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MAIS 616: Writing the Self (Rev. 1) Report a Broken Link

Compelling evidence exists that the writing process may enhance or expand personal development in a variety of contexts and that writing has therapeutic benefits. This course focuses on exploring these potentials, by engaging students in the writing process and by inviting them to review, study, discuss, and evaluate existing contexts where writing is being used for therapy, creativity, and self-expression, and for research on the writing process.

Week 1

These supplementary materials will be useful to you throughout the course.
Aronie, Nancy S. Writing from the Heart: Tapping the Power of Your Inner Voice. New York: Hyperion, 1998.
Atwood, M. Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
Bolton, Gillie. The Therapeutic Potential of Creative Writing: Writing Myself. London; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1999.
Brodie, D. Writing Changes Everything: The 627 Best Things Anyone Ever Said about Writing. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1997.
This book is not available from the Athabasca University Library.
Brown, Molly Young. Growing Whole: Self–Realization on an Endangered Planet. Center City, Minn: Hazelden Foundation, 1993.
Cerwinske, L. Writing as a Healing Art: The Transforming Power of Self–expression. New York: Perigee, 1999.
This book is not available from the Athabasca University Library.
DeSalvo, Louise. Writing as a Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives. Boston: Beacon Press, 2000.
Elbow, P. Writing without Teachers. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973.
This book is not available from the Athabasca University Library.
Etherington, Kim. Becoming a Reflexive Researcher: Using Our Selves in Research. London ; Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2004.
Etherington, Kim, Mike, Stephen, and Sarasi Rogers. Narrative Approaches to Working with Adult Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Clients', the Counsellor's, and the Researcher's Stories. London; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2000.
Faigley, Lester. Fragments of Rationality: Postmodernity and the Subject of Composition. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh University Press, 1992.
Holzer, Burghild Nina. A Walk between Heaven and Earth: A Personal Journal on Writing and the Creative Life. New York: Bell Tower, 1994.
Hughes, Elaine F. Writing from the Inner Self: Writing and Meditation Exercises that Free Your Creativity, Inspire Your Imagination and Help You Overcome Writer’s Block. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1991.
Hunt, Celia.

“Reading Ourselves: Imagining the Reader in the Writing Process.” In The Writing Cure: An Introductory Handbook of Writing in Counselling and Therapy, edited by G. Bolton, S. Howlett, C. Lago, and J. Wright, 35-43. London: Brunner/Routledge, 2004.

Use this form to request a print copy of this article from the AU Library.
Hunt, Celia. Therapeutic Dimensions of Autobiography in Creative Writing. London; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2000.
King, V. Soul Play: Turning Your Daily Dramas into Divine Comedies. Georgetown, Mass: Ant Hill Press, 1998.
Klauser, H. A. Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want and Getting It. New York: Scribner, 2000.
Le Guin, Ursula. Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew. Portland: Eighth Mountain Press, 1998.
Leedy, J. Poetry as Healer: Mending the Troubled Mind. New York : Vanguard Press, c1985.
Lewis, Gwyneth. Sunbathing in the Rain: A Cheerful Book on Depression. London: Flamingo, 2003.
Martin, C. Writing Your Way through Cancer. Prescott, Arizona: Hohm Press, 2000.
Minot, S. Three Genres: The Writing of Poetry, Fiction, and Drama. Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2003.
Moskowitz, Cherryl. Wyoming Trail. London: Granta Books, 1998.
Padel, Ruth. 52 Ways of Looking at a Poem: A Poem for Every Week of the Year. London: Vintage, 2004.
Philips, Deborah, Liz Linington, Debra Penman. Writing Well: Creative Writing and Mental Health. London; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1999.
Progoff, I. At a Journal Workshop: The Basic Text and Guide for Using the Intensive Journal Process. New York: Dialogue House Library, 1977.
Rico, G. Writing the Natural Way: Using Right–brain Techniques to Release Your Expressive Powers. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, Inc., 1983.
Saltzman, J. If You Can Talk You Can Write: A Proven Program to Get You Writing and Keep You Writing. New York: Warner Books, 1993.
Sampson, Fiona, ed. Creative Writing in Health and Social Care. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2004.
Ueland, B. If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence, and Spirit. St. Paul, Minnesota: GrayWolf Press, [1938] 1987.
White, M., and D. Epston. Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends. New York: Norton, 1990.
Zinsser, W. On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction. 6th ed. New York: Harper Perennial, 1976.
Zinsser, W. Writing to Learn: How to Write and Think Clearly about any Subject at All. New York: Perennial Library, 1988.
This book is not available from the Athabasca University Library.

Week 7

Required Readings
Lengelle, Reinekke.  “Writing Towards Personal Development.”

Westword (January–February 2005): 7–8.
The Work of Byron Katie: Audio Samples

Week 13

Required Readings
Wright, J. and Man Cheung Chung. "Mastery or Mystery? Therapeutic Writing: A Review of the Literature." British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 29, no.3 (August 2001): 277-291.
Lengelle, Reinekke.  “Guest Editorial.”

Westword (March–April 2005): 2.
Lengelle, Reinekke.  “Reflections on Teaching Writing in Cyberspace.”

Westword (September–October 2004): 7–8.

Week 14

Required Readings
Greenhalgh, T. "Writing as Therapy: Effects on Immune Mediated Illness Need Substantiation in Independent Studies." British Medical Journal, 319 (July 1999): 270-271.