Join the Somerville Public Library and local writer Gila Lyons for a FREE writing workshop on chronic illness and disability.
Every person will experience illness, pain, and some level of disability in their lives, some sooner than others. Virginia Woolf wrote, “Considering how common illness is, how tremendous the spiritual change that it brings . . . it becomes strange indeed that illness has not taken its place with love, battle, and jealousy among the prime themes of literature.”
Since Woolf wrote these words there has been a burgeoning of illness literature that chronicles the experience of the body and mind in all stages of sickness and health.
In this workshop, we’ll explore just that, giving the most universal and basic of human experiences their rightful place among the timeless themes of literature. Guided by readings, discussions, writing exercises, and optional sharing, we’ll explore what others write about these themes, and write our own illness journeys through “the night-side of life,” as Susan Sontag describes.
Because of the sensitive and personal nature of this content, extra care will be taken to ensure a safe, supportive, and confidential class. Writers will develop an appreciation for illness writing in the literary canon, and create art and wisdom from their own lives.
Please come with something to write with and on; laptops, notebooks, loose paper all fine.
Space is limited, so please be sure to register in advance!
About the Facilitator:
Gila Lyons' work has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Mothertongue, Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Vice, Poets & Writers, Salon, and elsewhere. Her pieces have been anthologized in books and collections, including in ABOUT US: Essays from the Disability Series of the New York Times, (W. W. Norton, 2019). Gila holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University and teaches writing and literature at colleges and universities. She served as “Alice” at Go Ask Alice!, Columbia University’s award-winning health and sexuality website, as well as a health writer for WebMD, The Chopra Center, and other health outlets. She also works as a freelance writer, a writing coach, and editor. Read her work and connect with her at www.gilalyons.com.
Questions? Contact Kerry at keodonnell@somervillema.gov
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Somerville Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
