Tools For Writing About Trauma

At its root, the word trauma means 'wound'. Trauma is caused by experiences of overwhelming fear or pain that we are unable to absorb and process. When we write about trauma, it can be highly distressing or overwhelming to contact that wound directly.

However, there are several writing craft techniques which can help us approach the memories and feelings we want to write about, creating enough distance for us to begin working with this painful material.

In this workshop we'll look at examples by different authors and use some simple writing exercises to explore different techniques that you can draw on in your own work. We'll talk about:

• Tenses and time
• Perspective and point of view
• Formats and genres
• Metaphor

Recommended time to complete the workshop, including the exercises is 90 to 120 minutes.

What people say

• "Clearly you're a skilled and experienced teacher. Your positivity and appreciation of all comments and contributions was fantastic, important and surprisingly rare."
• "I really appreciate how you made the workshop a safe space with trigger warnings, not forcing people to share or speak."
• "This was phenomenal and I will definitely be recommending it to colleagues!"

About me

My short stories and poems have appeared in Strange Horizons, Translunar Travelers Lounge, Crow & Cross Keys, Hippocampus Magazine and more.

I've been delivering successful in-person and online classes, talks, and workshops for individuals, charities, community groups, and schools for over a decade.

Before that, I studied MSc Gender, Sexuality, Politics & Culture at Birkbeck College, University of London, and BA English Literature at King's College, University of Cambridge.

I'm a certified Write Your Self trauma-sensitive writing guide, a board member of Lapidus International, and I have a Level 4 Certificate in Counselling Skills from Warwick University Centre for Lifelong Learning.