s how it works:
Memory and Imagination come from the same very deep place.
Meet Ashley
Writing and storytelling have always been a part of Ashley’s life both personally and professionally. Before becoming a mother, Ashley spent more than 15 years helping brands and organizations find their voices and tell their stories. Now, she helps people do the same by leading writing workshops.
She’s an Amherst Writers & Artists Affiliate, certified to lead workshops in the AWA method – a powerful writing process she’s passionate about sharing with others for its unique ability to help people write from a deeper place. In her workshops, she helps writers get out of their own way in order to tap into the wellspring of creativity inside all of us. And most importantly, every writer in each meeting gets a chance to see the power of their own words. It can be a transformative process that Ashley loves to facilitate for others by creating a safe space where writers can go deep and take risks.
She is a nurturer who leads with compassion and a skilled facilitator, but she does this work because she loves watching others discover and remember their unique gifts. She currently holds workshops over zoom from her home in Los Angeles.
