“There are risks that come with this kind of writing and sharing, but the risks are also the reward.
It’s a reward to give and receive truth in a world filled with lies. Lies told to me. Lies told about me. Lies told by me. This is a kind of courageous truth-telling.
It’s a reward to speak and be heard in a world that doesn’t always take the time to listen.
It’s a reward to be treated like your story matters in a world where not everyone gets treated as if their story matters equally.”
-Scott
A public school educator for more than 30 years, Scott values the opportunities to bring others to voice through “Writing Circles,” a fast, reflective writing practice which he facilitates in classrooms, detention centers, recovery programs, homeless shelters, support groups, prisons, probation programs, and transitional houses in Lancaster, Philadelphia, York, Harrisburg, NJ and NY. The “Writing Circle” can be a healing activity, giving voice to the writers’ experiences and helping to transform personal pain into public and communal expressions of perseverance and strength. Participants are given the opportunity to write and share pieces of their life stories in order to see with greater awareness where they have been, where they are, where they hope to be, and who they hope to become.
“The writing takes us where it will. Often it takes us to who we love and what we love. It often allows us to write about our regrets or our hopes. It allows us to reflect on our mistakes and our learned lessons. The writing often leads us to write about our abuses, traumas, and betrayals. And in this way the participants are doing a sincerely courageous work in healing the hurt they are carrying inside and reclaiming something positive that may have gotten lost or stolen along the way. We share tears and laughter, anger and hurt. The writing often allows us to write apologies and renewed promises to our loved ones, ourselves, our futures. It allows us to reflect on what got us here and on where we hope to go in our lives.”
— Scott Feifer on The Writing Circle
Hearing Voices: Writings from the Circle
In the prisons, placements, recovery houses, shelters, and classrooms where I share my programs, participants are asked to write fast and freely about their life experiences.
Submitting to “Hearing Voices”
If you would like your writing considered to be featured on this website then please feel free to submit your writing here.
Want to learn more about Scott Feifer and The Writing Circle?
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