Welcome to Our Community!

photo by Craig O’Neal

Women Writing for (a) Change, Jacksonville, is a growing community for Jacksonville and North Florida writers. We focus primarily on women, but not exclusively. We strive to reach a diverse audience and to make our programs accessible to all, including all cultural groups, genders, and communities.

We are here for one purpose:

“To nurture and celebrate the individual voice
by facilitating supportive writing circles and
by encouraging people to craft more conscious lives
through the art of writing and the practices of community.”

We honor creative writing in all forms: memoir, fiction, poetry, prose, essay, journaling, and creative non-fiction. Each semester we offer core writing classes, one-day workshops, events, and retreats. You don’t have to be an experienced writer to join the circle, although many experienced writers have benefitted from it. All are invited.

In 2019, we added a non-profit arm of our community called The Foundation for Women Writing for (a) Change of Jacksonville, Inc., so we could seek funding to help make our programs more accessible to a wider and more diverse population. The Foundation helps support our outreach programs, including our work with groups like The Women’s Center of Jacksonville, Hope at Hand, and the Dolores Barr Weaver Policy Center for Girls. We also hold weekly writing circles for incarcerated women at the Community Transition Center in Jacksonville. In addition, we support corporate clients like The Mayo Clinic, Lakeview Health, and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville is an affiliate site of Women Writing for (a) Change in Cincinnati. Since 1991, WWf(a) C has evolved into a powerful and empowering community of women and girls telling our stories. We are a diverse community of women creating change in ourselves and our world, one truth, one story, one voice at a time.

“A circle of women may be the most powerful force known to humanity.
If you have one, embrace it. If you need one, seek it.
If you find one, for the love of all that is good and holy, Dive in.
Hold on. Love it up. Let them see you.
Let them hold you. Let your reluctant tears fall. Let yourself rise fierce and love great. You will be changed.
The very fabric of your Being will be altered by this. If you allow it. Please, allow it.”
— Jeanette LeBlanc

Jennifer,
I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to tell you what a wonderful evening you provided for my Bosom Buddies. It was one of my all-time favorite programs, and I’ve had a zillion of them. You have a very special way of bringing out creativity in people who have never shown any inkling of it before. I think you really touched everyone’s hearts, especially mine. You have a very special way about you and the topper was your ukelele playing. Wow!!

Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks
Bosom Buddies Founder/Facilitator

2017-08-03T15:07:46-04:00

Jennifer, I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to tell you what a wonderful evening you provided for my Bosom Buddies. It was one of my all-time favorite programs, and I’ve had a zillion of them. You have a very special way of bringing out creativity in people who have never shown any inkling of it before. I think you really touched everyone’s hearts, especially mine. You have a very special way about you and the topper was your ukelele playing. Wow!! Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks Bosom Buddies Founder/Facilitator

https://www.womenwritingjacksonville.org/blog/testimonials/special-way-bringing-creativity/

To Whomever Needs This:

Take this class. Take it. Forget the rumblings of the mind—“I can’t write,” “I have nothing to say,” “I’m unworthy.” Click the button—YES. [...] Let the love in this room envelop you, the authenticity of these women, circled ’round, pen in hand, uplift you. The “you” you may have forgotten or thought was venturing forth alone. The one who you promised to honor as a little girl. Yes, bring her. Bring a pen and let words flow to paper.

Memoir Series Writer
October 2017

2017-10-22T15:16:58-04:00

To Whomever Needs This: Take this class. Take it. Forget the rumblings of the mind—“I can’t write,” “I have nothing to say,” “I’m unworthy.” Click the button—YES. [...] Let the love in this room envelop you, the authenticity of these women, circled ’round, pen in hand, uplift you. The “you” you may have forgotten or thought was venturing forth alone. The one who you promised to honor as a little girl. Yes, bring her. Bring a pen and let words flow to paper. Memoir Series Writer October 2017

https://www.womenwritingjacksonville.org/blog/testimonials/bring-her/

Such a wonderful blend of women from different ages, different backgrounds, but similar life experiences. It appears the Universe has brought this particular group together for this time so we can all learn from one another. We represent so many different places in the world right now, but at the same time, we have so many shared experiences, no matter where we live. But most importantly we are women and this “class” has brought us together to share and bond.

Memoir Series Writer
October 2017

2017-10-22T15:33:24-04:00

https://www.womenwritingjacksonville.org/blog/testimonials/diverse-women/

A safe space to write about something my heart and soul has been needing to tell me.” ~ “Loved each members’ stories.” ~ “Beautiful stories, great to meet new people. ~ “A gift was being surrounded by strong words.” ~ “Circle of sisterhood in a trusting environment.” ~ “The traditional/rituals—creating a sacred space and time to become present before we write.” ~ “Being spiritually connected with strangers.” ~“ A chance to experience some poetry and soul.” —Testimonials from Recent Writers

2018-09-30T15:45:34-04:00

https://www.womenwritingjacksonville.org/blog/testimonials/testimonials-from-recent-writers/