Voice matters, writing heals

Watching people surprise themselves with their writing is a key for the presenter of two recent videoconference writing workshops.
“I love meeting people … and seeing people surprise themselves,” said Elizabeth Ruth, the published author, editor and writing teacher from Toronto who presented the Home is Where the Art Is videoconference workshop Oct. 14 through K-Net and KiHS (Keewaytinook Internet High School). “You saw it today – those women surprised themselves with what they had to say. And that makes it worthwhile to me. It’s inspiring to me.”
Ruth began writing when she was six or seven years old.
“I’ve had other jobs too, of course, I have to make money,” Ruth said. “But it’s a passion for sure. It feels like power to say your truth.”
Four women from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) and one woman from Neskantaga took part in the K-Net workshop, which was hosted from the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute in Thunder Bay.
“I just think writing is healing,” Ruth said. “I write my own stories that does me good, and it does other people good I hope when they hear them.”
Ruth emphasized the importance of what people have to say.
“Your life experiences give you everything you need to say,” she said. “People need to hear that, because what people hear a lot, especially high school students, is what you have to say doesn’t count. It’s not valuable and your experience doesn’t count. I’m basically here to say it does and to hear it.”
Ruth will also be critiquing manuscripts for northwestern Ontario-based writers and all Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop members in good standing.
Contact Jenny Morrow for information at 807-737-4901 or jmorrow123@gmail.com.