Theme for Fall 2008 Women's Self Discovery Through Creative Writing -- Journey : Each woman will choose a time period to which she wants to return through writing. This may be a time of confusion to gain clarity; perhaps a painful time to seek healing; or a time of joy, simply to savor the memories.

We will follow the wisdom tradition of the tarot, where each card (of the Major Arcana) depicts an aspect of our life journey. Ancient teachings will be discussed and contemporary writing prompts given to assist you in your writing, particularly within the context of that weeks's teaching.

Women's Self Discovery through Creative Writing is an ongoing series through North Seattle Community College Continuing Education. Become part of a supportive circle of women where facets of the self and others can be discovered through writing. Each quarter opens a new gateway or theme: ancient and contemporary myth, personal history, child as creative source, relationships (with self, with others, with our bodies), healing, aging, joy, anger and conflict, etc. The forms vary and include free writing, poetry, journal writing, short fiction, novel excerpts, and visual art. Samples of published writers are shared and discussed followed by guided writing sessions. The guidelines are optional as well as the opportunity to share all or part (or none!) of your writing.  New and experienced writers are welcome. The class is designed to generate writing though critiquing is considered on an individual basis, if requested.

Instructor: Pesha Joyce Gertler, is a faculty member at North Seattle Community College and also teaches through Continuing Education and other venues. She has co-founded and coordinates the reading series which began in 1987 and is sponsered by NSCC. Pesha is a widely published poet and served as Seattle's Poet Populist in 2005-06.

Dates: Eight Tuesdays, from October 7^th to December 2^nd (no class on November 11^th)
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: North Seattle Community College
To register: Call 206-527-3705 or online at www.learnatnorth.org

Forms and Themes in Poetry and Prose
The Myth of Psyche
Fairy Tales
Themes in Women's Lives
The Demeter/Persephone Myth
The Divine Feminine in World Culture

Finding Meaning in Growing Older
Transforming the Inner Critic

"The Short," in Creative Non-Fiction
Introduction to Writing the Short Story
Introduction to the Short-Short Story
A Time of Closure

Healing Journeys
The Creative Journal
Introduction to the Creative Journal