Writing workshop tells special stories
by Cindy AbolePublic Relations
Cancer patients and survivors will have a chance to express their feelings and recall memories while honing their writing skills in a 10-week workshop devoted to memoir writing.
Workshop
leader Archie Burkel, right, assists Kay Cassels in a writing question
at the memoir writing workshop.
The program, “Memoirs Done Write,” is offered on Wednesdays through May 23 at the Hollings Cancer Center.
The idea was the brainchild of former educator Archie Burkel, who was inspired less than a year ago to put pen to paper as she began writing the greatest story of her life—her own.
A former English teacher and guidance counselor from Illinois, Burkel was inspired by her own memories, plus the desire to explain her life story to children and family.
“My greatest inspiration has been through my work with people,” said Burkel. In 1997, she worked for four years as an interim volunteer coordinator at The Carter Center in Atlanta, a global non-profit group partnered with Emory University committed to world peace and humanitarianism.
“In writing my own memoirs, I focused on stories handed down in my family as well as current ones,” Burkel said. “Once I hit upon a format to keep them organized, I realized I could guide others.” The result is a project that provides tremendous self-satisfaction and accomplishment to Burkel and her students.
“Memoir writing today is fashionable,” Burkel said, citing former first lady Hillary Clinton's $8 million book deal with Simon and Schuster Publishing. “This proves that common folk can do it too. Best of all, it will be priceless to the audience it reaches.”
Today, research has supported the impact of therapeutic writing and storytelling as a helpful tool among patient populations. As asthma and arthritis patients and others have benefitted from similar programs, more research literature are pointing to similar benefits among cancer patients and survivors.
“Therapeutic writing can be both beneficial for the health and well-being of patients,” said Cindy Carter, Ph.D., clinical psychologist at Hollings Cancer Center. “This form of writing and expression can enable cancer patients to use this as a tool to put positive and negative experiences in a meaningful perspective.”
Last month, Burkel began a memoir writing class for participants Wednesday at the Harper Student Center and the Mount Pleasant Recreation Center.
Kay Cassels and her husband, John, have attended Burkel's memoir writing class at MUSC for the past five weeks. As New York retirees who spend their winters in Folly Beach, the Cassels have always wanted to write about themselves and their family. But they lacked the guidance and motivation.
“Like many people, it's something I've always wanted to do,” said Kay Cassels. “Archie has helped me open the door to my mind and just write. It's been a wonderful, positive experience.”
“My program is based on the concept that our lives are a tapestry of stories woven with the people, places and things which have and will continue to surround us,” Burkel said. “Consequently, sorrow, fear and disaster are right there next to beauty and joy.”
Burkel suggests every memoir begin with a prologue then move through life's chronology of childhood, school days, marriage, mid and later-life, however, her informal method allows for individual variations.
“I remind my students that they should strive for progress, not perfection,”
Burkel said. She discourages them from editing as they go along, while
encouraging them to write as they speak.
In addition to her current programs, she will begin a new class
for Trident Health Systems' Senior Friends Chapter.
And what's the best part of teaching this course?
“I enjoy watching class participants as they begin each class meeting,” Burkel said. “They walk into the room with so much positive energy. They're happy and enthusiastic and just love being here.”
So does she.
For more information about the class, contact Burkel at 849-0707 or
Beth Reeves at 792-2785.