Finding Your Voice at the Hercules Library

Voices are all around us—even inside us—and at some point, they’ve got to come out.

So says Marie Elena Gaspari, who helps aspiring and accomplished writers tell their stories on Thursday mornings at the ’s creative writing workshop.

“The workshops are called "Writing For Everyone" because I believe everyone has words to share,” Gaspari said. “Writing is making voices heard, having faith in your creativity and describing the reality of our lives.”

Hercules residents may participate in the free workshops from 10 a.m. to noon on the next two Thursdays, June 16 and 23. The sessions focus on teaching participants to verbalize their thoughts and structure them via specific phrases, sentences and paragraphs, using various exercises and assignments.

The primary goal of the workshop, however, is to encourage the potential for writing that exists within all of us.

“People nowadays listen to everybody else’s story, but I’m not sure how capable people are of communicating their own stories,” Gaspari said. “People have a lot to say if they’re in touch with their selves, and that’s the focus of the class."

Gaspari received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst before pursing her master’s at Naropa University. She first began teaching writing workshops after helping friends write and has conducted several workshops for children and adults.

Her written accomplishments include first place in Wordletting’s Self-Portrait Poetry Project in 2010 and the grand prize at a competition sponsored by Artists Embassy International. Her published poetry has appeared in collections such as In The Spirit of We’Moon Anthology, Wordletting, Tarayana and The Call of the Goddess.

Gaspari decided to volunteer at the library after learning about budget concerns that may reduce library programs.

“I was very upset at what’s happening to the library,” Gaspari said. “One of the reasons why I teach there is because its really important to hear everyone’s story and voice, including people who can’t write but still feel like they have something to say. I want to encourage people.”

After the library workshops, Gaspari plans a (paid) writing retreat at her home. Those interested in attending may contact her at her website, http://riverofdreamswriting.weebly.com/.