Every Story Matters
Creative Writing Workshop
A year-long, virtual writing workshop for BI survivors.
BIASC is proud to offer a free monthly virtual creative writing workshop designed specifically for BI survivors. This supportive, inclusive program invites participants to explore storytelling, reflection, and self-expression in a way that honors individual experiences and abilities. This workshop centers mental and cognitive health while fostering connection, creativity, and confidence.
The workshop is led by Cinelle Barnes, an award-winning essayist, memoirist, editor, and educator — and a brain injury survivor herself. She is the author of Monsoon Mansion, Malaya, and A Way Home, and the editor of the acclaimed anthology A Measure of Belonging: 21 Writers of Color on the New American South. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Coastal Living, and other national publications, and she has served as a Pulitzer Prize juror.
After surviving a brain aneurysm in 2023, Cinelle brings lived experience, compassion, and deep expertise to her teaching. Trained in Universal & Accessible Learning, she has taught at respected institutions including Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Catapult, and Kweli. Her approach assumes creative capability while thoughtfully accommodating the unique needs of brain injury survivors.
Designed with BI Survivors in Mind
Each session is thoughtfully structured to meet the diverse needs of people living with traumatic or acquired brain injuries. Participants will be introduced to writing practices that support emotional processing, focus, and self-awareness, while also providing opportunities to share experiences and learn from one another. No prior writing experience is required.
Each session emphasizes:
Accessibility and inclusivity
Gentle cognitive stimulation
Creative expression without pressure
Peer connection and shared understanding