Beyond The Page
A new weekly creative storytelling group for women who have been in prison.
Writing from life gives the opportunity to explore past events and how they impact and influence the present.
During Beyond The Page, a range of writing prompts are used, and participants are given areas to use as a springboard, such as significant people, first times, lines ‘stuck in the brain’ and places. These starting points enable the writer to begin to process memories and make sense of lived experiences.
Participants also learn about the craft of storytelling, including plot, character, setting and dialogue so they can convey their stories as effectively as possible. Time is also devoted to close textual analysis – what do we admire in other writers, and how can we use these techniques in our own writing?
There is always the opportunity to share some or all of what’s being written during the session, or, if preferred, how it felt to respond to a particular writing task. One of the most valuable aspects of being in a group is to have one’s voice heard. And indeed, much emphasis is given to voice – participants are encouraged to develop their writer’s voice and to be confident in sounding like themselves, saying what they need to say, how they need to say it.
Writing from life is an act of generosity and connects us - sharing our vulnerabilities, our thoughts, and our truths makes us realise that the inner worlds of others are as complex and fraught as our own… but through writing openly and honestly, we can begin to make something positive from the painful and take control of our narratives.
About the Tutor - Carla Jenkins
Raw Writing was founded in 2022 by Carla Jenkins, a writer and teacher living in Exeter. Carla’s debut novel, Fifty Minutes, was published by Hachette in May 2024, and her second novel is due for publication in the summer of 2026.
In 2019. Carla did a Masters in Creative Writing at Exeter University and loved it. She missed it so much when it was over that she decided to set up Raw Writing to recreate all those wonderful aspects of the MA and give to others what was one of the best experiences she’d ever had.
Raw Writing enables people to learn about writing, improve their writing, and be part of a writing community. Everyone is welcome.
With thanks to The Hilden Charitable Trust for project funding, and to HM Probation Service Exeter and Women’s Centre Cornwall for their advice and support.