This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Jennifer Bowen, Artistic Director of the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop, to the Round Table to discuss the impact writing has on the lives of incarcerated writers. Jennifer tells us about the kinds of students and writing found on the inside. Some of the most innovative, powerful writing voices are coming from this invisible population. Art changes lives.
(Left) MPWW students in a classroom.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
This episode previously aired as episodes 129 and 130.
What is the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop? How did it begin? And what is it like to go into a state prison (in MN) and teach writing? What genre does MPWW teach? And how does it help writers? What kind of community has grown out of MPWW’s work within the prison system?
To make a donation or check out MPWW visit mnprisonwriting.org
We Are All Criminals SEEN project profile and writing of an MPWW student.
What we talked about:
Alida tells us a little bit about MPWW (Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop). (1:42)
Jen gives us some context for the conversation about MPWW. (5:11)
What is the origin of MPWW? (7:20)
What is it like to go into a state prison and teach writing? Was it a surprise how rewarding it was? (8:30)
What kind of students are attracted to MPWW? (13:46)
What genre’s do MPWW students participate in? (16:14)
How do you help writers find their voice? (18:15)
Zeke’s story, and how it impacted MPWW (and vice versa). (20:53)
How have the prison communities changed in response to MPWW? (23:46)
Part 2:
Do MPWW writers take emotional risks in their writing? How can we take a page from their book to form supportive writing communities? And how is the Twin Cities Community involved in supporting the program? Has the MPWW program affected the DOC? And what misconceptions does Jen encounter? And finally, we talk about how you can help support this program, and all the work that it is doing!
Do writers take emotional risks in their writing? Do they pull from their own experiences? (0:40)
How do you form a supportive a writing community? (3:01)
How has the DOC responded to the program? Have they become more receptive to the program? (6:25)
Community involvement with MPWW. (10:30)
What misconceptions do you encounter? (16:55)
What is decarcerating? (19:58)
What does MPWW need? How could you get involved even if you aren’t in the Twin Cities? (23:12)
Jennifer Bowen
MPWW Instructors
LINKS
Learn more about & support MPWW: www.mnprisonwriting.org/donate
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
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About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com