Writing Practice Groups – Write YOUR Path

A Writing Practice Group (WPG) is an intimate space where we come together to write, witness others, and be witnessed.

It’s not a workshop on writing, although you will learn a great deal about writing. And more importantly, you’ll learn who you really are and where you’re going – once you stop thinking about yourself.

In a WPG, each of us write what we need to write. Then we read it aloud for the others to witness us.

It’s not about, is what I wrote good or is it bad? It’s about witnessing our fellow writers and being witnessed by them.

How does a WPG work?

We meet for two hours once a week. We write, longhand on a notebook, for one hour, and we read and listen for one hour.

After each person has read, we say, “thank you” – nothing else. Not, “what I loved about your writing,” or “it’d be better if it said…”

Your first session – what to expect?

When you join us for the first time, you’ll be welcomed into our circle. I’ll briefly explain the format and invite everyone to take a moment to settle in.

The session begins with a prompt – something simple and immediate like ‘the taste of butter.’ This isn’t a writing assignment. It’s just a doorway in. You might write about actual butter, or memories of cooking with your grandmother, or the metaphorical butter that smooths your life’s rough edges. Or you might find yourself writing about something completely different. The prompt is simply an invitation to begin.

Don’t worry about writing ‘well’ or staying on topic – writing prompts arise from life itself.

Many first-time participants feel nervous about reading aloud – this is completely natural. You’ll find that the group’s commitment to simple witnessing, without judgment or critique, creates a uniquely supportive environment where your words can safely land. There’s no wrong way to do Writing Practice. Whatever appears on your page is exactly what needed to appear.

What’s Writing Practice for?

Writing Practice is an inside job. As writers, our evolution is felt within, and the pages we write will show it, with time and dedication to the practice.

As a writer, I aim to translate into words the feelings and subtle shifts in the emotional field that surrounds me. To be able to do that, I need to be able to look into my mind without judgment, with as wide a lens as I have access to. Writing Practice gives me that lens and that ability to look without judgment.

In addition, Writing Practice allows us to practice the craft of writing (radically different from the craft of editing or critiquing).

Is Writing Practice right for you?

Writing Practice welcomes anyone who:

• Wants to know themself better, become inquisitive about their mind, or understand other humans at a deeper level
• Wants to write, develop a writing habit, or create freely
• Is looking to open a channel between themself and something larger (call it God, the Universe, Higher Power, the Creator…), blaze their own spiritual path, or just have a respite from mundane preoccupations

While Writing Practice Groups welcome all sincere participants, this format might not be the best fit if you’re:

• Primarily seeking technical feedback on your writing
• Looking for a traditional critique group or workshop environment
• Hoping to focus on publication strategies or market-focused writing
• Uncomfortable with silence or extended periods of quiet writing
• Seeking structured writing prompts and exercises (though these occasionally emerge naturally)

Writing Practice Groups work best for those who are willing to embrace uncertainty, practice non-judgment, and explore their authentic voice without attachment to immediate outcomes.

Intrigued?