Pen and Tonic promotes the health benefits of creative and expressive writing. We share writing exercises and techniques to show how writing and storytelling can be for everyone. We demonstrate how expressive writing can be very therapeutic and help people to find their voice, reduce stress levels and build confidence.
Our mission is to spread the word on the positive impact writing can have on mental and physical well being. We provide taster workshops and a variety of services in the community.
Why writing can help us feel better…
Writing down thoughts and feelings can be very therapeutic. However, for many people the word ‘writing’ is loaded with connotations. Some people believe it’s an inborn talent, Pen and Tonic believes it can be learned.
Using techniques and triggers enables people, however limited their literacy skills or creative writing experience, to produce writing that can give shape and voice to ideas and emotions we didn’t know existed. Some of us find it difficult to verbalise our problems but writing about them can help reduce anxiety and depression. Put simply; it makes us feel better.
We believe…
…that the shaping of stories is not the exclusive province of the highly literate and ‘talented’. Everyone has a story and everyone can use their stories to benefit themselves and their communities.
Previous experience of creative writing is not necessary in any of our projects.
