Writing for Peace

“This was my first writing workshop. [I found] the work that all the participants shared had such depth, an honesty, a power to open your heart and mind, to touch and inspire. I experienced it as nourishing, as soul food. I had the feeling of a presence in the room, a capacity to hold all our human pain, grief, helplessness—even trauma—in such a kind, gentle way. This is something I always want to understand: what can hold this suffering! At this workshop, I got a deeper sense of it.”

Joseph Rabenbauer, June 24, 2023

“How did the workshop contribute to my creative life? I appreciated being acknowledged as ‘a writer’ for the first time in my life. Having a chance to write and read with accomplished writers, I felt deeply understood and heard.”

Nebil, June 23, 2023

“The readings gave me such awonderful insight into the different ways in which we try to make sense of the world around us. Occasionally we writers (and I suppose everyone else) need to hear other voices and perspectives, as a gentle reminder that no matter how much we believe we know, in the bigger scheme of things, our knowledge is but an itsy-bitsy sand grain in the desert. Workshops such as this fire up some of the lazy sections of the mind and feed my creativity.”

Chidi, June 22, 2023

“I really liked that we heard such beautiful poems. I felt more connected to other authors around the world, and inspired to write more.”

Simone Regina Adams, June 22, 2023

“It was a thought-provoking experience that encouraged me to finish a piece of writing.”

Karen, June 22, 2023

“The response to my own piece was very encouraging and gave me more confidence in writing my memoir—i.e., people wanted to hear about peace work. The workshop was inspiring and gave me energy, which is always good for writing. The workshop fueled my desire to write. It gave me some idea about how to approach difficult, potentially despairing, subjects.”

Shelley, June 22, 2023

“I loved the readings and artwork. And the commentary was so personally encouraging to me; it helped me to see the possibilities where I didn’t think they existed; in specific words, sentences, phrases. I love the writing community that that workshops–and this event–brought together.

The Amsterdam Writers Workshop is an international treasure, thanks to Zoom. The diversity of writers and cultures represented is amazing.”

Genevieve, June 22, 2023

“What was my favorite part of the workshop? Working on my free-writing gave me a chance to sit with my own feelings. I’m going to make a point to dwell in that space more often and for longer.”

Ingrid González, June 22, 2023