"Whether your purpose for writing is artistic expression, communication with friends and family, the healing of the inner life, or achieving public recognition for your art - the foundation is the same: the claiming of yourself as an artist/writer and the strengthening of your writing voice through practice, study, and helpful response from other writers."

Pat Schneider
Writing Alone and With Others

The Amherst Writers & Artists' philosophy is a simple one: every person is a writer, and every writer deserves a safe environment in which to experiment, learn, and develop craft. The AWA method, which is fully described in founder Pat Schneider's book Writing Alone and With Others (Oxford University Press, 2003, and available at www.patschneider.com), provides just such an environment. Among AWA's practices are the following: we write together in workshop, and the leader writes and reads aloud along with the participants. The group responds to the new work gently, guided by a trained workshop leader. No questions are asked or suggestions offered to brand-new, first-draft work. This practice enables participants to expose aspects of their creative minds that may have been inaccessible, leading the writer to his or her truest voice, and fostering the power to use it. All work is treated as fiction to minimize the personal vulnerability of the writer. When the writer is ready and wants suggestions for revision, he or she hands out manuscript copies and receives intensive and encouraging help from the group and the leader.

The AWA method has been used successfully with experienced writers as well as beginners, writers whose creative juices are flowing as well as those experiencing a block. It has been equally effective in helping those whose voices have traditionally been silenced by poverty, discrimination, illness, age or other obstacles to achieving the powerful combination of language and confidence needed to overcome social barriers. While the AWA method is not therapy, it has great healing potential for writers from all backgrounds. Writers who have used the AWA method have published major works and taken top prizes and awards in the U.S. and Ireland, and over 500 have completed the AWA training program in workshop leadership.