I decided to offer a writing class for men for two reasons.
Reason #1: As a professional writer for 25 years, I have attended, and facilitated, scores of writing workshops, lectures, conferences, classes, seminars, support groups and colloquiums. By and large, when I look around the room, I see women. Sure, there are some men in the audience, but generally speaking, the writing events I have attended are full of women.
There's nothing wrong with that, but it's an observation I've had over the years. "Where are the men?" I don't have scientific proof of this phenomenon, but anecdotally, I can say that writing events tend to attract more women than men. Maybe the men are writing but in solitude? I don't know.
Reason #2: While in my 20s, I dated a guy who was supportive of my writing. He encouraged me and admired that I pursued a career as a news reporter. I wrote about my experiences in a personal journal that I carried on all of our dates -- to the movies, restaurants and hikes.
One day, I noticed he was writing in a spiral-bound notebook and was excited about him keeping a journal.
Reason #1: As a professional writer for 25 years, I have attended, and facilitated, scores of writing workshops, lectures, conferences, classes, seminars, support groups and colloquiums. By and large, when I look around the room, I see women. Sure, there are some men in the audience, but generally speaking, the writing events I have attended are full of women.
There's nothing wrong with that, but it's an observation I've had over the years. "Where are the men?" I don't have scientific proof of this phenomenon, but anecdotally, I can say that writing events tend to attract more women than men. Maybe the men are writing but in solitude? I don't know.
Reason #2: While in my 20s, I dated a guy who was supportive of my writing. He encouraged me and admired that I pursued a career as a news reporter. I wrote about my experiences in a personal journal that I carried on all of our dates -- to the movies, restaurants and hikes.
One day, I noticed he was writing in a spiral-bound notebook and was excited about him keeping a journal.
Click here for dates and details for the Writing Class for Men
Images courtesy Wylie Communications, Portland, OR
"Hey that's cool. You're writing in a new journal," I said.
"Shhh, don't tell anyone. It's got to be a secret," he said.
I furrowed my brow. As an only child, he didn't have any siblings like I did who threatened to read my personal thoughts. Why did he have to hide?
To my surprise, he explained that throughout his life, he was told that writing was "for girls" and that sharing your emotions on paper and pouring out stories "was feminine." He was sure he would be teased the moment his father or male friends knew he was sketching in a notebook.
"Shhh, don't tell anyone. It's got to be a secret," he said.
I furrowed my brow. As an only child, he didn't have any siblings like I did who threatened to read my personal thoughts. Why did he have to hide?
To my surprise, he explained that throughout his life, he was told that writing was "for girls" and that sharing your emotions on paper and pouring out stories "was feminine." He was sure he would be teased the moment his father or male friends knew he was sketching in a notebook.
"...he was told that writing was "for girls" and that sharing your emotions on paper and pouring out stories "was feminine."
I was shocked to hear this perspective. As a young girl who showed aptitude at writing, I was always encouraged to put pen to paper and keep going. I couldn't believe that boys, this boy, didn't feel the same way, and that some boys were even being told that writing was "feminine." How unfortunate, and incorrect.
Over the years, I wondered if there were other men who shunned writing in a journal or didn't share their stories due to these same fears.
This is the impetus for the "Writing Group for Men." I am a professional writer would wants to encourage everyone, men in particular, to start, and complete, a memoir, novel, short story, journal, poetry and writing of any kind. I have created the "Writing Group for Men" with 7-8 max. participants, to encourage a safe and inviting environment. Click here for dates and details for the Writing Class for Men, or contact me today to sign up.
Over the years, I wondered if there were other men who shunned writing in a journal or didn't share their stories due to these same fears.
This is the impetus for the "Writing Group for Men." I am a professional writer would wants to encourage everyone, men in particular, to start, and complete, a memoir, novel, short story, journal, poetry and writing of any kind. I have created the "Writing Group for Men" with 7-8 max. participants, to encourage a safe and inviting environment. Click here for dates and details for the Writing Class for Men, or contact me today to sign up.
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