“The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. The spiritual mind plays with possibility.”
— Carl Jung
Writing is more than putting words on a page. Writing is an act of courage. In every class I teach, whether with first-year college students or someone ready to dive into writing a memoir or novel, I see how powerful it is when a person begins to speak the words they’ve kept silent. Many of us grew up hiding our truths to fit in, or believing our perspective and creativity didn’t matter in the larger world. We learned to self-censor to stay safe, avoid judgment, or simply survive.
But here’s the truth: your story matters.
Lived experience matters.
Knowing and loving yourself is the beginning of peace within—and that peace ripples outward. Emotional intelligence deepens when you understand your own story and stay curious about the stories of others. Most of all, writing is an exciting and daring journey when we reach inward for truth and outward for connection.
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.“–James Baldwin
In my writing workshops, we don’t just focus on structure—we focus on you. We explore how voice comes alive when we write from a place of honesty, daring, curiosity, and reflection. Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the doorway to real connection and meaningful writing. Whether you’re exploring a comedic moment in your life, a family secret, a personal transformation, a shock or trauma, or a joyful revelation, your willingness to show up on the page gives those who read your work permission to do the same.
The most powerful writing doesn’t shout. It resonates because of undeniable truth. Authenticity always strikes a deeper chord than surface-level observations. And inspiration? That’s the magic ingredient—we all recognize it when it arrives. Imagination becomes the bridge between the seen and unseen, the known and what’s still waiting to emerge.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”
— Albert Einstein
If you’re ready to write from that place—to strengthen your voice, shape your story, and grow as a writer—I’d love to support you. Whether through my writing workshop or one-on-one mentoring, we can work together to bring your words—and your wisdom—onto the page.
Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in working individually or in a small group on your writing project.
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.”—Brené Brown
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”—Toni Morrison
How can we make sense of the variety of near-death experiences that people report?
Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Time: 1:00 pm EST/Noon Central Time/10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/8 a.m. Hawaii
Location/Link: 
Tricia Barker 