Writing to Heal is an immersive program designed to give nonfiction students a deep dive into how the writing process can serve as a healing tool for adversity. We are pleased to share instructor, Jennifer Crystal's, philosophy and tips for applying.

Do you have a personal story that’s burning inside you, but you feel like you need to keep it private? Are you afraid that if you write the story and share it, then it’s out there, and the secret is no longer a secret? Are you worried that publishing a certain piece might hurt the people involved, so you’ve stopped yourself from writing it at all?

You are not alone. These are common concerns I hear from students applying to or taking the Writing to Heal Immersive Program. Some are nervous about taking Writing to Heal, because if they do, they might have to write about that, and they’re not sure they’re ready to do so. Some are excited by the process of Writing to Heal—which I often liken to peeling back an onion, getting to deeper and deeper layers of a story and a person—but peeling onions, of course, can make you cry. Students sometimes feel surprised and even thrilled to have uncovered parts of their story they didn’t realize wanted to be told, but then they stop themselves, afraid that if they go deeper, they’ll be too exposed. The people they know will be exposed. The truth will be exposed.

The Writing to Heal Immersive Program is a confidential space where layers of story are slowly unfurled in a safe and trusting environment. Writers are encouraged to take charge of their narratives, to reclaim voices that have been silenced, and to remember—that is, to put together in a new whole—that which has been broken apart. The journey of Writing to Heal is based in empowerment, not fear.

And yet, there are very real ethical, privacy, and safety concerns about going public with certain stories. I respect that some cannot be shared, or that certain changes need to be made in order to publish them with a broad audience. To assuage concerns, here are some important points you should know about Writing to Heal:

• Before any personal writing is shared, steps are taken in the first few classes for
  people to get to know each other and for us to establish a safe and trusting
  environment.
• What’s shared in class stays in class. “Never share a classmate’s work with anyone outside of the class” is a hard and fast rule set from the get-go.
• Writing can be healing even if it is never shared. Writing to Heal has two elements: writing to process through an experience for yourself, and finding universal themes that might make your story appeal to a broader audience if you choose to do so.
• Students are encouraged to write the stories they need to in class, and worry later about censoring them, if needed, for publication.
• There are always three options for sharing in-class prompts: you can read all or part of what you wrote, you can say something you’re grateful for, or you can tell a joke.
• You choose which pieces you feel ready to workshop.

People who have experienced adversity or trauma often feel violated or silenced in some way. Writing to Heal is a reclamation of self and of story. The choice of how to use the tools provided in this class—personally or publicly—is completely up to you.

We are now accepting applications for the 2025 - 2026 Writing to Heal Immersive. Apply here by July 16th at 11:59pm (EST). Scholarships are available!