Can Writing Help Inmates to Heal?

Earlier today when Denise Turney (www.chistell.com), host of CBK’s Off The Shelf, asked Valerie Coleman (www.penofthewriter.com) how she uses her literary and business skills to expand community, Coleman gave a surprising answer. “I visit prisons and teach creative writing,” Coleman responded.

(PRWEB) September 11, 2006 -- Earlier today when Denise Turney (www.chistell.com), host of CBK’s Off The Shelf, asked Valerie Coleman (www.penofthewriter.com) how she uses her literary and business skills to expand community, Coleman gave a surprising answer. “I visit prisons and teach creative writing,” Coleman responded. That’s not all, Coleman went on to reveal, “The demand from prisoners to share their stories with others, particularly youth in order to guide youth toward better decisions -- better decisions the prisoners wish they had made when they were younger -- has been strong and ongoing.” Creative writing allows inmates the opportunity to be heard and to share deep truths about their experiences that, in turn, open doors to healing.

Coleman’s experiences with the inmates she works with in Ohio have a deep root. It has long been known that writing is an excellent healing tool. Why? Writing allows you to think free of distraction because writing requires you to focus. Writing also surfaces unconscious fears and courage in the life of the writer. As CBK’s host, Denise Turney, stated following her special Off The Shelf interview with Valerie Coleman, “Writing is intensely personal. It doesn’t matter who you are writing to or what you are writing about, writing demands that the writer reveal more about and to him/herself with each new paragraph. It is this deep truth that writing demands, this unconscious knowing, that allows the writer to heal.”

In fact, many patients suffering from disease or/and traumatic experiences, turn to writing (i.e. journal, letter, memoir, diary) to deal with hard emotions, recognize positive and negative thought and behavior patterns, and confront fearful reactions to less than promising news received from a physician or an exam. It is for this reason as well as the far reaching effects of literacy that Turney continues to sponsor Off The Shelf, one of the most successful Internet literary radio programs. “We may never know all the benefits received from writing. We do know that it’s key to combating illiteracy, a situation so pertinent, the United Nations has made it a key focus, and with good reasons as nearly 700 million people around the world are functionally illiterate. This limitation creates a formidable boundary that keeps millions of the world’s citizens from receiving the healing gained from writing.”

Besides featuring writers, agents, editors, publicists and educators on her winning radio program, Off The Shelf, Turney also creates a free monthly literary periodical, aptly titled, The Book Lover’s Haven (www.chistell.com). The Book Lover’s Haven provides global readers and writers a place to gain firsthand advice from new, seasoned and established novelists, journalists, screenplay writers and poets. Writers featured in The Book Lover’s Haven include bestselling authors Zane, Omar Tyree, Tracy Thompson, Michael McCann, Dan Poytner, Maxine Thompson and Grammy-award nominee, Awiatka.

The Haven’s founder, Denise Turney, is currently putting the finishing touches on her soon-to-be released new title, Long Walk Up (www.chistell.com), a book that tells the story of a young African girl’s journey from abject poverty and despair en route to her triumphant destiny.

Those interested in learning more about Denise Turney, Off The Shelf or The Book Lover’s Haven may do so by visiting http://www.chistell.com (subscription is Free).

Contact: Rhonda Campbell

http://www.chistell.com

(215) 245-6222

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