Creative Writing: Senses

The “Creative Writing: Senses” is an immersive experience designed to harness the power of the senses and translate them into evocative and impactful writing. Throughout this workshop, participants will engage in a series of structured activities that focus on sensory exploration and expression.

“Creative Writing: Senses” uses the methodology of creative writing, a form of artistic expression, inspiring participants to engage in sensory-based creative writing exercises that enhance their storytelling skills while serving as therapeutic tools for reflecting on their experiences. The workshop emphasizes the importance of sensory memories in autobiographical storytelling, encouraging participants to explore and articulate their personal narratives with emotional depth and vivid detail.

The workshop was initially developed for Ukrainian female refugees living in Athens. Still, it is suitable for diverse groups of learners and age groups.

The objectives of the workshop are for the participants:

• to express their creativity through creative writing;
• to self-reflect, highlighting and rethinking good and bad experiences through sensitive writing;
• to get acquainted with creative writing techniques;
• to use creative writing as a way to express themselves and their feelings;
• to practice expressing their thoughts more tangibly and effectively.

The materials needed for this workshop are a pencil or pen and a piece of paper available for all the participants. Also, a flipchart will be useful for the facilitator to explain the steps of the activity.

The facilitator should select a location for the workshop that is a space considered safe by all participants. A place that provides a physically and emotionally safe environment for all participants, especially a place where people can freely express themselves without fear of prejudice or any negative judgment. The process of sharing personal information may be stressful for some of the participants, so the facilitator should be alert to understand any inconvenience, take the lead and handle the situation.

In addition, the facilitator should have a familiarity with using creative writing techniques in order to be able to explain the necessary steps, the techniques and the creative process.

1. Taking turns participants name their favourite view, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
2. Participants are asked to reflect and write on given situations with emphasis on their senses, e.g. “Describe the loudest sound”, “Describe the smell of food made by your partner that made you feel in love”, “Describe the feeling caused by a line of your favourite song”, “Describe the task of preparing food with a Greek family”, “Describe eating in a restaurant or visiting a greenhouse during winter”.
3. According to the available time, participants are given multiple situations to reflect on and write about.
4. Participants are asked to read and discuss their short descriptions among the group.
5. Participants are asked to reflect on their thoughts about the process. The following questions will help them: “When we recall our senses, do we usually think about sad or happy moments?”, “ How can we make our everyday life better with simple tangible things?”, “Where can we use sensitive writing in our everyday life?”

At the end of the creative writing workshop, participants engage in a reflective evaluation process. This process is designed to help them introspect and articulate their thoughts and experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of their creative journey. The evaluation is guided by three thought-provoking questions, each aiming to elicit personal insights and connections between their creative work and everyday life. Some questions for reflection are the following:

“When we recall our senses, do we usually think about sad or happy moments?”
This question encourages participants to explore the emotional associations they have with their sensory memories. By reflecting on whether their senses evoke sadness or happiness, participants can gain insight into how their personal experiences influence their writing. This reflection helps them understand the emotional depth and resonance in their work.

“How can we make our everyday life better with simple tangible things?”
The participants are prompted to consider the role of simple, tangible objects in enhancing their daily lives. This question helps participants think about the small, often overlooked details that can bring joy or comfort. By recognizing these elements, they can incorporate similar tangible details into their writing, making their narratives more relatable and vivid.

“Where can we use sensitive writing in our everyday life?”
This question encourages participants to think about the practical application of sensitive writing beyond the workshop. It helps them identify opportunities to use their writing skills in everyday scenarios, such as personal journaling, communication with loved ones, or professional settings. Understanding the value of sensitive writing in various contexts can inspire participants to continue nurturing their creative abilities.

The workshop can be adapted to suit coherent and diverse groups of learners. Participants may share personal information and this process may be stressful for some of them, so the facilitator should be alert to understand any inconvenience, take the lead and handle the situation.

The group size for this workshop does not matter, but it is more challenging to manage the workshop with the participation of many individuals. Working with a big group of people makes it harder to make people feel safe to share about themselves. 8 to 10 participants would be the ideal group size.

The complexity of the workshop can be rated at 2. The facilitator needs to take some time to prepare the different phases of the workshop, review the methodology and prepare the workshop’s reflection phase.