2/28/10 - CRITZ, VA (March 1, 2010)—The Reynolds Homestead will host “The Story of Your Life: A Spiritual Biography” writing class
BETH ALMOND FORD TO TEACH SPIRITUAL WRITING CLASS
The Reynolds Homestead will host “The Story of Your Life: A Spiritual Biography” writing class on Mondays in March, beginning March 8 and continuing on the 22nd and 29th. The cost of the class is $40, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia Tech on the first night of class. Preregistration is required.
Instructor Beth Almond Ford holds a B.A. degree in religious studies from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, and she has taught writing classes at the University of Vermont and Union Theological School in New York City.
This class will consist of a variety of writing exercises completed during the session and shared with other students. “The purpose of the exercises is to stimulate the student to explore many different expressions of writing which stem from memory, life experiences, spiritual insights, and imagination,” says Ford. “Writing is spontaneous and creative.”
Examples of some of the writing exercises include such topics as writing about the impact a mentor had on one’s earliest spiritual awareness, or “mapping” one’s life and choosing several of the highlights (or despairs) of those times and expounding on them, or simply listening to a song and putting down one’s reactions to the words or music. Ford helps to coax these memories from the students in a fun and relaxed manner--but with sometimes poignant and often times insightful results. The first writing exercise always involves chocolate!
No previous writing experience is required to participate in the workshop. The student comes to class ready to express his or her inner thoughts on paper, to be creative and open, and to have a willingness to share those insights with others. Writings are not critiqued nor is homework assigned--except to think about several of the concepts discussed, which will then be explored in future classes.
Several helpful writing books will be recommended during the class. Some of the exercises used in this class are drawn from the book, “The Story of Your Life: Writing a Spiritual Autobiography,” by Dan Wakefield and “Writing down the Bones,” by Natalie Goldberg.
Anyone interested in registering for the course should contact the Reynolds Homestead at 276-694-7181 or simply respond to this e-mail! Hope to see you here!
Lisa Martin
Senior Program Manager
Reynolds Homestead
463 Homestead Lane
Critz, VA 24082
(276) 694-7181 ext. 22
A Commonwealth Campus Center of Virginia Tech
