(Laura Campbell & Bernice Stott)
Write to
Right is a specialised short interactive writing course which is being offered
by two leading Durban-based creative thinkers - a physician Laura Campbell and
an artist / theologian, Bernice Stott - as a vehicle to encourage healing and
wellbeing.
“We are
offering this course for anyone who would like to find healing through the art
of writing or those who want to write about loss, love, and life’s challenges,”
explains physician and writer Laura Campbell. “Writing keeps us healthy. It can
prevent an illness occurring, progressing or recurring. Writing finds
personalized meanings in times of change, struggle, loneliness, loss and
illness,”
Theologian
and artist, Bernice Stott, explains: “Through our work in caring we know the
power of writing. We know writing is an art, a spiritual journey, an emotional
odyssey, but we importantly know it also as a science. Over many years, we have
listened to patients, we have written and we have read the writings of
others. The realization is the incredible healing power of writing. We
have learned to understand that writing creatively and staying well can be
matched to very recent breakthroughs in the neurological sciences,”
Stott
and Campbell have jointly created a course which teaches creative writing as a
means of personal expression. “We want to help people transform their narrative
of mismatched, confused, angry, despairing, sad words and mould them to beauty
and magic,” considers Stott.
“We will
also show you what is happening to your body when you write. What chemicals are
released, why would these chemicals be useful, what parts of your brain are
engaged and why would using these parts of your brain encourage health and
contentment and acceptance?” adds Campbell.
Based in
Westville, Campbell has worked and studied extensively abroad. An active
writer, she recently won the Eileen Molver Trophy for Children`s Story
(2017); was awarded second place in the South African Writers Circle
First Chapter of a Novel Competition; and she came second in last year’s South
African Writers Circle Annual Short Story Competition. She is a highly-
qualified specialist family physician with a particular interest in palliative
care and mental health.
Durban-based
Bernice Stott is a highly respected practicing visual artist (working in
various mediums) with academic qualifications in drama, visual art and
theology. She has participated in a myriad solo and group exhibitions throughout
South Africa and abroad. She has been a minister, a teacher, a facilitator and
an artist. She offers Artists’ Way courses, based on the philosophy of Julia
Cameron, and is a qualified Lifeline trainer. Stott has an active interest in
the work of Jung and archetypes; and explores the intersection between social
justice / arts / feminism / philosophy and theology.
Write to Right will be facilitated jointly by Laura
Campbell and Bernice Stott. It is an affordable, nine session, weekly,
small-group, bespoke writing course to explore the discipline of writing as
catharsis. The course offers an unusual opportunity of linking the creative art
of writing to the science of wellness. By the completion of the course,
participants will have created a meaningful piece of writing and will have
gained understanding into the neurosciences involved in writing and in health.
The
course takes place from June 13 until August 8, 2017, in Westville. For more
information, or to book, contact laura@hss.co.za or bernicest@telkomsa.net or phone 031 209 8436.
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