I thoroughly loved being a part of this group. The experience has enriched my writing, my recovery, and helped make The Promises come alive for me in an unexpected and beautiful way. I have grown so much more confident in the power of my own poetic voice and in the healing power of writing. David has a literary and emotional brilliance that includes an ability to facilitate this group in a way which unconditionally holds a safe space for each person and the group simultaneously. If you hear the call to join, no matter how small that voice may be, give yourself the gift and sign up.
— C. J. W.
David’s non-judgmental encouragement to just dive in and trust my intuition in expression at the beginning of the workshops increased my confidence and brought me a new joy. His teaching of poetic forms and supportive feedback of my writing experiments provided me with tools to go more deeply into the beauty and honesty of expression and to know myself better. His listening and hearing of both the form and the content of what I said, together with being heard by the group, was totally transformative. The safety of the group taught me to trust. The compassion and acceptance of the group made me feel that I don’t have to live secretly and in shame. The clarity of others and the boundaries wishing the class allowed me to learn how give compassion without care taking . Overall, I felt that the workshops were like a laboratory for creating healing, beauty, joy and hope where I thought I had only wounds and aloneness.
— J. W.
Writing and Rewriting the Self helped establish the link for me between creativity and recovery. Smashing the self is a huge part of recovery and a major challenge. The workshop helped me to understand and accept myself in this process. It showed me that although we are not unique (others felt the same way or had similar experiences), there is room for uniqueness, for our unique ways of seeing and feeling the world.
A. A.
The workshop helped me to find my voice.
R. A.
I loved David’s poetry class; it was a truly wonderful experience. I had never taken a poetry or any writing class before. Immediately he set a tone that was open and comfortable; he told us it was a safe, supportive space to explore and go deep, yet conveyed the message that we were respected and would not be given idle praise. All this and more was true.
We read and discussed well known poets as well as our own work. For me it was the first time I formally read poetry or took a writing class and David knows his stuff. The feedback in class from David and the others was insightful, respectful, encouraging and appropriately challenging. David’s private criticism by email was detailed and actually useful.
The others in this class were open, warm, ready to explore and share their depths, I feel so enriched by my time with them. As for David, his natural intelligence is augmented by his depth of knowledge, not to mention he is a wonderful and authentic poet.
I encourage anyone to take this class; you won’t be sorry.
— C. S.